Bio
Olivia Williams is an English actress best known for her roles in the feature films The Postman, Rushmore and The Sixth Sense; as well as for her starring role as Adelle DeWitt in the science fiction television series Dollhouse, from 2009-2010.
Williams earned a degree in English at Cambridge University before studying drama at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company in both Stratford-upon-Avon and London.
She appeared in Roman Polanski's The Ghost opposite Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan as well as the biographical drama Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll with Andy Serkis.
A U.S. tour of Richard III, which featured Sir Ian McKellen, brought Williams to the attention of Kevin Costner who handpicked her for his film The Postman.
Since making her film debut opposite Costner in 1997, Williams has starred in numerous Hollywood films including The Sixth Sense opposite Bruce Willis and Rushmore with Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman.
In 2002, Williams won Best Actress at the British Independent Film Awards for her role in The Heart of Me. Four years later, she starred in the BBC docu-drama Krakatoa: The Last Days and returned to the stage for a starring role in The Changeling at the Barbican Theatre in London.
Williams also starred in the feature films Flashbacks of a Fool opposite Daniel Craig, Broken Lines with Paul Bettany and An Education with Emma Thompson and Alfred Molina. On television, she portrayed writer Jane Austen in the BBC production of Miss Austen Regrets.
When not filming, Williams resides in London with her husband and their two daughters.