Olivia Munn

Olivia Munn

Olivia Munn

Munn in 2014
Born Lisa Olivia Munn
July 3, 1980
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Alma mater University of Oklahoma
Occupation Actress, model, presenter
Years active 2004–present
Website
www.oliviamunn.com

Lisa Olivia Munn (born July 3, 1980)[1][2] is an American actress, model, television personality and author. She began her career being credited as Lisa Munn. Since 2006, she has been using the name Olivia Munn personally and professionally.[3]

Born in Oklahoma City, Munn spent her childhood in Tokyo and Oklahoma City among other places and graduated from the University of Oklahoma. Munn began her professional career in television journalism before becoming an actress. In 2006, Munn starred as Mily Acuna in the series Beyond the Break. She co-hosted Attack of the Show! from 2006 to 2010 and was a correspondent on The Daily Show from 2010 to 2011. Munn has also had supporting roles in various films and television series since 2004. In 2015, she co-starred in the film Mortdecai, opposite Johnny Depp.[4]

Early life

Munn was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Her mother, Kim Schmid, is of Vietnamese descent, and her father, Winston Munn, is American, of English, Irish, and German ancestry. Her mother was born and raised in Vietnam and fled to Oklahoma after the Vietnam War ended in 1975. After college, her mother married Winston Munn.[5][6][7] When Munn was age two, her mother married her second husband, a member of the United States Air Force. Although the family relocated many times, Munn was predominantly raised in Tokyo, Japan,[3][8] where the military stationed her stepfather. During this time, she appeared in a number of local theater productions, and later became a model within the Japanese fashion industry.[9] Her mother and stepfather divorced and she moved back to Oklahoma, where she attended Putnam City North High School for her junior and senior years and where she was a contemporary with Hinder bassist Mike Rodden, future Oklahoma state senator David Holt and author Aaron Goldfarb.[10][11] Munn also attended the University of Oklahoma, majoring in journalism and minoring in Japanese and dramatic arts.[3]

After Munn graduated from college, she became an intern at the NBC affiliate in Tulsa,[12] and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.

In 2004, Munn interned at Fox Sports Net and worked as a sideline reporter for college football and women's basketball. She has gone on to say that she disliked the experience, explaining "I was trying to be something I wasn't, and that made me really uncomfortable on live TV."[8]

Career

Munn cosplaying as Princess Leia Organa.

Soon after she moved to Los Angeles, Munn was cast in a small role in the straight to video horror film Scarecrow Gone Wild. She appeared in rock band Zebrahead's video for their song "Hello Tomorrow" as the love interest of the lead singer Justin Mauriello.[13]

Munn also appeared in National Lampoon's Strip Poker, which was filmed at the Hedonism II nudist resort in Negril, Jamaica, with Kato Kaelin. The films aired on DirecTV and InDemand Pay Per View.[14]

In late 2005, Munn began her role as Mily Acuna, a teen surfer, over two seasons of the TV drama Beyond the Break on The N network.[15] She enjoys surfing and continues to practice the sport.[16] She originally auditioned for the part of Kai, but the producers wanted a "local girl".[17] She also appeared in the film The Road to Canyon Lake.

In 2006, Munn moved on to the G4 network, where she began co-hosting Attack of the Show! with Kevin Pereira on April 10. She replaced departing host Sarah Lane. The network, devoted to the world of video games and the video game lifestyle, was at first hesitant to hire Munn. Although she admits video games were her "weak point", she was confident in her technical knowledge.[18] On the show, Munn was featured with journalist Anna David in a segment called "In Your Pants", which deals with sex and relationship questions from viewers. While working on Attack of the Show!, Munn hosted Formula D, a now defunct program about American drift racing, and an online podcast called Around the Net (formerly known as The Daily Nut), for G4. Munn left Attack of the Show! in December 2010 and was replaced by Candace Bailey.

Munn at the 2013 Harper's Bazaar Women of the Year Awards

Munn appeared in the Rob Schneider film Big Stan (2007). She played Schneider's character's receptionist Maria.[8] Munn had a significant role in the horror film Insanitarium in which she played a nurse at an insane asylum. She had roles in the films Date Night (2010) and Iron Man 2 (2010). Robert Downey, Jr. praised Munn for her improvisation skills and led the crew in a round of applause.[19] Munn hosted Microsoft's Bing-a-thon, an advertisement on Hulu for the Microsoft search-engine Bing, on June 8, 2009, alongside Jason Sudeikis.[20] Munn appeared in ABC Family's Greek, portraying Cappie's love interest, Lana. In May 2010, NBC announced that Munn would star in the upcoming television series Perfect Couples. The half-hour romantic comedy premiered on January 20, 2011.[21] The show was cancelled before it completed its first season run.[22]

On June 3, 2010, Munn debuted in her new role as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show.[23] Her hiring prompted criticism from Irin Carmon of Jezebel, who questioned Munn's credentials and accused the show's production of sexism in hiring Munn, whom Carmon characterized as a sex symbol.[24] Carmon saw Munn's hiring as a perpetuation of the show production office's history as a male-dominated atmosphere marginalizing and alienating to women.[25] A group of thirty-two female Daily Show production staff members condemned Carmon's piece as inaccurate and misinformed, as did Munn herself in an interview, in which she stated that Carmon's assertion was an insult both to her and to the rest of the Daily Show staff.[26][27] She went on to appear in 16 more episodes, the last coming on September 2, 2011.

In 2010, Munn guest-starred in NBC's Chuck as a CIA agent.[28] In 2011, Munn appeared in the comedy film I Don't Know How She Does It (2011) as Momo. In 2012, Munn had a leading role in The Babymakers, a minor role in Freeloaders, and appeared in Magic Mike, directed by Steven Soderbergh. She plays Sloan Sabbith on HBO's The Newsroom. She also appeared as Angie, Nick's stripper girlfriend, in three episodes in season 2 of FOX's New Girl.

Munn served as a correspondent in "True Colors", the May 12, 2014 episode of the Showtime documentary TV series Years of Living Dangerously, in which she interviewed Washington State Governor Jay Inslee about his efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in his home state. As of June 2014 Munn has been hired as the main promoter of Proactive acne cleanser products starring in several commercials and one informercial for the product. The commercials show Munn experiencing acne herself.

In print

Munn at a signing for her book Suck It, Wonder Woman at Midtown Comics in Manhattan

Munn has booked modeling campaigns for Nike, Pepsi, and Neutrogena. She appeared on the Fall 2006 cover of Foam magazine in September, in Men's Edge magazine in August, and was featured in a pictorial in Complex in November 2006, where she later became a columnist.[29] In February 2007, she appeared as "Babe of the Month" in a non-nude pictorial in Playboy magazine.[30] She discusses this shoot in her book Suck it, Wonder Woman.[31]

Munn also appeared in the July/August 2007 issue of Men's Health. In September 2007, she was featured in the Italian Vanity Fair for their "Hot Young Hollywood" Issue. Munn appeared in the Winter/Spring 2009 issue of Men's Health Living.[32] She was featured as the cover girl for the July/August 2009 issue of Playboy, and later on the cover of the January 2010 and February 2011 U.S.Maxim. Munn appears on the cover of FHM Magazine's January 2012 issue.[33] She was voted #2 by readers on Maxim‍ '​s list of their 2012 Hot 100.[34][35]

Munn's book Suck It, Wonder Woman: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek (ISBN 0-312-59105-5) was released on July 6, 2010. One critic said it offers glimpses into Munn's life but does not go into depth.[36]

Charity work

In 2011, Munn teamed up with Dosomething.org's Green Your School Challenge. She was a spokesperson for the campaign by filming a PSA regarding the challenge, and sat on the panel of judges that evaluated the entries.[37]

Munn helped PETA with a campaign that ultimately freed a sick elephant from a touring circus. Her blog for The Huffington Post[38] was credited with encouraging fans to contact the USDA on the elephant's behalf.[39] Munn posed for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" campaign in April 2010,[40][41] and again in January 2012.[42] In February 2013, Munn fronted a PETA release of new footage showing cruelty to animals in Chinese fur farms.[43]

Personal life

Munn lives in Los Angeles, California and New York City.[5] She is currently dating Green Bay Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers.[44]

In regard to her faith and work in Deliver Us from Evil, Munn has stated that "I didn't believe in the supernatural before this movie"; however, the viewing of actual footage from the New York Police Department of real-life exorcisms changed the actress' mind, and she has stated that "I'm a full believer [now]."[45][46]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2004 Scarecrow Gone Wild Girl #1 Direct-to-video film
2004 National Lampoon's Strip Poker Lisa Munn Direct-to-video film
2005 Road to Canyon Lake, TheThe Road to Canyon Lake Asian mob girl
2007 Big Stan Maria
2008 Insanitarium Nancy Direct-to-video film
2009 Slammin' Salmon, TheThe Slammin' Salmon Samara Dubois
2009 Dave Knoll Finds His Soul Girl #1 Television film
2010 Date Night Claw Hostess
2010 Iron Man 2 Chess Roberts[47]
2010 Jedi Junkies Herself
2011 I Don't Know How She Does It[48] Momo Hahn
2012 Magic Mike Joanna
2012 Babymakers, TheThe Babymakers Audrey
2012 Freeloaders Madeline
2014 Unity Narrator Documentary
2014 Deliver Us from Evil Jen Sarchie
2015 Mortdecai Georgina Krampf
2016 Ride Along 2 Filming
2016 X-Men: Apocalypse Betsy Braddock / Psylocke Filming
Television
Year Title Role Notes
2006–2010 Attack of the Show! Herself Co-host
2006–2007 Beyond the Break Mily Acuna 9 episodes
2008–2009 Sasuke Herself Competitor; 2 episodes
2009 Greek Lana 4 episodes
2010 Accidentally on Purpose Nicole Episode: "Face Off"
2010–2011 Daily Show, TheThe Daily Show Herself Correspondent
2010 Chuck Greta Episode: "Chuck Versus the Anniversary"
2010–2011 Perfect Couples Leigh Main role
2011 Robot Chicken Dr. Liz Wilson (voice) Episode: "Kramer Vs. Showgirls"
2012–2014 Newsroom, TheThe Newsroom Sloan Sabbith Main role
2012–2013 New Girl Angie 3 episodes
2015 Repeat After Me Herself 1 episode

Magazine rankings

Year Countdown Name Rank
2008 FHM's 100 Sexiest Women of 2008 #85
2009FHM‍‍ '​‍s 100 Sexiest Women of 2009 #85
2010FHM‍‍ '​‍s 100 Sexiest Women of 2010 #52
2008 Maxim‍‍ '​‍s Hot 100 Women, 2008 #99
2009 Maxim‍‍ '​‍s Hot 100 Women, 2009 #96
2010 Maxim‍‍ '​‍s Hot 100 Women, 2010 #8
2011 Maxim‍‍ '​‍s Hot 100 Women, 2011 #2
2012 Maxim‍‍ '​‍s Hot 100 Women, 2012 #2
2013 Maxim‍‍ '​‍s Hot 100 Women, 2013 #28

References

  1. ↑ Olivia Munn: Bio. US magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  2. ↑ Olivia Munn Maxim magazine. Retrieved July 26, 2011.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Olivia Munn. "About". OliviaMunn.com. COMPLEXMediaNetwork. Archived from the original on April 6, 2010. Retrieved April 6, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Mortdecai". Hedsor House. Retrieved April 10, 2008.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Pacheco, Patrick (May–June 2012). "Olivia Munn: Hollywood's Hottest Geek". Ocean Drive. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  6. ↑ Tokyo Dance Trooper with G4TV's Olivia Munn from ZimBio.com
  7. ↑ Christopher John Farley (June 5, 2010). "‘Daily Show’ Correspondent Olivia Munn on Joining the Program" The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Olivia Munn (April 7, 2006). Just Who is Olivia Munn?. G4TV. Interview with sjohnson. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
  9. ↑ "Olivia Munn". Askmen.com. Retrieved October 28, 2007.
  10. ↑ "OU graduate Olivia Munn gets ‘Perfect' in new show". NewsOK. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  11. ↑ "Shaping The Minds Of America’s Youth: Aaron Goldfarb". The Lost Ogle. March 2, 2011. Retrieved August 7, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Olivia Munn & Sam Roberts on News Room, Magic Mike, Nude Scene, Leaving G4, & more". YouTube. June 27, 2013. Retrieved August 25, 2013.
  13. ↑ Olivia Munn in Zebrahead Music Video on YouTube Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  14. ↑ Strip Poker IMDB
  15. ↑ Stephen A. Johnson (April 15, 2006). "AOTS hosts Kevin Pereira and Olivia Munn". G4TV. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  16. ↑ Matt Bean. "Adventure as Aphrodisiac". menshealth.com. Retrieved October 29, 2007.
  17. ↑ Olivia Munn (November 30, 2006). "Hello TV Land!!". tvguide.com. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  18. ↑ "Playboy after hours – babe of the month" (February 2007) Playboy, as seen in: "Olivia Munn in Playboy!". G4. January 18, 2007. Retrieved October 28, 2007..
  19. ↑ Blair Marnell (December 14, 2009). "Olivia Munn Talks 'Iron Man 2' Improv". MTV Splash Page. Viacom. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  20. ↑ "Bing-a-thon on mashable.com".
  21. ↑ "NBC Announces Pickup of New Comedy Series 'Perfect Couples' For 2010–11 Season" (Press release). NBC Universal. May 12, 2010. Archived from the original on May 14, 2010. Retrieved May 12, 2010.
  22. ↑ Claudine Zap (April 8, 2011). "Bye-Bye, 'Perfect Couples,' Hello 'Paul Reiser Show'". Yahoo! TV. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Olivia Munn 'trying out' as 'Daily Show' correspondent". The Hollywood Reporter. June 3, 2010. Archived from the original on June 7, 2010. Retrieved June 4, 2010.
  24. ↑ Irin Carmon (June 8, 2010). "Olivia Munn's Geek Goddess Schtick". Jezebel. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
  25. ↑ Irin Carmon (June 23, 2010). "The Daily Show's Woman Problem". Jezebel.
  26. ↑ Teri Abrams-Maidenberg et al. (June 2010) "Women of The Daily Show Speak". The Daily Show. Archived from the original on January 16, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
  27. ↑ Sarah Hepola (July 7, 2010). "Olivia Munn: 'I'm easy to hate. I get it'". Salon.com. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Her Quest for World Domination Continues: Olivia Munn to Guest-Star on Chuck". TV Guide. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  29. ↑ "Complex's New Columnist: Olivia Munn". Complex. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  30. ↑ Olivia Munn (January 31, 2007). "Hello TV Land!!". tvguide.com. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  31. ↑ Amanda Hess (June 30, 2010). "Consent and Manipulation in Olivia Munn’s Playboy Shoot". Washington City Paper. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  32. ↑ Andrew Vontz. "Olivia Munn in Men's Health Living". Men's Health Living. Archived from the original on December 7, 2008. Retrieved December 6, 2008.
  33. ↑ "Olivia Munn FHM Cover, January 2012". Trendrabbit.com.
  34. ↑ "2012 Hot 100: The Definitive List of the World's Most Beautiful Women". Maxim. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  35. ↑ "2012 Hot 100". Maxim. Archived from the original on August 23, 2012. Retrieved August 21, 2012.
  36. ↑ Olivia Giovetti (June 28, 2010). "Suck It, Wonder Woman!: Munn fans rejoice, all others proceed with caution". Time Out New York. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  37. ↑ Rachel Cernansky (February 3, 2011). "Green Your School: Take The DoSomething.Org Challenge". Treehugger.com. Retrieved August 3, 2011.
  38. ↑ Olivia Munn (November 21, 2011). "Sarah Cannot Wait Another Day". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  39. ↑ Daily Dish (November 29, 2011). "Olivia Munn Celebrates After Ailing Elephant Is Saved". SFGate.com. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
  40. ↑ FITSNews (April 28, 2010). "Olivia Munn Wants Elephants To Run Free". fitsnews.com. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  41. ↑ "Olivia Munn Combats Circus Cruelty". PETA. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  42. ↑ Cristina Everett (January 13, 2012). "Olivia Munn naked billboard for PETA's anti-fur campaign". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  43. ↑ Olivia Munn Exposes Chinese Fur-Farm Cruelty. "Olivia Munn Exposes Chinese Fur-Farm Cruelty". YouTube. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  44. ↑ Lee, Esther (May 14, 2014). "Olivia Munn Dating Aaron Rodgers After Joel Kinnaman Split". Us Weekly. Retrieved May 14, 2014.
  45. ↑ Hasty, Katie (April 25, 2014). "Deliver Us From Evil made Olivia Munn into supernatural believer". HitFix. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  46. ↑ "Olivia Munn Says She's a Believer After Working on 'Deliver Us from Evil'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
  47. ↑ Geoff Boucher (May 1, 2010). "'Iron Man 2' roundup: Captain America's shield, Olivia Munn and Bill Gates". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 16, 2010. A second, unnamed role played by Munn—a partygoer at Tony Stark's birthday party—was cut from the film, but is viewable in the Blu-ray release deleted scenes. According to the audio commentary, she was given the role of Chess Roberts as compensation for her party scene being cut.
  48. ↑ Brendan Bettinger (December 18, 2010). "Christina Hendricks, Olivia Munn, and Seth Meyers Join Sarah Jessica Parker, Pierce Brosnan, and Kelsey Grammer for I DON'T KNOW HOW SHE DOES IT". Collider.com.

External links

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