Ashley Fuller Olsen (born June 13, 1986) is an American businesswoman, fashion designer and former actress. She began her acting career at the age of nine months, sharing the role of Michelle Tanner with her twin sister Mary-Kate Olsen in the television sitcom Full House (1987–1995). They also starred in numerous films together.
In 1993, the production company Dualstar Entertainment Group was founded, which produced a long string of TV movies and direct-to-video releases featuring the girls; they starred in Passport to Paris (1999), Our Lips Are Sealed (2000), Winning London (2001), Holiday in the Sun (2001) and in the television series So Little Time (2001–2002). They starred in Getting There (2002), When in Rome (2002), and The Challenge (2003); and made cameos in (2003). The last film she starred in with her twin sister was New York Minute (2004). She continued with her acting career independently, appearing with a few guest appearance roles in films and in a music video.
In March 2012, both Mary-Kate and Ashley officially indicated their interest to retire as actresses in order to focus on their careers in the fashion industry. She and her twin sister co-founded luxury fashion brand The Row, lifestyle brand Elizabeth and James, and more affordable fashion lines Olsenboye and StyleMint. They co-authored a book, Influence, featuring interviews with fashion designers that have inspired their fashion lines. They are members of the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Olsen attended the Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles. After graduating from Campbell Hall in 2004, she and Mary-Kate went on to attend New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
She starred alongside Mary-Kate in the films To Grandmother's House We Go (1992), Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993), How the West Was Fun (1994), It Takes Two (1995), Billboard Dad (1998) and the television series, Two of a Kind (1998–1999).
She and her twin sister became household names and popular figures in the preteen market during the late 1990s and early 2000s, with their likeness seen in clothes, books, fragrances, magazines, movies, and posters, among others. There were fashion dolls of her made by Mattel from 2000 to 2005. They also starred in the films Getting There (2002), When in Rome (2002), The Challenge (2003) and made cameos in (2003). In 2004, the sisters appeared in their theatrical light-hearted romantic comedy film, New York Minute. It would be their last film together, as well as Ashley's last acting role. Mary-Kate continued with her acting career independently, appearing in a few films and shows, with her final acting project being the 2011 movie Beastly.
In 2004, upon the twins' 18th birthday, they became co-presidents of their company Dualstar (created in 1993 following the success of Full House), the brand currently selling in over 3,000 stores in the United States and 5,300 stores worldwide.
In 2007, when the Olsen twins were 21, they said that if they got involved in movies together again it would be as producers.Clark, Cindy. (October 31, 2007). "Act 2 for the Olsen twins: A fashion career". USA Today. In 2009, Olsen contemplated returning to acting and said, "Never say never." "Ashley Olsen Wants Out of Fashion Career" . Young Hollywood. October 2, 2009 Ashley Olsen, the "Private Twin". OK!. June 30, 2009. In March 2012, the Olsen twins indicated their interest to retire as actresses in order to focus on their careers in fashion. They discussed wanting to open a store as one of their future fashion-based endeavors. "Olsen Twins Quit Acting: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen Focus On Fashion". The Huffington Post. March 7, 2012.
In 2015, it was announced that John Stamos had signed on with Netflix to produce and co-star in Fuller House, a spin-off of Full House that would reunite the original cast members. In May of that year, Mary-Kate and Ashley announced that they would not reprise their role as Michelle Tanner; however, two months later in July, according to Netflix's Ted Sarandos, the Olsen twins were "teetering" on an agreement to join the series.Amanda Mikelberg, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen will not appear on "Full House" revival CBS News. May 25, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015. The twins eventually declined to join the cast of Fuller House, with Ashley saying she would not feel comfortable in front of the camera after a 12-year absence from acting and Mary-Kate saying the timing was bad. Nickelodeon acquired the rights to Mary-Kate and Ashley's video library in 2015.
In 2004, they made news by signing a pledge to allow all the workers that sew their line of clothing in Bangladesh full maternity leave. The National Labor Committee, which organized the pledge, later praised the twins for their commitment to worker rights.Grossberg, Josh (December 9, 2004). "Mary-Kate, Ashley: No Sweat". E! Online.
In 2008, Mary-Kate and Ashley published Influence, a book featuring interviews with fashion designers that have inspired their fashion lines.Caplan, David. (July 31, 2008). "SNEAK PEEK: Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen's New Book" . People.
In 2007, the Olsens released a fashion line called Elizabeth and James. The brand was named after their younger sister, actress Elizabeth Olsen, and older brother, writer James "Trent" Olsen. In 2009, Mary-Kate and Ashley announced that their new women's retail line, Olsenboye, would release for JCPenney. Olsenboye would be much cheaper than The Row, with all products under US$50. It debuted on November 6, 2009, in select stores and online, and launched nationwide in Spring of 2010. The twins designed a limited edition Olsenboye change purse in August 2011 to raise money for Pennies From Heaven, an organization that donates to after-school programs. "Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen Create a Change Purse for Charity" . People. August 8, 2011. In July 2011, they founded StyleMint, another retail line, in partnership with BeachMint. That same year, the sisters collaborated with TOMS Shoes to design footwear for children without shoes in Honduras. The sisters traveled to the country together, fitting feet and socializing with the children there. In early 2013, Elizabeth and James launched a perfume line, headed by two fragrances called Nirvana White and Nirvana Black. In 2019, the Elizabeth and James line became exclusively available at Kohl's stores.
In October 2012, the twins won the WSJ magazine Innovator of The Year Award.
Ashley and Mary-Kate have appeared on multiple best-dressed lists, such as Glamour UK and US Vogue lists.
In 2001, Olsen began dating Columbia University quarterback Matt Kaplan, whom she met while attending high school. The couple split amicably in 2004. Olsen later called the relationship "pretty boring." In 2008, Olsen began dating actor Justin Bartha. Throughout their relationship, which ended amicably in 2011, they were rumored to be engaged. In 2014, Olsen began a relationship with director Bennett Miller. The relationship ended at an unknown date.
Olsen began a relationship with artist Louis Eisner in October 2017. Eisner is the son of Eric Eisner, former president of The Geffen Company and a philanthropist who founded the Young Eisner Scholars. In July 2019, Olsen sparked engagement rumors after she was spotted wearing a ring on her finger. They married on December 28, 2022, in Bel Air, Los Angeles. In 2023, Olsen gave birth to a son. The family lives together in New York City.
1989 | Young Artist Awards | Best Young Actor/Actress – Under Five Years of Age (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | Full House | ||
1990 | Outstanding Performance by an Actress Under Nine Years of Age (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | Full House | |||
1992 | Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress Under Ten (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | Full House | |||
1994 | Best Youth Actress in a TV Mini-Series, M.O.W. or Special (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | Double, Double, Toil and Trouble | |||
1996 | It Takes Two | ||||
Kids' Choice Awards | Favorite Movie Actress (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | It Takes Two | |||
1999 | Favorite TV Actress (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | Two of a Kind | |||
2004 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Blush (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | New York Minute | ||
2012 | Council of Fashion Designers of America | Womenswear Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | "The Row Wins CFDA Womenswear Designer of the Year Once Again". fashionista.com, June 1, 2015. | |
The Wall Street Journal | Innovator of the Year: Fashion (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | |||
2014 | Council of Fashion Designers of America | Accessories Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | "And the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards Winners are...". cfda.com, June 3, 2014. | |
2015 | Council of Fashion Designers of America | Accessories Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | ||
Council of Fashion Designers of America | Womenswear Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | |||
2016 | Council of Fashion Designers of America | Accessories Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | ||
Council of Fashion Designers of America | Womenswear Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | |||
2017 | Council of Fashion Designers of America | Accessories Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | "2017 CFDA Fashion Awards Nominees Named". wwd.com, March 23, 2017. | |
Council of Fashion Designers of America | Womenswear Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | |||
2018 | Council of Fashion Designers of America | Accessories Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | "2018 CFDA Fashion Awards Nominees Named". wwd.com, March 15, 2018. | |
Council of Fashion Designers of America | Womenswear Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | |||
2019 | Council of Fashion Designers of America | Accessories Designer of the Year (with Mary-Kate Olsen) | The Row | "And the 2019 Winners Are ...". cfda.com, June 3, 2019. |
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