Born in New York City on March 10, 1984, Olivia Wilde was christened Olivia Cockburn but changed her family name for acting purposes. A love of the craft inspired her to pursue it as a career following graduation.

Wilde's first role came in 2003 in the exciting but short-lived TV drama Skin, in which she played Jewel Goldman. When the show's execs announced Skin would not be returning for a second season, Olivia took the news in stride and concentrated on her personal life. She