Olivia Munn turned a promising career in sports news into a growing television and movie career. Today, we shine our Hollywood spotlight in the star’s direction. (Image Credit: Walt Disney Television)
Unconventional Hollywood Start
Olivia Munn became a Hollywood star in a round-about way. In fact, her first media job was as an intern with an NBC affiliate. Shortly after, she became a sideline sports reporter for women’s basketball and college football. In 2006, she turned her sights toward co-hosting, joining Attack of the Show! on the G4 network. Many found the beauty to be a surprise on the gaming network, however she quickly proved her mettle!
In 2010, Olivia Munn found a new home on The Daily Show. Though she took a pay cut to be on the show, the star believed working with John Stewart on the Comedy Central show would be a good career move. And in the end, her strategy paid off! In fact, it served as a catalyst for her movie career.
From a Newsroom to The Newsroom
Olivia Munn’s biggest role to date slightly parallels her life before Hollywood. As she got her start in the newsroom, she also became a big name in Hollywood with the Aaron Sorkin show The Newsroom. The HBO drama premiered in 2012 with an impressive cast including Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston and Dev Patel. Cast as a brilliant economist, Olivia Munn enjoyed success on the show throughout its three year run.
Other shows and movies on Olivia Munn’s resume include: Date Night (2010), Iron Man 2 (2010), Perfect Couples (2010-2011), Magic Mike (2012), New Girl (2012-2013), Deliver Us from Evil (2014), Mordecai (2015), Ride Along 2 (2016), Zoolander 2 (2016), Office Christmas Party (2016), Mission Force One (2015-2017), The LEGO Ninjago Movie (2017), Ocean’t 8 (2018) and The Rook (2019).
Charities and Causes
Olivia is an advocate for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). In fact, not only did she work with the organization to free a sick circus elephant, she also posed for their “I’d Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur” campaign twice. She also joined them in working toward the elimination of Chinese fur farms.
Moreover, just a day after the death of Kobe Bryant, Olivia Munn shared the news of a project she was working on with the basketball star. Coincidentally, the idea was to help children cope with the death of a loved one. Following the passing of a friend’s child, Olivia Munn learned the family told the youngest child that when their sibling died, they became a star in the sky. The celebrity loved the sentiment and wanted to share it with others. Working with Bryant’s Granity Studios, she hoped to bring the idea to life.
Olivia Munn is also an outspoken supporter of the Me Too and Time’s Up movements.
Upcoming Projects
Olivia Munn stars in Violet, a drama written and directed by Justine Bateman. Olivia Munn plays the titular character, a woman who learns her inner voice is lying to her. The intriguing film will debut at South By Southwest in March.
The celebrity also joined the ensemble cast preparing for The Gateway, a thriller about a social worker immersed in her own personal issues. Other members of the cast include Taryn Manning, Shea Whigham and Bruce Dern. No release date is known.
But Netflix subscribers won’t have long to wait for Olivia Munn’s new movie, Love. Wedding. Repeat. The romantic comedy stars Sam Claflin, of Hunger Games fame, with Munn as his “one who got away”. Production just wrapped. At this moment, a spring 2020 release is expected. Pop the popcorn and get ready for date night!