Whedonesque : Comments on 15978 : Olivia Williams to play in "Dollhouse."

You beat me to it. I was just coming here to post this. I'm not familiar with her. Does anyone have any insight?

She's been in Spaced! :-p

I was thinking of someone a bit older but I think she's a good actress and would suit the part.

Leaf | April 03, 20:54 CET

She was great in Rushmore. Brilliant movie that I would recommend to anyone.

the Groosalugg | April 03, 20:58 CET

I find her classy and elegant onscreen. This will do.

Raggedy Edge | April 03, 20:58 CET

I'm not familiar with her. Does anyone have any insight?

She's a lovely Brit. If you didn't see her in either Rushmore or Miss Austen Regrets, you might have noticed her as Bruce Willis' wife in The Sixth Sense. And if you didn't see her in Rushmore, go pick up a copy now.

BrewBunny | April 03, 21:00 CET

If this is true the casting people have their heads screwed on. She's really good.

[ edited by gossi on 2008-04-03 18:06 ]

gossi | April 03, 21:02 CET

She's quite the actress. I hope this rumor is true.

Scaniano | April 03, 21:08 CET

These are my O.R. scrubs
O.R. they?

Vaughn | April 03, 21:15 CET

She was wunderbar in Rushmore. I think she'll be fantastic as a Whedonverse actress. I agree that she and Dushku will play off each other well. It feels right and interesting. This is excellent, excellent news.

Vaughan: heh. Rushmore really was the bomb, wasn't it?

[ edited by phlebotinin on 2008-04-03 18:22 ]

phlebotinin | April 03, 21:22 CET

Wow. The Brits are really conquering American television, aren't they? I can't remember ever seeing so many British actors on American shows... but perhaps I didn't watch that many shows before!

Caroline | April 03, 21:22 CET

This is exciting news (if true). I have liked Olivia Williams for quite a while now. She was excellent in a BBC biography of Agatha Christie and she is a very keen cyclist (totally irrelevant to her acting ability but, still, bonus points as far as I am concerned) and that does illuminate her role in Spaced as "knocked down cyclist".

moley75 | April 03, 21:26 CET

This is perfect, perfect casting. She's going to be brilliant if she takes the job. Got this really deep and soulful vibe but with a steel edge she can bring to it, so I think she'll be able to make Adele into a character who can whirl on a dime between fierce and vulnerable.

KingofCretins | April 03, 21:43 CET

She played Jane Fairfax in a version of Jane Austen's "Emma" which was just shown recently on PBS. And as mentioned before, she was wonderful as Jane Austen in "Miss Austen Regrets". I wonder if her portrayal of Jane had something to do with Joss picking her for "Dollhouse". Remember, Joss was once asked if he could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why. His response was,

"Jane Austen. 'cause, apart from being brilliant, she'd probably have kick-ass table manners."

floofypooh | April 03, 21:44 CET

Oh! It's Jane Fairfax! I think she'll be fabulous in this part. I hope it's true.

Lirazel | April 03, 21:50 CET

Televisionary was the first site to break the news about Joss directing The Office. Kudos to 'em for this scoop.

Simon | April 03, 21:51 CET

i loved her in peter pan! she's gorgeous.

whiterabbit | April 03, 21:55 CET

Aye, Televisionary is required reading - it's a really excellent blog, so all credit to Jase.

Olivia is somebody who has worked in the entertainment industry for a good while and hasn't been sucked into the whole fame thing, despite being in some big projects ('cos seriously? Fuck fame). Her showreel is on Youtube here. She's a really talented actress so count me as officially excited to see what she can do with the role.

[ edited by gossi on 2008-04-03 19:00 ]

gossi | April 03, 21:59 CET

6 degrees time, she was almost in 'A Knight's Tale' (which also obviously featured Alan Tudyk) - her scenes were cut apparently.

And sure, you can bring up her Jane Austen credits if you like but I think we all know it was her star-making turn as Moira McTaggart in "X-Men: The Last Stand" that really showed what she can do.

(seriously, she's a very decent actress and not exactly hard on the eyes either, good choice if true)

Saje | April 03, 22:01 CET

Saje, her Knights Tale thing is on her show reel. I think Alan is there too. And yeah, she's totally pretty, too. I like pretty ladies. And waffles.

gossi | April 03, 22:04 CET

For everybody who want to form a better idea of miss Williams and her acting skills, here‘s a quite comprehensive showreel containing various scenes from her previous productions. ;-)

Oh sorry, already posted, nevermind...

[ edited by Anuris on 2008-04-03 19:06 ]

Anuris | April 03, 22:05 CET

Lol, sorry Anuris. I needs me a life.

gossi | April 03, 22:08 CET

Ah yeah, just a few snippets of it, ta gossi. Bloody hell, BTW, was Craig Ferguson about 10 when he made 'Born Romantic' ? Looked it.

I'd seen that Jimmy Nesbitt film too, just didn't realise it was her.

Interestingly, in her showreel she only ever has an English accent, wonder if she'd keep it for the show ? It'd probably be the natural choice if she's meant to be a bit of an ice queen (on the surface).

Saje | April 03, 22:34 CET

Well, I like licorice jelly beans, which is an odd fodder for my type of slug, as I should be downing redwood.

I can see Ms. Williams in this part. Good choice.

MysticSlug | April 03, 22:58 CET

Somehow I see more Claire Sanders in her than Adele (mostly because I wanted Adele to be a bit older). I'm excited nonetheless. I wished they had not announced that Joss was returning to TV until the show actually airs, cause the waiting time is killing me.

Donnie | April 04, 00:03 CET

Anyone subjected to the quantity of Friends episodes that we are over here in the UK will remember her. She was the bridesmaid at Ross and Emily's wedding that Joey ummmm.... Joey'd.

I'm amazed she's 40.

curlymynci | April 04, 00:14 CET

Well, as she might be the first to point out, she's actually only 39 ;). But yep, very well preserved.

(she's 40 in July)

Saje | April 04, 00:20 CET

I wished they had not announced that Joss was returning to TV until the show actually airs, cause the waiting time is killing me.

And to let slip all the regular news, excitement, speculation etc.? No way!

Nevertheless, the waiting is killing me too, so I understand your feelings. ;-) But to go through the whole process from the beginning to the end has also it’s pros and unique magic. This way every second day can be a cause for excitement and joy over some shiny new information regarding the show - even the tiniest little news can sometimes make your whole day (when your so obsessively enthusiastic about this show as I am :-). And wait how far more satisfying will it this way feel, when you actually finally get to the end (premiere of the show). Or when several years in the future, when Dollhouse will (hopefully) already be a well-known, hugely successful and acclaimed show entering it’s [insert number here] season, you look back and proudly say to yourself or to a group of later fans, that weren’t so lucky like you, "Yeah, I was there right from the very beginning..."

Didn’t experience this with any of the previous Whedon shows, so I’m happy that this time around, I got my longed-for chance. ;-)

Anuris | April 04, 01:00 CET

It's nice to actually be able to experience a Joss show from the seed stage right up until the full grown flower. For me, the previous 3 TV endeavours came at a stage in my life when programs just sprung up on the schedules and I was totally ignorant as to anything outside of the show itself (plus, being a Brit, I had no clue about American networks and such).

So to wrap this up into some sort of conclusion, me = giddy.

Vaughn | April 04, 01:33 CET

What, no love here for Below? It's far too under-rated, and she was pretty dang great in it. But I have to agree - she was brilliant in Rushmore. Awesome, awesome casting news.

thatoneguy | April 04, 01:36 CET

Don't think I'm familiar with her, but I'm just so excited that casting seems to be moving along so well :)

MySerenity | April 04, 01:51 CET

It's like they're AIMING Dollhouse directly at me. Now, they've cast Jane Austen!

Septimus | April 04, 02:00 CET

Thanks for the link to the showreel. Very cool if this pans out.

TamaraC | April 04, 02:23 CET

Floofypooh, thanks for the "Emma" reference -- Olivia Williams was very good in a laid-back but essential role.

doghouse | April 04, 02:33 CET

Hollywood Reporter confirms it! Very exciting. Also, she played Bruce Willis' wife in "The Sixth Sense".

crossoverman | April 04, 05:08 CET

Always happy when one of my scoops is confirmed by the trades... :)

Jace at Televisionary | April 04, 05:55 CET

...

I just saw a pic of her from Rushmore. I hope Adele can have that haircut! Yowza.

swanjun | April 04, 06:03 CET

Rushmore is one of my all-time favorite movies.

I'd love to see her in Dollhouse.

Reddygirl | April 04, 06:08 CET

Ausiello has this now, but it's pretty much useless. And he spelled it Adelle.

swanjun | April 04, 06:12 CET

Terrific news - I love Olivia. She did a grand job spoofing herself, sort of, in Spaced and always seems to be just on in every role she has.

Bonus six degrees link: she's from Camden Town, like ASH, and went to school with Helena Bonham-Carter (OK, that's not a Joss link, but the school was round the corner from my house, so it's a me link. :-))

ETA the confirmation to the subject link.

SoddingNancyTribe | April 04, 07:00 CET

Yes, Ausiello was late to the reporting party... but I was amused by his comment,

"Even better, this performer's name doesn't resemble a word jumble! "

Also, Doghouse, you're welcome. I've been really enjoying all the Jane Austen productions on PBS and I agree she was great in the role of Jane Fairfax.

floofypooh | April 04, 07:24 CET

Ooh, this is wonderful news. I'm getting excited now!

ShanshuBugaboo | April 04, 09:46 CET

And he spelled it Adelle.

Which is AFAIK (and to be 100% sure, I've just checked the sides) correct. ;-)

Anuris | April 04, 13:23 CET

Brilliant. She's superb! Plus adds to the increasingly international flavour of the Dollhouse.

flugufrelsarinn | April 04, 13:50 CET

The only thing she's been in that I've seen is X-Men:The Last Stand but I don't remember her role. Not really a big X-Men fan, I've watched the movies for Ian McCellan, Partic Stewart and company.

No, I've never seen Rushmore, suppose I should do something about that.

Loving the enthusiasm of those who are familiar with her work. That and a Joss vote of confidence, is good enough for me. And what would a Joss show be without an English accent in the mix? (UK guys, is "British accent" more correct?)

Shey | April 04, 15:18 CET

English accent is better, seeing as Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales.

Vaughn | April 04, 15:33 CET

She's blink and miss it in 'X-Men 3' Shey though you see a bit more of her in the post-credits coda (she plays Dr Moira McTaggart - with a Scottish accent. Ish ;).

English accent is fine BTW (assuming she doesn't go with another UK regional accent). "British accent" could mean anything from Giles (England) to Begbie (from 'Trainspotting', Scotland) to Gwen (from 'Torchwood', Wales) and possibly to James Nesbitt (from 'Jekyll', Northern Ireland) - NI is definitely in the UK but some might argue it's not part of Britain.

(an English accent is a British accent of course, just as a Texan accent is an American one, but it's maybe not quite specific enough. And of course, there's English accents and there's English accents from Geordie to Cockney to Yorkshire to Cornish to home counties/south-east England. No offence to any west country readers though but I doubt Cornish is quite the sort of thing Joss is looking for ;)

Saje | April 04, 15:33 CET

So is Adele the Dollhouse Lilah/Gwendolyn Post?

Simon | April 04, 15:46 CET

Thanks Saje that was .... um, enlightening. ;-) I'll stick with "English", keeping in mind that there are as many regional variations as in the U.S.

And if Gwen/Eve Myles' accent is Welsh, that has to be my favorite, it's lovely and musical, kind of enchanting.
Fond of the Scottish as well, I hate that Craig Ferguson is losing his.

Shey | April 04, 15:55 CET

You're welcome ;). Yeah, Gwen's accent (I say "Gwen's" because I don't think i've actually heard Eve Myles speak) is very lilting, sort of like a Highlands accent, I also like it. Course, there are variations within Wales too but they don't really stand out to my non-Welsh ears.

So is Adele the Dollhouse Lilah/Gwendolyn Post?

I've not read the sides or anything Simon but she strikes me as a bit less an outright villain and a bit more an ambivalent, damaged character so maybe more a grown up Faith than either of those two ?

Could be wrong of course, like I say i've avoided learning much about the show pre-air.

Saje | April 04, 16:06 CET

Cool. Someone I know (unlike the previously announced actors) and she's good.

redeem147 | April 04, 16:18 CET

Holy crap, this is great casting.

I loved her in Rushmore!

UnpluggedCrazy | April 04, 16:55 CET

Yeah, Spaced. Augurs well.
Also, pronounceable and spellable name.
Lets just have her normal accent though please?

Then I glanced down the page and noticed Ted Danson's name which was a momentary shock.

ZodKneelsFirst | April 04, 17:25 CET

Ted Danson was brilliant in last year's Damages and luckily he is returning to his role this year.

TamaraC | April 04, 20:14 CET

Very talented, and absolutely gorgeous. Wonderful news.

JesterInACast | April 04, 22:15 CET

TvGuide and Variety have also confirmed the casting of Olivia!

This cast is shaping up quite nicely, methinks.

bknick | April 04, 23:25 CET

So this means just one regular left to cast and two reoccuring. Exciting!

[ edited by Leaf on 2008-04-04 20:37 ]

Leaf | April 04, 23:35 CET

So the only main person left is Boyd Langton, the father-figure.

Can I hear an Anthony Stewart Head or Ron Glass please?

As for November...let's go with an unknown.

Dr. Claire Saunders...hmm. Gina Torres, Stephanie Romanov, or Juliet Landau would all be great. Or we could make her just slightly younger and go with Amy Acker! Come on, Amy Acker...

bknick | April 05, 01:20 CET

April 03 2008