IT wasn’t until The Newsroom that Olivia Munn (pictured) was properly introduced to viewers. And I’m sure she was elated to bid farewell to her previous arbitrary TV roles. Although, they served her well by getting the right people to notice her – a rite of passage some would say.
She really should thank creator Aaron Sorkin for crafting such a multifaceted role for her. Her character Sloan Sabbith is a brilliant economist. She has two PhDs and, well, she is über-hot. But she isn’t the easiest person to get along with. She can be brutally blunt when she isn’t being socially awkward.
Her personality shortcomings are offset by her professional strength and tenacity and, as such, they make her one of the most interesting characters on the show.
Three seasons in, it is safe to say that she is now a high-ranking actress.
And with so much buzz around her role as Georgina Krampf in the movie Mortdecai, opposite Johnny Depp and Gwyneth Paltrow, Munn has every reason to smile.
She gushed: “Oh, that was so fun because it’s Johnny Depp, Ewan McGregor, Gwyneth Paltrow, Paul Bettany and David Koepp (director). I play a really big, bold character and I got to do a lot of comedy, a lot of stunts. I had to learn to ride a horse and whole dance routines. I took a very circuitous path to get to where I’m at. So when I get to work with people like that, I know how lucky I am to be there on set. The biggest thing I have to remind myself is to not be star-struck.”
On returning for the third and final instalment of The Newsroom, she told Collider: “Magic Mike and the first season of The Newsroom came at the same time. Both characters were unapologetic women.
“Because those were Steven Soderbergh and Aaron Sorkin projects, more people in the business saw them. My intention is always to depict women whom I know and have been around – so it’s more realistic.
“I’m excited (to be back). It was up to Aaron whether we were going to do another one. So we were all waiting.”
An unashamed geek, the actress applauds writers for penning roles for them to defy that boring stereotype.
She noted: “A lot of people are changing that dynamic like Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Sarah Silverman, Claire Danes and Natalie Portman. It pushes the envelope. A lot of people bitch about the dynamics in Hollywood… you play the game until you get to a place where you can change it.”
Similar to the previous two seasons, Sorkin has done his homework to imbue the show with a compelling sense of realism.
In this season, viewers will get to see more of Sloan and Don as a couple. Although, as with any relationship, they weather their fair share of ups and downs – more so as they work together.
Just as she lands a big scoop after a friend tips her off about a company that’s about to undergo a hostile takeover, Reese Lansing, president of Atlantis World Media (aka her boss), cautions her to “be kind” with her report.
Not to give too much away, this story opens a can of worms for Sloan. That’s all we are saying.
And it looks like all that hard work is finally paying off for this rising actress. Those plum roles are finally rolling in…
• The Newsroom 3 airs on M-Net Edge (DStv channel 102) tomorrow night at 8pm.
FACT FILE
• Her full name is Lisa Olivia Munn.
• Her dad is German-Irish and her mother is of Chinese descent.
• She started out as a model in the Japanese fashion industry. Later, she worked on modelling campaigns for Nike, Pepsi and Neutrogena. She also graced the covers of numerous magazines.
• She graduated in journalism (minoring in Japanese and dramatic arts) from the University
of Oklahoma.
• She interned at Fox Sports Net and reported on college football and women’s basketball.
• In July 2010, her book, Suck It, Wonder Woman: The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek, was released.
• She made FHM’s 100 Sexiest Women list for three years and Maxim’s Hot 100 Women for six years in a row.