Sara Rue plays Olivia Caliban in the Netflix adaptation of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
A Series of Unfortunate Events[]
Rue believes the reason she was hired was her pronunciation of "crystal ball" from her audition, where she pronounced it as "crystal bowel." Barry Sonnenfeld thought that was hilarious and reminded her of it almost daily on set. When they eventually shot that scene, she was asked to say it regular, and she replied, "Uh, really? That's why I got the job!"
The crew wanted Rue's performance as Olivia Caliban to be distinct enough from Madame Lulu to fool the audience, and while they began attempting prosthetics, the time applying them would hurt the schedule, so Rue decided to just use minimal makeup and disguise herself mainly with her performance.
Rue believed that Olivia had been orphaned at a young age, and was always searching for something. She wanted to inspire students at Prufrock Preparatory School, but that didn't pan out, and she was absolutely ready to go into V.F.D. and unfold a mystery. She loved getting to play Olivia's complete character arc: "She was searching for direction, and she found it."
Rue also interpreted Olivia as being so focused on finding the kids and arresting Count Olaf that she did not notice her "spark" with Jacques until they were separated and it was too late.[1]
Filmography[]
Film[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Rocket Gibraltar | Jessica Hanson | |
| 1992 | Passed Away | Megan Scanlan | |
| 1995 | Family Reunion: A Relative Nightmare | Jacquelyn | |
| 1996 | For My Daughter's Honor | Kimberly Jones | |
| 1998 | Nowhere to Go | ||
| 1998 | Can't Hardly Wait | Earth Girl | |
| 1999 | A Slipping-Down Life | Violet | |
| 1999 | A Map of the World | Debbie | |
| 2001 | Pearl Harbor | Martha | |
| 2001 | Gypsy 83 | Gypsy Vale | |
| 2002 | The Ring | Babysitter | |
| 2003 | This Time Around | Gabby Castellani | |
| 2005 | Barbara Jean | Barbara Jean | Short |
| 2006 | Danny Roane: First Time Director | Charlotte Lewis | |
| 2006 | Idiocracy | Attorney General | Uncredited |
| 2006 | Play Nice | ||
| 2007 | Nurses | Chris Korenek | |
| 2008 | Man Maid | Tory | |
| 2008 | Nightmare at the End of the Hall | Courtney | |
| 2008 | Spaced | Apryl | |
| 2009 | Not Since You | Sarah "Doogs" Doogins | |
| 2010 | For Christ's Sake | Candy | |
| 2011 | My Future Boyfriend | Elizabeth Barrett | |
| 2011 | Dorfman in Love | Deb Dortman | |
| 2013 | Miss Dial | Sam | |
| 2015 | Dark Intentions/Don't Wake Mommy | Beth | |
| 2017 | All for Love | Jo Payden | |
| 2019 | True Love Blooms | Vikki George | |
| 2019 | The Bridge | Sadie | Short |
| Film Fest | Deb |
Television[]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Grand | Edda Pasetti | |
| 1992 | Roseanne | Teenage Roseanne | One Episode |
| 1993-1994 | Phenom | Monica | |
| 1995 | Blossom | Angie | One Episode |
| 1995-1996 | Minor Adjustments | Darby Gladstone | |
| 1996 | ER | Jane | One Episode |
| 1996 | Pearl | Bertha Sugs | One Episode |
| 1997 | Ned and Stacey | Amy | One Episode |
| 1997 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Younger Sister | One Episode |
| 1998 | Chicago Hope | Rhonda Fritz | One Episode |
| 1998 | The Simple Life | Melanie | |
| 1999 | Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane | Breeny Kennedy | |
| 1999-2001 | Popular | Carmen Ferrara | |
| 2002-2003 | The Division | Amanda McCafferty | |
| 2003 | MADtv | The Babysitter | |
| 2002-2006 | Less Than Perfect | Claude Casey | |
| 2006-2007 | Two and a Half Men | Naomi | |
| 2008 | The Big Bang Theory | Dr. Stephanie Barnett | |
| 2009 | Leverage | Marissa Devins | One Episode |
| 2009-2010 | Eastwick | Penny Higgins | |
| 2010 | Private Practice | Shira Cole | One Episode |
| 2011 | Dream Crushers | Sara | |
| 2012 | Psych | Amy Alleris | One Episode |
| 2012-2013 | Malibu Country | Kim Sallinger | |
| 2010-2013 | Rules of Engagement | Brenda | |
| 2014-2016 | Mom | Candace | |
| 2015-2016 | Impastor | Dora Winston | |
| 2015-2017 | Bones | Karen Deifs | |
| 2000-2018 | Will & Grace | Joyce Adler | |
| 2018 | A Series of Unfortunate Events | Olivia Caliban | |
| 2019 | Drunk History | Mary Jane Heaster | One Episode |
| 2017-2019 | American Housewife | Nancy Granville | |
| 2018-2019 | The Rookie | Nell Forester | |
| Prism | Alexis Boden |
Gallery[]
Behind the Scenes[]
