Oona Laurence

Oona Laurence
Laurence in May 2015
Born (2002-08-01) August 1, 2002 (age 22)
OccupationActress
Years active2009–present

Oona Laurence (born August 1, 2002)[1] is an American actress. She is best known for the role of Matilda Wormwood in Matilda on Broadway alongside Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, and Sophia Gennusa. She began her career as a New York City-based child actress, with credits in film, theatre, and television.

Career

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After several appearances in regional theatre productions and minor roles in short films and television episodes, Laurence auditioned for the new musical Matilda on Broadway in 2012. Laurence landed the role of Matilda, performing in the show from March 4 to December 15, 2013. She performed alongside Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, and Sophia Gennusa.

After Matilda, Laurence transitioned to film acting, appearing in Tumorhead, A Little Game, The Grief of Others, I Smile Back, Damsel, Lamb, and Southpaw, portraying the daughter of Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams' characters.

She has appeared on television in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Orange Is the New Black.

In 2016, she co-starred as Natalie in the film Pete's Dragon,[2] and portrayed Jane Mitchell, the daughter of Mila Kunis' character Amy Mitchell, in Bad Moms.

In 2017, Laurence co-starred opposite Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Elle Fanning in Sofia Coppola's The Beguiled.

She is the voice of Hedgehog and additional characters in the Cartoon Network series Summer Camp Island. She also performs the theme song.

In 2020, she starred in the Netflix American family dark fantasy film A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting alongside Tom Felton, Indya Moore, and Tamara Smart.

Personal life

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Laurence lives in New York City and has two sisters, Aimée and Jeté, who are also actresses.[3][4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2012 Wet Cement Girl Short
Esther Esther
2013 Penny Dreadful Little Girl
Correcting. Perplexing. Patrick. Jessica Barnwell
2014 A Little Game Becky
Tumorhead Jean Short
2015 I Smile Back Daisy
Lamb Tommie
Imaginapped Olivia Short
Southpaw Leila Hope
The Grief of Others Biscuit Ryrie
Damsel Ava
Vicky & Jonny Young Vicky Short
2016 Little Boxes Ambrosia Reed
Bad Moms Jane Mitchell
Pete's Dragon Natalie
Lily + Mara Lily Short
2017 The Beguiled Amy
A Bad Moms Christmas Jane Mitchell
2019 Big Time Adolescence Sophie
2020 Lost Girls Sarra Gilbert
What We Found Holly
A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting Liz Lerue

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2011 Celebrity Ghost Stories Young Phyllis / Phyllis' Daughter Episode: "Beverley Mitchell/Mark Curry/Donovan Leitch/Phyllis Diller"
2012 Louie Spiteful Mean Girl #4 Episode: "Looking for Liz/Lilly Changes"
2014 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Zoe Harris Episode: "Glasgowman's Wrath"
2015 Orange Is the New Black 10 Year Old Tiffany Episode: "A Tittin' and a Hairin'"
2016 Blindspot Maya Ahmadi Episode: "Swift Hardhearted Stone"
2018–2023 Summer Camp Island Hedgehog / Additional Voices (voice) Main role

Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Matilda the Musical Matilda Wormwood Broadway, Sam S. Shubert Theatre

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2013 Tony Award Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre (shared with Sophia Gennusa, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro) Matilda the Musical Won
Grammy Award Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album Nominated
2015 Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival Best Actress Lamb Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Youth Performance Southpaw Nominated
2016 Young Entertainer Award Best Leading Young Actress- Feature Film Nominated
2017 Young Artist Award Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Teen Actress Pete's Dragon Won

References

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  1. ^ "Ahhhhh! Happy birthday Oona banoona!!..." August 1, 2015. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021 – via Instagram.
  2. ^ Kroll, Justin (September 19, 2014). "Disney Finds Its Pete For 'Pete's Dragon' Remake (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 14, 2014.
  3. ^ Lewis, Hilary (July 25, 2015). "5 Things to Know About 'Southpaw's' Oona Laurence - The Tony-winning actress plays Jake Gyllenhaal and Rachel McAdams' characters' daughter". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. ^ Keddy, Genevieve Rafter (September 12, 2015). "Aimee Laurence, Oona Laurence and Jete Laurence at Broadway Kids Team up For LYRICS FOR LIFE Benefit". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved February 16, 2016. In honor of World Suicide Prevention Week, this event features 120+ young performers from Broadway, TV & Film, singer/songwriters and award-winning dancers. Proceeds from the event will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
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