Olesya Rulin (Russian: Oлeся Pулин; born March 17, 1986) is a Russian-American actress who is perhaps best known for co-starring in the first three films of the High School Musical franchise as Kelsi Nielsen. She also stars alongside Jessica Simpson in Major Movie Star, and is set to star with Billy Ray Cyrus in the new drama Flying By.
Early life
Rulin was born in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union. She spent her early childhood in the poor, 12-house village Likhoslavl[1] located three hours north of Moscow. She was eight when she migrated to the United States to rejoin her father who had done so two years earlier. They lived first in Texas then later in Utah. She can read, write and speak in fluent Russian. She is also a trained ballet dancer. When she was 12, she entered a model search contest at the urging of her mother and won representation by four different agencies. Prior to acting full-time, she worked for a year as a certified nursing assistant and also at stores such as Victoria's Secret; she was working at a Nordstrom's when the first High School Musical came out. She was studying economics in Paris when the casting for High School Musical 2 was being done. Rulin graduated from West Jordan High in 2005.
Acting career
In addition to her role in High School Musical and High School Musical 2, and High School Musical 3, her other credits include the Disney Channel Original Movies Halloweentown High, The Poof Point and Hounded, the television series Everwood and the feature films Forever Strong, Mobsters and Mormons and The Dance. Rulin's part in High School Musical 2 was significantly larger than the first movie, including a solo in "You Are The Music In Me" and a few lines in "Work This Out". Rulin reprised her role as Kelsi Nielsen in High School Musical 3: Senior Year, also with a larger part, and performed in three songs, one of them being a duet alongside Lucas Grabeel. Rulin is also set to star alongside Jessica Simpson in Major Movie Star (released in the United States under the title Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous). Rulin will also be starring with Hannah Montana co-star Billy Ray Cyrus in a drama, which though completed has yet to be released. She will play the supportive daughter of a businessman (Cyrus) alongside Oscar winner Patricia Neal, Robert Gossett (TNT's The Closer), Eric Allan Kramer (American Wedding) and Ted Hutton in a family-friendly indie feature.[9]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | The Poof Point | Annie | made for television (Disney Channel) |
| Hounded | Girl #1 | made for television (Disney Channel) | |
| 2002 | Touched by an Angel | High School Student | 1 episode |
| 2004 | Everwood | The Drunk Girl | 1 episode |
| Halloweentown High | Natalie the Pink Troll | made for television (Disney Channel) | |
| 2005 | Urban Legends: Bloody Mary | Mindy - Samantha's Friend #2 | Direct-to DVD movie |
| Mobsters and Mormons | Julie Jaymes | Main Role | |
| 2006 | High School Musical | Kelsi Nielsen | made for television (Disney Channel) |
| Vampire Chicks with Chainsaws | Sariah | Direct-to DVD movie | |
| 2007 | American Pastime | Cathy Reyes | appearances |
| The Dance | Britney | appearances | |
| High School Musical 2 | Kelsi Nielsen | made for television (Disney Channel) | |
| 2008 | Private Valentine: Blonde & Dangerous | Petrovich | Main Role |
| Forever Strong | Emily's Friend | appearances | |
| High School Musical 3: Senior Year | Kelsi Nielsen | Supporting Role | |
| 2009 | Flying By | Ellie | aired on Lifetime and now on DVD |
| Greek | Abby | recurring role | |
| 2010 | Apart | Emily Gates | Post Production |
| Expecting Mary | Mary | Post Production | |
| CSI: Miami | Andrea Williams | Television series (Episode "Mommie Deadest") | |
| The Mentalist | Sam Starks | Television series (Episode "Red Ponies") |
