Biography
Heather Lauren Olson has very little in common with "Jan" the self centered, trouble making, obnoxious, valley girl she plays on NBC's number one daytime drama, "Days of Our Lives". "If I really treated people that way, I would have no friends", says Heather. But it's fun playing a character, I would never act like in real life.
Born in San Jose, California, Heather started modeling and doing commercials at the age of 2 1/2. A top fashion model saw Heather and suggested to her parents that she should pursue modeling. Heather landed an agent in San Francisco and soon booked her first professional modeling job, a cover for a Christmas catalog.
Immediately Heather took to the camera and became San Francisco's top child model. Appearing on countless covers, catalogs, greeting cards, toy packages, commercials, adds in Vogue and Elle magazines, fashion shows and clothing hang tags. Jessica McClintock children's dresses still have a picture of a very young Heather on the hang tag.
After three years of doing commercials and print work Heather wanted to try acting. "Talking is more fun then standing still", she said. So Heather got an agent in Los Angeles and her family would periodically commute, for her auditions.
Soon Heather got a McDonalds commercial, a role in "Internal Affairs" playing Richard Gere's stepdaughter, music videos for Julian Lennon and Don Henley's "Heart of the Matter". Finally when Heather was almost 8, her family decided to move to Southern California.
Heather added more national commercials to her credits for Fisher Price, Mattel, Kraft and McDonalds to name a few. Also adding guest appearances to her resume including "Quantum Leap", "Days of Our Lives" (playing a young Lisa Rinna), "Star Trek: Next Generation", "Good Advice," "Charlie Grace", "Sisters" (playing a young Ashley Judd), "Suddenly Susan", a series regular on both "Tom Rhodes" and the HBO pilot "Another Shot" with Seth Green.
Movies of the week include "Lies of the Heart" with Jennie Garth, "Amelia Earhart" with Diane Keaton, "The Texas Cheerleader Story" with Leslie Ann Warren and playing a young Elizabeth Taylor in the mini series "The Liz Taylor Story". Feature films include "Internal Affairs" and "Leave it to Beaver".
In her spare time Heather loves hanging out with friends, shopping, weight training, beading, going to the movies, collecting Muffy Vander Bears and playing with her cat Mittens. She knows sign language and is a licensed E. M. T. ( Emergency Medical Technician). When time permits the young actress wants to get her paramedic license. Heather loves kids, animals and her favorite color is purple. Her birthday is November 12.
For additional pictures and information, please check out Heather's official website at: http://www.heatherolson.net/
Thanks to Heather for her biography!
