When Mary-Kate and her twin sister Ashley were cast as one character on the family sitcom
Full House at the age of nine months in 1987, no one could have predicted that they would soon rule a billion-dollar entertainment empire. After releasing an album and filming a TV-movie in 1992, the duo formed the production company Dualstar, making them the youngest producers in history. Throughout the '90s and early '00s, the Olsens made a plethora of direct-to-video movies, a handful of features, starred in a number of series, released albums, published a magazine and even launched a clothing line, making them unmistakable pop-culture icons. Although their success was thanks in large part to their status as twins, as the sisters grew up they understandably tried to forge their own identities. They sported different outfits and hairstyles, and Mary-Kate seemed to be the rebel while Ashley embraced a primmer persona. In 2004, they turned 18, released their first major Hollywood picture,
New York Minute (it bombed) and took time off from their busy careers to enroll at New York University. Mary-Kate also entered rehab to seek treatment for an eating disorder. While the Olsens are certainly all grown up, it remains unclear whether they will be able to make the leap to adulthood onscreen.
Mary-Kate Olsen Fast Facts:
- Born on Friday the 13th, two minutes after her fraternal yet seemingly identical twin, Ashley.
- Is an inch shorter than Ashley.
- Took turns with Ashley playing Michelle Tanner on ABC's Full House because of child-labor laws, and the two appeared together onscreen only four times during the series.
- In 1992, released children's pop album Brother for Sale with Ashley(325,000 copies sold).
- The magazine Mary-Kate and Ashley debuted in 2001. They released a clothing line for Wal-Mart the same year.
- Received a shared star with Ashley on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in April 2004.
- Formed production company Dualstar in association with ABC in 1993. In 2004, the company signed a multi-million dollar, 10-year deal with Warner Home Video.
- Entered a clinic in 2004 for treatment of an eating disorder.
- Mary-Kate Olsen Relationships:
- Ashley Olsen - Sister
- David Olsen - Father
- Elizabeth Olsen - Sister
- Jake - Half Brother
- Jarnette Fuller Olsen - Mother
- Mackenzie Olsen - Stepmother
- Taylor - Half Sister
- Trent Olsen - Brother
- College:
- Attended New York University, New York, NY
