Larisa Oleynik

Larisa Romanovna Oleynik (; born June 7, 1981) is an American actress. She is known for starring in the title role of the children's television series The Secret World of Alex Mack during the mid-1990s. She has also appeared in theatrical films, including The Baby-Sitters Club and 10 Things I Hate About You. During her period as a teen idol, she was described as "one of America's favorite 15-year-olds", and "the proverbial girl next door". 2Early life and education Oleynik was born in Santa Clara County, California. Her mother Lorraine (née Allen) is a former nurse, and her late father Roman Oleynik (1936–2003) was an anesthesiologist. Her father was of Ukrainian ancestry, and she was raised in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Oleynik grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended Pinewood School in Los Altos, California. As her acting career flourished, she would "divide her time between normal childhood experiences in Northern California and auditions in Los Angeles." After the success in her role as Alex Mack, Oleynik decided to attend colleg