{{short description|Russian-American actress (b. 1982)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox person | name = Olga Fonda | image = Olga Fonda 2014.jpg | caption = Fonda in 2014 | birth_name = Olga Tchakova | birth_date = {{birth date and age |1982|10|01}} | birth_place = Ukhta, Komi ASSR, RSFSR, USSR | citizenship = {{hlist|Russia|United States}} | alma_mater = University of Maine at Augusta | occupation = Actress, model | years_active = 2005–Present | notable_works = {{ubl|''The Vampire Diaries''|Agent X (TV series)}} }}
'''Olga Tchakova''' ({{langx|ru|Ольга Чакова}}; known professionally as '''Olga Fonda'''; born October 1, 1982) is a Russian-American<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/19/olga-fonda-agent-x-learned-ballet-martial-arts-act/|title='Agent X' beauty Fonda learned ballet, martial arts for acting career|work=The Washington Times|date=19 November 2015|access-date=18 January 2018|archive-date=April 28, 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160428062542/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/19/olga-fonda-agent-x-learned-ballet-martial-arts-act/|url-status=live}}</ref> film and television actress and model. She is also known for her role as Nadia Petrova in ''The Vampire Diaries'' (2013–2014).
==Early life== Olga Tchakova<ref name=sentinel /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esquire.com/women/me-in-my-place/olga-fonda-pictures-2011#fbIndex2 | title=Esquire Presents Me in My Place with Olga Fonda|first=Laura|last=Lane|date=2011 <!--month/date n.a.-->|work=Esquire|page=2|access-date=October 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007042853/http://www.esquire.com/women/me-in-my-place/olga-fonda-pictures-2011 | archive-date=October 7, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref><!--page 2 apparently non-archivable; first page archived, but does not contain her quote: "My name? It's a secret! Until now, I guess. My last name was quite long and a bit complicated: T-C-H-A-K-O-V-A. It didn't spell the way you hear, so I had to change it to something a bit easier."--> was born in the Siberian region of Russia and then lived in Ukhta, Komi ASSR, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union,<ref name=sentinel>{{cite web|url=https://www.onlinesentinel.com/archive/former-winthropexchange-studenttakes-on-hollywood.html| title=Former Winthrop exchange student takes on Hollywood| last=Adams|first = Betty | work=Morning Sentinel| location=Waterville, Maine | date= February 20, 2010| access-date=October 6, 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006144822/http://www.onlinesentinel.com/archive/former-winthropexchange-studenttakes-on-hollywood.html |archive-date=October 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> in the country's Komi Republic. Her father, she said, "had grocery stores in one of the Russian villages that I grew up in".<ref name=rogue /> She has an older brother.<ref name=pursuitist>{{cite web|url=http://pursuitist.com/the-overhead-compartment-with-olga-fonda/|title=The Overhead Compartment with Olga Fonda [interview]|work=Pursuitist|date=November 2015<!--per date given in view-source; live site undated-->|archive-date=January 8, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160108160345/http://pursuitist.com/the-overhead-compartment-with-olga-fonda/|url-status=live}}</ref>
She moved to Maine in the United States for a year at age 14, as an exchange student living with the Auclair family in East Winthrop, Maine, while attending Winthrop High School from 1996 to 1997.<ref name=sentinel /> She returned to attend the University of Maine at Augusta, majoring in financial management.<ref name=sentinel />
==Career== While vacationing in Los Angeles, California, Fonda was scouted by agent Paul Fisher to pursue modeling,<ref name=harpers /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://regardmag.com/10-things-olga-fonda/|title=10 Things — Olga Fonda [interview]|first=Shelby |last=Gottschalk|work=Regard|date=November 23, 2015|access-date=September 14, 2019| archive-date=February 22, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190222092215/http://regardmag.com/10-things-olga-fonda|url-status=live}}</ref> her longtime ambition.<ref name=sentinel /> After acting in TV commercials, she played a Russian ballerina in the 2009 independent film ''Love Hurts''.<ref name=harpers />
Fonda, who has modeled since at least 2007<ref name=mtv /> in Japan, Italy and the United States,<ref name=sentinel /> went on to appear in television series including ''How I Met Your Mother'', ''Nip/Tuck'', ''Melrose Place'', and ''Entourage'',<ref name=sentinel /><ref name=mtv /> and played Owen Wilson's girlfriend in a nonspeaking role in ''Little Fockers''.{{Citation needed|date=September 2011}} She was cast in the 2011 romantic-comedy ''Crazy, Stupid, Love'', though her scene did not make the final cut; she does appear in the film's trailer.<ref name=harpers>{{cite magazine|last=Hyland|first=Veronique|title=Olga Fonda Talks Real Steel and Her Russian Roots|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.com/bazaar-blog/olga-fonda-talks-real-steel-080811|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|date=August 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006142948/http://www.harpersbazaar.com/bazaar-blog/olga-fonda-talks-real-steel-080811| archive-date=October 6, 2011|access-date=October 6, 2011|url-status=dead|quote=Then I came to LA for vacation and I was scouted to pursue modeling. Eventually, I started doing commercial work, and here and there, appearances for TV shows, and then I got approached to do an independent film, Love Hurts, where I played a Russian ballerina.}}</ref>
In 2010, Fonda was cast in ''The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn''. She had a supporting role in 2011's ''Real Steel''.<ref name=mtv>{{cite news|last=Ditzian|first=Eric|title='Breaking Dawn' Cast: Meet The New Faces |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651027/20101028/story.jhtml|access-date=December 13, 2010|publisher=MTV|date=October 28, 2010|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171107221219/http://www.mtv.com/news/1651027/breaking-dawn-cast-meet-the-new-faces/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=McClintock|first=Pamela|title=Hope Davis joins Real Steel'|url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/hope-davis-joins-real-steel-1118020058/|work=Variety|date=June 1, 2010|archive-date=June 28, 2017|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170628095028/http://variety.com/2010/film/news/hope-davis-joins-real-steel-1118020058/|url-status=live|quote=Two other additions to the lineup are James Rebhorn and Olga Fonda.}}</ref> She played Nadia in ''The Vampire Diaries''. In 2018, she was cast in the role of Sarah in the Netflix series ''Altered Carbon''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/tv-news-roundup-allison-miller-cast-in-abc-salamander-1202001760/| title=TV News Roundup: Allison Miller Joins ABC Pilot 'Salamander,' Olga Fonda to Appear on to Netflix's 'Altered Carbon'|date=March 3, 2017|first=Sarah|last=Ahern|work= Variety|access-date=September 14, 2019|archive-date=February 17, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142244/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/tv-news-roundup-allison-miller-cast-in-abc-salamander-1202001760/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In 2012, Fonda appeared in television commercials for the related companies TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ispot.tv/ad/77Nl/tj-maxx-marshalls-and-homegoods-gifting-featuring-olga-fonda|title=TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods TV Commercial, 'Gifting' Featuring Olga Fonda| date=2012|access-date=September 14, 2019|publisher=iSpot}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.ispot.tv/ad/77ug/tj-maxx-marshalls-and-homegoods-the-gifter-featuring-olga-fonda|title=TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods TV Commercial, 'The Gifter' Featuring Olga Fonda|date=2012|access-date=September 14, 2019|publisher=iSpot}}</ref> In 2015, she was cast as Olga Petrovka in Agent X, appearing opposite Sharon Stone.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/agent-x-star-olga-fonda-wont-say-how-she-got-her-famous-last-name |title= 'Agent X' star Olga Fonda won't say how she got her famous last name |work=Fox News |date= November 5, 2015 |accessdate=12 January 2023}}</ref>
She is unrelated to the Fonda acting family and has said her reason for adopting that stage name "started as a mystery, [and so] I'm going to keep it a mystery. There’s really nothing to it but maybe one day I'll tell the story of how I got my name."<ref name=rogue>Fonda in {{cite news|url=http://www.theroguemag.com/features/olga-fonda|title=Olga Fonda [interview]|work=Rogue<!--not the same publication as at Rogue (magazine)-->|date=December 29, 2015<!--live article gives only Dec. 29, but archived article says Dec. 29, 2015-->| access-date=September 14, 2019|archive-date= August 17, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160817003428/http://www.theroguemag.com/features/olga-fonda|url-status=live|quote= I got married this summer.}}<!--additional archive link: https://archive.today/JsltA--></ref>
==Philanthropy== Fonda supports the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital after being introduced to the charity by Jason Thomas Gordon, who started a campaign for the hospital called, ''Music Gives to St. Jude Kids''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.iconvsicon.com/2015/11/30/on-the-rise-olga-fonda-on-her-career-breakout-role-on-agent-x-and-more/ |title= On the Rise: Olga Fonda on her career break out role on 'Agent X' and more! |work=Icon Vision |date= November 30, 2015 |accessdate=12 January 2023}}</ref>
She is also a supporter of ''The Heroes Project'', which was founded by Tim Medvetz to help wounded veterans.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.naludamagazine.com/olga-fonda/ |title= Olga Fonda Interview |work=Naluda Magazine |date= December 11, 2015 |accessdate=12 January 2023}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Film |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2009 | ''The Breakdown'' | Chloe | TV-movie{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} |- | 2009 | ''Love Hurts'' | Valeriya | |- | 2010 | ''Little Fockers'' | Svetlana |{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} |- | 2011 | ''Love'' | Russian girl | Uncredited{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} |- | 2011 | ''Captain Fork'' | Samantha | Short film{{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} |- | 2011 | ''Crazy, Stupid, Love.'' | Danielle | Uncredited{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} |- | 2011 | ''Real Steel'' | Farra Lemkova | |- | 2011 | ''The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1'' |Valentina (Volturi Assistant) |Deleted scene{{citation needed|date=November 2013}} |- | 2013 | ''Olvidados'' | Lisa | {{Citation needed|date=June 2013}} |- | 2017 | ''Xibalba'' | Eli | {{Citation needed|date=September 2014}} |- | 2017 | ''9/11'' | Tina | |- |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Television |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2006 | ''Nip/Tuck'' | Elena | Episode: "Liz Cruz" |- | 2007 | ''Ugly Betty'' | Model #3 | Episode: "I'm Coming Out", uncredited{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} |- | 2009 | ''Entourage'' | Sales girl | Episode: "Give a Little Bit" |- | 2009 | ''How I Met Your Mother'' | Candy | Episode: "Robin 101" |- | 2009 | ''Melrose Place'' | Party girl | Episode: "Gower", uncredited{{Citation needed|date=July 2013}} |- | 2010 | ''Svetlana'' | Olga | Episode: "Yellowcake" |- |2013–2014 | ''The Vampire Diaries'' | Nadia Petrova | Recurring role (season 5) |- |2013 | ''Nikita'' | Larissa | Episode: "The Life We've Chosen" |- |2015 | ''Agent X'' | Olga Petrovka | Recurring Role |- |2016 | ''Hawaii Five-0'' | Anna Novick | Episode: "Waiwai" |- |2018 | ''Altered Carbon'' | Sarah | Episode: "Out of the Past" |- |2018 | ''My Dead Ex''{{citation needed|date=September 2019}} | Madame Fortuna |- |2019 | ''The Detour'' | Natalia | 2 episodes |- |2026 | ''For All Mankind'' | Natalya 'Tasha' Polivanova | Recurring role (season 5); 4 episodes |}
{| class="wikitable sortable" |+ Video games |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 2005 | ''True Crime: New York City'' | |<ref name="tcnyc">{{cite video game | developer=Luxoflux | title=True Crime: New York City | publisher=Activision | scene=Pause menu credits, 4:30:06 in, VOICE TALENT | year=2005}}</ref><!-- url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XSnZILVBPc --> |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|2044686|Olga Fonda}}
===Audio/video=== *{{cite AV media|url=http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/real-steel/interview-olga-fonda |publisher=(Video) TrailerAddict.com| title=''Real Steel'': Interview – Olga Fonda |date=2011 |access-date=October 6, 2011}}<!--the video itself doesn't appear to be archivable via WebCitation or Internet Archive--> *{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaAvk5T3lk|title=Fresh Face Talk: Olga Fonda — Shoot Me!| publisher=FashionTV|date=June 27, 2007|access-date=September 14, 2019}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fonda, Olga}} Category:1982 births Category:Living people Category:People from Ukhta Category:Russian female models Category:Russian film actresses Category:Russian emigrants to the United States Category:People from Winthrop, Maine Category:Female models from Maine Category:21st-century American actresses Category:American film actresses Category:American television actresses