Willa Holland
{{Short description|American actress (born 1991)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Willa Holland
| image = Willa Holland 2017.jpg
| caption = Holland in 2017
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|6|18}}{{cite web | url=https://pt.kmesh.io/willa-holland-biography | title=Willa Holland | Bio - caso, casado, marido, salário, patrimônio líquido, filmes e muito mais - Biografia }}
| birth_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| occupation = {{hlist|Actress|model}}
| years_active = 1995–present
| parents = Brian De Palma (stepfather; 1995–1996)
}}
Willa Joanna Chance Holland (born June 18, 1991) is an American actress and model. She is best known for her roles as Kaitlin Cooper in the Fox teen drama The O.C., Aqua in Kingdom Hearts, and Thea Queen in The CW series Arrow as well as its spin-off The Flash.
Early life
Holland grew up with two sisters: Brianna Holland and Piper De Palma, from mother Darnell Gregorio's then-marriage to film director Brian De Palma.{{Cite magazine |last=Kappes |first=Serena |date=January 19, 2006 |title=Introducing... Willa Holland |url=https://people.com/tbd/introducing-willa-holland/ |magazine=People|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170507041808/http://people.com/tbd/introducing-willa-holland |url-status=live |archive-date=May 7, 2017}} Holland attended Palisades Charter High School for only six weeks because her career was taking off and school peers were dismissive of her acting pursuits.{{Cite magazine |last=Lewis |first=Casey |date=June 2013 |title=Willa Holland Tells Us All About Starring in the Judy Blume Flick 'Tiger Eyes': The Arrow actress is making a leap to the big screen. |url=https://www.teenvogue.com/entertainment/movies/2013-06/willa-holland-tiger-eyes-judy-blume |magazine=Teen Vogue |quote=In all honesty, I only went to high school for about six weeks, partly because I got a job and also because I just didn't get along with high school too well. I got bullied, and just didn't have a good school experience throughout...At school no one believed I was an actress at first—that was the funny part. They just thought I was a total liar. I proved them all wrong, right?}}
Career
At age seven,{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2009/jan/09/willa-holland-first-sight |title=First sight: Willa Holland |last=Clarke |first=Cath |date=January 8, 2009 |work=The Guardian |quote=She was discovered by Steven Spielberg — in his garden no less...she was seven years old at the time, playing with his kids. Her stepdad is Brian de Palma.}} Holland was playing at her stepfather Brian de Palma’s neighbor's house in The Hamptons, New York. The neighbor, Steven Spielberg, was filming home videos and told Holland's parents, "You've got to put her in front of a camera."{{Cite magazine |last=DeBruge |first=Peter |date=October 2, 2008 |title=Willa Holland: Discovered by Spielberg |url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/opinion/willa-holland-2-1117993276/ |magazine=Variety |quote="I was playing over at Steven Spielberg's house' – next door to stepfather Brian De Palma's place in the Hamptons – 'and he was filming little wedding scenes and doing homevideos,' she says. When her parents came to pick her up, Spielberg insisted, 'You've got to put her in front of a camera.' De Palma was for it, too.}}{{Cite news |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/spielberg%20gave%20the%20ocs%20holland%20her%20big%20break_29_03_2006 |title=Spielberg Gave The Oc's Holland Her Big Break |date=March 29, 2006 |work=World Entertainment News Network |access-date=February 7, 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212220901/http://hub.contactmusic.com/news-article/spielberg-gave-the-ocs-holland-her-big-break_29_03_2006 |archive-date=February 12, 2015 |via=Contactmusic.com}}{{Cite magazine |last=Jessica Holland |date=February 25, 2013 |title=Willa Holland: Interview |url=https://www.wonderlandmagazine.com/2013/02/willa-holland-interview/ |magazine=Wonderland Magazine |access-date=February 14, 2015}}
Upon returning to Los Angeles that September, Holland signed with Ford Modeling Agency at age seven,{{Cite magazine |title=Shooting Stars: How We Got That Picture |url=http://www.teenvogue.com/entertainment/cover-stars/2007-03/willaholland_20070313 |magazine=Teen Vogue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207164617/http://www.teenvogue.com/entertainment/cover-stars/2007-03/willaholland_20070313 |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2015 |url-status=live}} and immediately booked a shoot for Burberry. She has modeled for Guess, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Ralph Lauren.
In 1999, De Palma took Holland to a theatrical talent agency. Since then, she has appeared in many national commercials. In 2001, when Holland was ten, she worked alongside her father in Ordinary Madness. She was even slated to co-star in the 2005 Fox series The Inside with fellow model Rachel Nichols, but left the show when writer Tim Minear was brought in to overhaul it. She initially played the role of Kaitlin Cooper on The O.C., replacing Shailene Woodley, as a recurring character in season 3, and then as a regular in season four.{{Cite magazine |last=Kappes |first=Serena |date=January 19, 2006 |title=Introducing ... Willa Holland |url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1150240,00.html |magazine=People |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221120330/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1150240,00.html |archive-date=December 21, 2014 |access-date=February 7, 2015 |url-status=dead}}
In December 2007, Holland was cast in the independent drama film Garden Party, playing the role of April, a troubled teenage aspiring model who tries to make it in Los Angeles. In September 2008, The CW announced Holland would appear in three episodes of the second season of the teen-drama television series Gossip Girl, created by The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz. Holland played the role of a rebellious 16-year-old model who befriends and creates havoc for Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen). In March 2010, Holland made a one-off return in the 16th episode of the third season, "The Empire Strikes Jack".
In May 2010, Square Enix announced Holland would voice Aqua in the PlayStation Portable title Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, which was released on September 7, 2010 in North America.{{Cite press release |title=Return to the Magical Realm of Kingdom Hearts on September 7, 2010 |date=May 17, 2010 |publisher=Square Enix |url=http://release.square-enix.com/na/2010/05/17_01.html |access-date=February 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100521093421/http://release.square-enix.com/na/2010/05/17_01.html |archive-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=live}} That same year, Holland starred in her first major studio film, the apocalyptic thriller film Legion, playing the role of a bratty teenager.{{Cite web |url=http://collider.com/first-legion-clip/ |title=First 'Legion' Clip |last=Weintraub |first=Steve |date=December 14, 2009 |website=Collider.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207163823/http://collider.com/first-legion-clip/ |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2015}} She played Janice Heddon in the film Straw Dogs (2011), a remake of the 1971 film of the same name.
In February 2012, Holland was cast in The CW action-adventure series Arrow as Thea Queen / Speedy, the sister of Oliver Queen / Green Arrow.{{Cite magazine |last=Gonzalez |first=Sandra |date=April 2, 2014 |title='Arrow' preview: Willa Holland teases Thea's 'major turning point' |url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/04/02/arrow-preview-willa-holland/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150212221717/http://www.ew.com/article/2014/04/02/arrow-preview-willa-holland |archive-date=February 12, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2015 |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |url=http://cwtvsource.com/2014/10/08/arrow-cast-has-some-fun-aboard-the-tv-guide-yacht/ |title='Arrow' cast has some fun aboard the TV Guide Yacht |date=October 8, 2014 |website=Cwtvsource.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163309/http://cwtvsource.com/2014/10/08/arrow-cast-has-some-fun-aboard-the-tv-guide-yacht/ |archive-date=February 14, 2015 |access-date=February 14, 2015}} She remained a regular cast member in the series until leaving during the sixth season episode "The Thanatos Guild".{{Cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/03/29/arrow-willa-holland-thea-exit/ |title='Arrow' boss on that shocking cast departure |last=Abrams |first=Natalie |date=March 29, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 2, 2018}} Holland returned for a cameo in the season seven episode "Emerald Archer".{{Cite web |last=Drum |first=Nicole |date=2019-02-04 |title='Arrow': Every Character Who Returns in "Emerald Archer" |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/arrow-150th-episode-returning-characters-emerald-archer/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=DC |language=en}} She returned twice during the eight and final season, first in the episode "Leap of Faith", then in the series finale "Fadeout".{{Cite web |date=2019-10-23 |title=Arrow - "Leap of Faith" - CW Atlanta |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/arrow-leap-of-faith/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Jenna |date=2020-01-28 |title=Arrow: Every Character Who Returns in Series Finale |url=https://comicbook.com/dc/news/arrow-spoilers-finale-series-characters-return-crisis/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=DC |language=en}}
In the 2012 film Tiger Eyes, Holland played Davey Wexler.{{Cite magazine |last=Peter Travers |date=June 6, 2013 |title=Tiger Eyes |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/tiger-eyes-20130606 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=February 13, 2015}} The film was based on the 1981 novel of the same name written by Judy Blume.{{Cite magazine |date=June 2013 |title=Meet Hollywood's Next Big Things: Kat Graham, Willa Holland, Ashley Madekwe, and More |url=http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2013/06/hollywoods-next-big-things-kat-graham-willa-holland-ashley-madekwe/7 |magazine=Glamour |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213023121/http://www.glamour.com/entertainment/2013/06/hollywoods-next-big-things-kat-graham-willa-holland-ashley-madekwe/7 |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |access-date=February 7, 2015 |url-status=live}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Film roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2001
| Ordinary Madness | Young Faye | |
| rowspan="3"| 2008
| April | |
| Genova
| Kelly | |
| Middle of Nowhere
| Taylor Elizabeth Berry |
| rowspan="3"|2010
| Jamie | |
| Humanity's Last Line of Defense
| Herself | Documentary |
| Legion
| Audrey Anderson | |
| 2011
| Janice Heddon | |
| 2012
| Davey Wexler | |
| 2016
| Veronica |
| 2023
| Sue Parker |
| TBA
| The Mortuary Assistant | Rebecca Owens |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Television roles |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2005
| {{sortname|The|Comeback|dab=TV series}} | Kalla | Episode: "Valerie Hangs with the Cool Kids" |
| 2006–2007
| {{sortname|The|O.C.}} |
| 2008–2012
| Agnes Andrews | Recurring role; 5 episodes |
| 2012–2020
| Arrow | rowspan="2"| Thea Queen | Main role (seasons 1–6); special guest star (season 7); recurring role (season 8){{Cite web |url=https://tvline.com/2019/09/18/arrow-willa-holland-returns-final-season-thea/ |title=Arrow Favorite Willa Holland to Return and Recur During Final Season |last=Mitovich |first=Matt Webb |date=September 18, 2019 |website=TVLine |language=en |access-date=September 18, 2019}} |
| 2015–2016
| {{sortname|The|Flash|dab=2014 TV series}} | Special guest star; 2 episodes |
| 2024
| Stepmother | Episode: "Based on a Drew Story" |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Video game roles |
| Year
! Title ! Voice role ! Notes |
|---|
| 2010
| Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep | rowspan="6" |Aqua |
| 2012 |
| 2014
| Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix | New footage for Final Mix-exclusive Secret Episode and archived footage |
| 2017
| Kingdom Hearts 0.2: Birth by Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage | |
| 2019
|Also provided additional footage for the Re:Mind (2020) DLC |
| 2020 |
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Music video roles |
| Year
! Title ! Artist |
|---|
| 2008
| "Keep Me Up All Night" |
| 2010
| "Fearless Love" |
| 2011
| "8050 (Too Fast, Too Slow)" | White Arrows |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Award ! Nominated work ! Result ! Ref. |
|---|
| 2006
| Spike Video Game Award for Best Cast | Scarface: The World Is Yours | {{nom}} | |
| 2012
| Boston International Film Festival Award for Best Actress | Tiger Eyes | {{won}} | style="text-align:center;" |{{Cite web |url=http://www.bostoniff.org/quote-post-format/ |title=Boston International Film Festival Announces 2012 Winners |website=bostoniff.org |date=April 22, 2012 |access-date=April 25, 2016}} |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{IMDb name}}
- {{Twitter}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holland, Willa}}
Category:21st-century American actresses
Category:Actresses from Los Angeles
Category:American child actresses
Category:American female models
Category:American film actresses
Category:American people of English descent
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:American television actresses
Category:American voice actresses