Larisa Oleynik

Larisa Romanovna Oleynik (born June 7, 1981) is an American actress. She came to fame in the mid-1990s, after starring in the title role of the popular television series, The Secret World of Alex Mack, and has also appeared in theatrical films, including The Baby-Sitters Club and 10 Things I Hate About You. Throughout the 2000s, she has mostly appeared in lower-budget films. During her period as a teen idol, Oleynik was described as "one of America's favorite 15-year-olds" and "the proverbial girl next door". Oleynik was born in Santa Clara County, California, the child of Lorraine (née Allen), a former nurse, and Roman Oleynik, an anesthesiologist. Her father's family is Russian and she was raised in the Russian Orthodox religion.