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Olivia Thirlby

Olivia Thirlby

Actor, also producer · Born October 6, 1986 (40) · New York City, New York, USA

Critics Choice Award nominee

Olivia Thirlby (born October 6, 1986) is an American actress best known for her role as Leah, the best friend of Elliot Page's character in the 2007 film Juno. In June 2008, Thirlby was described by Vanity Fair magazine as a member of "Hollywood's New Wave". Description above from the Wikipedia article Olivia Thirlby, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia​

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 6, 1986 (40)
From
New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also producer
Titles
37 on MovieCove · 47 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 6% in 30 days

What are Olivia Thirlby's films like?

Across their 27 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 53rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 39th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 52nd percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
32%
Self
27%
Morality
16%
Survival
11%
Power
7%
Ideas
4%
Society
3%
Identity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship5 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose4 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 24 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 15 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 6 · Charged 14 · Intense 4

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 15 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 3

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 14 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 10 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 6 · Affecting 10 · Heavy 8

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 12 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 4

Roles they play

16 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 16 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 16
Hero
4 of 16
Shapeshifter
2 of 16
Herald
1 of 16
Trickster
1 of 16
Show the 16 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
13
Melancholic
11
Contemplative
10
Bittersweet
7
Absurd
7
Other
25

How their films linger

Bittersweet13 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous7

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Olivia Thirlby's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 37 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Olivia Thirlby's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

47 credits, 37 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Ghost Soldier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    Actor

  • Wonder Man(2026)

    Show 3 episodes · as Vivian

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Lousy Carter(2023)

    as Candela

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Dumb Money(2023)

    as Yaara Bank-Plotkin

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Wild Animals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Clara

  • Oppenheimer(2023)

    as Lilli Hornig

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Fire Country(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as CJ Ryan

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Artist in a Field (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Producer · Writer · as Jodie

  • Y: The Last Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    Show 10 episodes · as Hero Brown

  • Law & Order: Organized Crime(2021)

    Show 4 episodes · as Frances Tanner

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • The L Word: Generation Q(2019)

    Show 5 episodes · as Rebecca Dowery

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all shows

  • Above the Shadows(2019)

    as Holly

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Chappaquiddick(2017)

    as Rachel Schiff

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The White Orchid(2018)

    Associate Producer · as Claire

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Damascus Cover(2017)

    as Kim

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Goliath(2016)

    Show 8 episodes · as Lucy Kittridge

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Welcome to Happiness(2015)

    as Trudy

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Between Us(2016)

    as Dianne

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Stanford Prison Experiment(2015)

    as Dr. Christina Maslach

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Just Before I Go(2014)

    as Greta

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Wedding Ringer(2015)

    as Alison Palmer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • DeTour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Gabrielle de la Cruz

  • Red Knot(2014)

    as Chloe Harrison

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • 5 to 7(2014)

    as Jane

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Nobody Walks(2012)

    as Martine

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Dredd(2012)

    as Cassandra Anderson

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Being Flynn(2012)

    as Denise

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Darkest Hour(2011)

    as Natalie

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Good Vibes(2011)

    Show 12 episodes · as Jeena (voice)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Margaret(2011)

    as Monica

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • No Strings Attached(2011)

    as Katie Kurtzman

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Uncertainty(2008)

    as Sophie

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Bored to Death(2009)

    Show 4 episodes · as Suzanne

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Solitary Man(2009)

    as Maureen (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • What Goes Up(2009)

    as Tess Sullivan

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Breaking Upwards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Erika

  • The Answer Man(2009)

    as Anne

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • New York, I Love You(2008)

    as Actress

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Eve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Kate

  • The Wackness(2008)

    as Stephanie

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Juno(2007)

    as Leah

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Secret(2007)

    as Samantha Marris

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Love Comes Lately (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Sylvia Brokeles

  • Snow Angels(2007)

    as Lila Raybern

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Unlocked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Abby

  • Kidnapped (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 5 episodes · Actor

  • United 93(2006)

    as Nicole Carol Miller

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 47 titles, 46 of them dated from 2006 to 2026; peak year 2007.

Biggest box office

Juno (2007)

$232M worldwide

Highest rated

Juno (2007)

Midcredits 91st

Most popular right now

Wonder Man (2026)

Film career

20062026

Peak 2007 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 8 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting47 of 47: 45 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score55thWriting1 of 47: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleProducing2 of 47: 0 only producing, 2 with another role

By decade

2000s16 · acting2010s21 · 21 acting · 1 crew2020s9 · 9 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 8% of 24 roles
071217

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

Nominated for a Critics Choice Award in 2008, Best Acting Ensemble.

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Olivia Thirlby's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 51st percentile, the median of all 30; across their 24 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 48th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

48thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Approval · how many liked their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Reach · how many have seen their films

84thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 24

Midcredits score across 37 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 37 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved3
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed12

Most divisive · actor

What Goes Up (2009)

74th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Oppenheimer (2023)

Midcredits 99th · 91% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 24 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 45. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Olivia Thirlby's work okay for kids?

Across up to 18 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore11 titles29–67 · median 46 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity18 titles20–56 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity12 titles28–86 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs10 titles27–62 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles12–82 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Olivia Thirlby work with?

People who share at least 2 of Olivia Thirlby's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brendan Sexton III shares the most, 3.

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers