Sarah Wright

Sarah Wright
Born (1983-09-28) September 28, 1983
OccupationActress
Years active1998–present
Spouses
  • A. J. Mason
    (m. 2005; div. 2006)
  • (m. 2012)
Children4

Sarah Wright Olsen (born September 28, 1983) is an American actress, author, and entrepreneur.

Early life

Wright was born on September 28, 1983, in Louisville, Kentucky and grew up on a farm in Horse Cave.[1] Her father was a pastor and her mother had a dental practice.[2] She has one brother.[3]

She had her first job at 9 years old in a local theatre production of A Christmas Carol and credits this as the moment she fell in love with acting. She also was a part of her high school Drama Club. At 15, she went on a nine country European tour with The Kentucky Ambassadors of Music as a singer.[4][5]

She graduated from Seneca High School in 2003 at the age of 18.[6] Wright also attended the University of California Los Angeles briefly, taking classes on children's book writing and horticulture.[7]

Career

Wright's career began in modeling when she was 14 years old. She traveled to a number of countries for modeling before getting her first minor acting role in the 1998 comedy Enchanted.[8][9] At 18, she had moved to Chicago, Illinois and was working in commercials. Wright booked her first television pilot in 2004 and shortly moved to Los Angeles, California.[10] This was her first big break, playing the role of Paige Cha se in the short-lived sitcom Quintuplets, with Andy Richter and Rebecca Creskoff as her parents.[11][12]

From 2006 to 2007, Wright also had a recurring role as Jane on the CW drama series 7th Heaven.[13] She also co-starred in the Fox sitcom The Loop as Lizzy. The show ran for two seasons before being canceled in 2007.[14] In 2008, she had a role Fred Wolf's comedy film, The House Bunny. Her role, Ashley, was as a rival to Anna Farris, Emma Stone, and Kat Dennings' characters.[15] She followed this with a number of guest appearances in the following years, including shows such as Accidentally on Purpose, Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother, and The Middle.

In 2011, Wright began a recurring role in the CBS mid-season replacement comedy series Mad Love and maintained a small recurring role as Millicent Gergich on the NBC mockumentary sitcom show Parks and Recreation.[16] She would go on to appear as the main love interest in the 2013 comedy film, 21 & Over, alongside Justin Chon, Miles Teller, and Skylar Astin.[17] From 2014 to 2015, she had a main role in NBC's sitcom, Marry Me, as Dennah before it was canceled.[18][19]

In 2017, Wright co-starred alongside Tom Cruise in the action crime film American Made where she portrayed Lucy Seal. Her character was loosely based on Debbie Seal, the wife to American drug smuggler, Barry Seal. The cast also featured names such as Domhnall Gleeson, Alejandro Edda, Mauricio Mejía, Caleb Landry Jones and Jesse Plemons.[20][21] The film received generally positive reviews and grossed $134 million worldwide.[22] The following year, she landed the leading role in the CW's adaption of Carl Hiaasen's Skinny Dip, however the series was not picked up following the pilot.[23]

She had a major role as Mandy Davis, the matriarch of the Davis family, in the 2020 Netflix's figure skating drama series, Spinning Out.[24] The show received mixed reviews and was canceled the following month.[25] This was followed up with a brief appearance in the sitcom Home Economics in 2021 before she took a break from acting. The following year, she released her first children's book Happiness is the Journey!, inspired by her daughter's experiences with online-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.[26]

She made her return to acting in 2026, when she had a guest appearance on the CBS legal drama series Matlock. She portrayed Gwen, an efficiency expert analyzing the law firm.[27][28] Her second children's book When I Am Not with You: How We’re Together, Even When We’re Apart is set to come out in September.

Lifestyle and health

She and actress Teresa Palmer co-founded the parenting site Your Zen Mama in 2016. The website focuses on connecting mothers through their experiences of birthing and parenting. She also co-authored the book Zen Mamas: Finding Your Path Through Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond. The book shares information and advice on pregnancy, postpartum, miscarriages, breastfeeding, and caring for newborns.[29][30] The two also share a podcast, "The Mother Daze," where they discuss womanhood and motherhood. She and Palmer took the podcast on tour in 2025.[10]

In 2018, Wright launched Bare Essential Organics (Bāeo), a line of organic skin care. The brand launched with baby focused products, however expanded to whole-family skin care. She co-founded and co-owns the brand with Sarah Beyene and actress Anna Schafer.[2][31]

Personal life

In 2005, Wright married A. J. Mason and they divorced in 2006.[32][33]

Wright met fellow actor Eric Christian Olsen, in 2006, on the set of the Fox sitcom The Loop. They served as co-stars and began dating.[34][35] They married near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on June 23, 2012.[36] The couple have a son, born in 2013,[37] and three daughters, born in 2016,[38] 2020[39][40] and 2025.[41]

The couple appeared on a 2015 episode of HGTV's House Hunters, where they chose their dream home in Los Angeles, California. They resided in this home until the 2025 California wildfires, where they lost the house.[42][43]

She and her family are vegetarians.[2]

Bibliography

  • Zen Mamas: Finding Your Path Through Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond (2021), ISBN 978-0785241508
  • Happiness is the Journey! (2022), ISBN 979-8985218923
  • When I Am Not with You: How We’re Together, Even When We’re Apart (2026) ISBN 978-0310177296[44]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Enchanted David's High School Date
2006 All You've Got Lauren McDonald
2007 X's & O's Jane
2008 Made of Honor Sexy blonde
Wieners Lavender
The House Bunny Ashley
Surfer, Dude Stacey
Streak Ashley Short film
2012 Touchback Jenny
Celeste and Jesse Forever Tera
2013 21 & Over Nicole
Girls Season 38 Short film
2014 Walk of Shame Denise
2017 American Made Lucy Seal
2019 The Place of No Words Sarah/Knight in Shining Armor [45]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2004–2005 Quintuplets Paige Chase 22 episodes
2005 CSI: Miami Sara Jennings Episode: "Prey"
Malcolm in the Middle Vicki Episode: "Secret Boyfriend"
2006 The Loop Lizzy Series regular
2006–2007 7th Heaven Jane 18 episodes
2007 Up All Night Kris Television film
2008 Mad Men Susie Episode: "Maidenform"
Ernesto Madizon Cutler Television film
2009 Accidentally on Purpose Sasha Episode: "The Love Guru"
How I Met Your Mother Claire Episode: "The Playbook"
Waiting to Die Brandi Television film
2010 The Middle Kasey Episode: "A Birthday Story"
True Love Tiffany Television film
2011 Mad Love Tiffany McDermott 7 episodes
The Assistants Tina Television film
2011–2013 Parks and Recreation Millicent Gergich 5 episodes
2012 Happy Endings Nikki Episode: "The Shrink, the Dare, Her Date and Her Brother"
Happy Valley Agnes Little Television film
2013 Men at Work Molly 3 episodes
Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 Trish Osborne Episode: "Original Bitch..."
Hello Ladies Courtney Episode: "Pilot"
2014 Mixology Laura 3 episodes
2014–2015 Marry Me Dennah 18 episodes
2015 House Hunters Herself Episode: "Television Actors Hunt for a Vacation

Home in Jackson Hole, Wyoming"

2017 Lady Dynamite Self Episode: "Kids Have to Dance"
2018 Skinny Dip Joey Pilot epiosde
2020 Spinning Out Mandy Davis 10 episodes
2021 Home Economics Jessica Episode: "Giant Jenga, $120"
2026 Matlock Gwen Episode: "Collateral"

References

  1. ^ Fetters, Ashley (September 30, 2017). "Sarah Wright on What It's Really Like to Shoot a Sex Scene with Tom Cruise". GQ. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Sarah Wright Olsen, On Launching Her New Family-Friendly Organic Skincare Line, Going Vegetarian, Plus Mom-Guilt!". Babe by Hatch. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  3. ^ "Cleo Woman: Sarah Wright Olsen". Cleobella. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  4. ^ "sarah wright olsen: the laterals magazine". times are hard for dreamers. October 9, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  5. ^ "Style Guide - Sarah Wright Olsen". Citizens of Humanity. May 1, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  6. ^ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee. "Tom Cruise's new movie is filled with ties to Louisville, the town he loves to ignore". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  7. ^ Ringland, Jenny (October 24, 2018). "This Hollywood actress has created the ultimate organic baby skincare". green+simple. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  8. ^ "Dennah: Marry Me Character - NBC.com". NBC. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  9. ^ Lamb, Alex (March 4, 2013). "Q&A: Actress Sarah Wright discusses production of '21 and Over'". The University Daily Kansan. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  10. ^ a b Salvador, Freda (March 22, 2024). "FRĒDA WOMAN: SARAH WRIGHT OLSEN". FREDA SALVADOR. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  11. ^ "Quintuplets" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  12. ^ Pierce, Scott D. (June 15, 2004). "'Quintuplets' born on Fox". Deseret News. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  13. ^ "'Marry Me' Has a 'Parks' Alum". Bustle.
  14. ^ "Sarah Wright - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com.
  15. ^ Huckaby, Michael (August 29, 2008). "A genuine Faris carries 'House Bunny' film". The Courier of Montgomery County. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  16. ^ Snierson, Dan (October 14, 2011). "'Parks and Recreation' recap: Ranger Danger". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  17. ^ Herrington, Nicole (March 1, 2013). "With Friends Like These . . ". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  18. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 24, 2014). "Sarah Wright, Tymberlee Hill Join NBC's 'Marry Me'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  19. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 8, 2015). "'Constantine', 'State of Affairs', 'Marry Me', 'About a Boy' & 'One Big Happy' Canceled by NBC". TVbytheNumbers. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  20. ^ "Sarah Wright Loved Bossing Tom Cruise Around in American Made". screenrant.com. September 26, 2017.
  21. ^ Plattner, Seth (October 19, 2017). "Sarah Wright Is Ditching Typical Movie Tropes in Her Latest Film". ELLE. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  22. ^ Giles, Jeff (September 28, 2017). "American Made Is Certified Fresh". editorial.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  23. ^ White, Peter (December 11, 2025). "Amanda Seyfried To Star In 'Skinny Dip' As Carl Hiaasen Series Adaptation In The Works From Adam Horowitz, Edward Kitsis & Bill Lawrence Moves From HBO Max To Amazon". Deadline. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  24. ^ ""Spinning Out" Just Dropped On Netflix And If You're Not Watching It, You're Missing Out". buzzfeed.com. January 3, 2020.
  25. ^ "Spinning Out season 1 Reviews - Metacritic". www.metacritic.com. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  26. ^ "Noble x Sarah Wright Olsen Feature". Noble. December 12, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  27. ^ Nemetz, Dave (December 29, 2025). "Matlock First Look: A Parks And Rec Alum Debuts As The Firm's New Efficiency Expert (Exclusive)". TVLine. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  28. ^ Cordero, Rosy (December 11, 2025). "'Matlock' Season 2 Adds Henry Haber & Sarah Wright Olsen; Show Boss Teases David Del Rio Character's Future & Storylines For 2026". Deadline. Retrieved March 4, 2026.
  29. ^ "Teresa Palmer and Sarah Wright Olsen Ink Deal with Harper Horizon for 'Zen Mamas'". The Hollywood Reporter. June 29, 2020.
  30. ^ "Mothers we Admire: Sarah Wright Olsen, Founder of Your Zen Mama & Baeo". Motherhood. August 23, 2022. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  31. ^ Salvador, Freda (July 26, 2019). "FREDA Women: Sarah Wright Olsen". FREDA SALVADOR. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  32. ^ Puckett, Jeffrey Lee. "Tom Cruise's new movie is filled with ties to Louisville, the town he loves to ignore". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  33. ^ "Sarah Wright". TVGuide.com. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  34. ^ Sutton, Samantha (September 29, 2017). "Sarah Wright Olsen Talks American Made, Tom Cruise, and More - Coveteur". coveteur.com. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  35. ^ Milano, Marie (January 20, 2019). "'NCIS: LA' Star Eric Christian Olsen Said the Sweetest Thing to His Wife After She Gave Birth". Country Living. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  36. ^ Rizzo, Monica (June 25, 2012). "Eric Christian Olsen Marries Sarah Wright". People.
  37. ^ "Eric Christian Olsen and Sarah Wright Welcome Son Wyatt Oliver". People. August 26, 2013. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  38. ^ "Eric Christian and Sarah Wright Olsen Welcome Daughter Esmé Olivia". People. August 11, 2016. Archived from the original on April 10, 2017. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  39. ^ "Eric Christian Olsen and Sarah Wright Olsen Welcome Daughter Winter Story: 'Newborn Bliss'". People. September 19, 2020.
  40. ^ "'NCIS: LA' Star Eric Christian Olsen and Wife Sarah Wright Welcome Baby No. 3". whas11.com. September 20, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  41. ^ "Eric Christian Olsen and Sarah Wright Olsen Welcome 4th Baby". People. June 22, 2025.
  42. ^ Flam, Charna (January 16, 2025). "NCIS: Los Angeles Star Eric Christian Olsen Loses House in Palisades Fire: 'It's So Hard to Say Goodbye'". People.
  43. ^ "The Time That Sarah Wright From 'American Made' Was on 'House Hunters'". www.theringer.com. September 29, 2017. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  44. ^ "When I Am Not With You: How We're Together, Even When We're Apart Book By Sarah Wright Olsen, ('eb') | Indigo". www.indigo.ca. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
  45. ^ Hipes, Patrick (September 15, 2020). "Mark Webber And Teresa Palmer's 'The Place Of No Words' Placed At Gravitas Ventures". Deadline. Retrieved July 26, 2021.