Olesya's Biography Olesya Rulin stars as Kelsi Nielsen, the playmaker who inspires Troy, Gabriella and the other Wildcats with her musical arrangements, in the Disney Channel Original Movie "High School Musical 2" and its predecessor, the Emmy Award-winning "High School Musical," which has been seen by more than 160 million viewers worldwide.
Her other credits are the Disney Channel Original Movies "Halloweentown High" and "Hounded," the television series "Everwood" and the feature films "Forever Strong," "Mobsters and Mormons" and "The Dance."
Born on March 17 in Moscow, Russia, Rulin spent her early childhood in a poor, 12-house village where her family made hats. Her father emigrated from Russia to the United States in the early 90s, leaving her mother, brother and Rulin behind while he worked in Utah. Two years later, the whole family followed and settled in Texas, where they lived in a trailer for six months before relocating to Salt Lake City, Utah, where her father started a taxidermist business.
Already fluent in Russian, Rulin learned English at school and then tutored her parents each night at home. When she was 11, her mother enrolled her in ballet classes in an effort to improve her shy daughter's posture. Rulin discovered she thoroughly enjoyed the art of dance and her training led to an audition for Model Search America. Eventually it led to her acting career.
After she concluded production on "High School Musical," Rulin continued to work at Nordstrom's in Salt Lake City. To her surprise, after the movie premiered, customers and their children recognized her and asked for autographs.
During production of "High School Musical 2," Rulin was feted by her castmates on the occasion of her 21st birthday and also welcomed home her brother, a paratrooper with the U.S. Army, after his tour of duty in Iraq.
She hopes to serve as a role model for youth, encourages them to learn about the world around them and to contribute to making a difference. An advocate for animals, Rulin serves as a "foster parent" for rescued dogs, which led her to her Cocker Spaniel, Charlie, with whom she couldn't part when adoption day came. In addition to acting and dancing, she is studying French and loves outdoor activities, including hiking, biking and kayaking, to name a few.
Biography from
disneychannelmedianet.com
