First Look: Olivia Thirlby in What Goes Up

Olivia Thirlby is best known for her role as Leah, who was best friends with Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) in Juno. The film won an Oscar for best original screenplay written directly for the screen. Recently, she played the part of Stephanie in the independent film The Wackness opposite Josh Peck. That film won the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award.

In What Goes Up, Thirlby plays Tess, a teenager struggling with the concept of how individual experiences shape our view of the world. In this clip, complete with scenes from the movie, Thirlby shares personal insights about the film and what it is like working with Steve Coogan, who plays Campbell Babbitt. (Content warning: adult language).

First Look: Olivia Thirlby in What Goes Up.


Thirlby, the daughter of a construction worker, was born in New York City, and trained at the American Globe Theatre as well as (briefly) the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She also completed a stage combat course with the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat (BASSC). Her first role was in the movie United 93.

Vanity Fair magazine called Thirlby part of "Hollywood's New Wave," along with The Jonas Brothers, Emma Roberts, Amanda Seyfried, Kristen Stewart, Josh Peck, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Recently, fans were thrilled to find Thirlby with Kat Dennings on the cover of Nylon Magazine.