The Destined Dozen: Television Stars Destined for Greater Things
8. Olivia Wilde
Wilde got her start on short-lived Fox show Skin (most memorable for the line, “His father is the district attorney!” in promos) before breaking out in her role as Alex Kelly, a bisexual, who had a relationship with Mischa Barton’s character Marissa on The O.C. She was later cast in the midseason replacement The Black Donnellys (aptly so because she holds both Irish and U.S. passports) before landing her current gig on House. Her movie career has less hits on the résumé, although she was given strong consideration to play the Bond girl Vesper Lynd in the 2006 hit Casino Royale, a role that eventually went to Eva Green.
Major Television Roles: Skin, Jewel Goldman (2003-2004); The O.C., Alex Kelly (2004-2005); The Black Donnellys, Jenny Reilly (2007); House, Thirteen/Dr. Remy Hadley (2007-present)
Select Filmography: Wilde has appeared in minor roles in the teen comedy The Girl Next Door alongside Elisha Cuthbert and the true story turned drama Alpha Dog. Her biggest role came in the recent adventure thriller Turistas.
Upcoming Project: The Year One, a comedy with Jack Black and Michael Cera about a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers who set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.
7. Anna Friel
This British star got her start at the age of 13, kicking off a series of appearances on various British television shows and movies. Her work includes two memorable moments, a lesbian kiss on the soap Brookside and a much discussed ménage à trois scene in the TV film The Tribe. Friel then moved on to work in features, although mainly in smaller rolls, before joining the cast of the Bryan Fuller created drama Pushing Daisies. Friel was nominated for a Golden Globe in the show’s first season. Sadly, as we are publishing this article, word has leaked that Pushing Daisies has been cancelled by ABC. That puts and end to the Charlotte Charles character, but allows Friel to pursue more big screen employment.
Major Television Roles: Pushing Daisies, Charlotte ‘Chuck’ Charles (2007-present)
Select Filmography: Friel’s largest roles have been as Roz Harmison in the internationally successful Goal! franchise, a series of movies about soccer, and as Lady Claire in the Michael Crichton adaptation Timeline.
Upcoming Project: Land of the Lost, a Will Ferrell comedy about a forest ranger who inadvertently stumbles into a mysterious land populated by dinosaurs and other creatures.
