Ólöf Jóhanna Hlérsdattir

*This name uses Velkanian naming customs; the last name is a patronymic, not a family name. This person should be properly referred to by the given name* Ólöf.

**Ólöf Jóhanna Hlérsdattir** (born 4 August 1993) is a Velkanian actress and model. Beginning her career as a teen model in 2007, Ólöf began an acting career in 2012, after being cast in the VNT3 teen drama *Æskan* (2012–2016). In addition to her role in *Æskan*, Ólöf is also known for appearing as young Hrafnhildur III in the miniseries *Ragnhildur* (2016), and Anna Brynsteinnsdattir in the VNT3 teen drama *Í sundur* (2017–present).

For her role as Unnur María Óðinnsdattir in *Æskan*, Ólöf was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Drama at the 2013 Velkanian Television Awards.

## Early life and education

Ólöf was born on 4 August 1993 in Narísandur to parents Hlér Böðvar Hrafnbergarson (born 1950) and Margréta María Sigardattir (born 1962). Her father worked as a lawyer, while her mother is a preschool instructor. Ólöf was raised in the Hellikrókur neighborhood of Narísandur. She grew up as an only child, but has two elder paternal half-siblings from her father's first marriage: Rafn Magnús, born  (1977-03-24) 24 March 1977 (age 46), and Kristín Þórhildur, born  (1978-12-28) 28 December 1978 (age 45). Her parents later divorced when she was eight, and she was subsequently raised primarily by her mother with weekend visits to her father's.

Ólöf began her education in 1999, attending a local, public primary school. At age eight, Ólöf began performing after asking her parents to sign her up for theatre classes at a local children's theatre. She graduated from primary school in 2009, and afterwards enrolled in the Royal Velkanian Academy of the Arts, studying drama. She graduated from the school in 2013.

## Career

Ólöf began her career as a teen model in 2007, at the age of 14. Wishing to use modeling as a way to get into acting, Ólöf signed with local Velkanian modeling agency Kava Models. In her modeling career, Ólöf modeled in print campaigns for a variety of local advertising agencies, and later began modeling for local Velkanian boutiques in 2008. She left her modeling career in 2010, believing that she had realized it was not her passion and wished to devote her time towards acting.

In February 2012, Ólöf attended an audition at the Royal Velkanian Academy of the Arts, where she was a student, for the VNT3 teen drama *Æskan*. After a series of further auditions, she ultimately was cast in the leading role of Unnur María Óðinnsdattir. Ólöf starred as the central character in the series's first season, which catapulted herself to superstardom within the Velkanian Isles. For her role in the series, Ólöf was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Drama at the 2013 Velkanian Television Awards. She starred in the series for the first eight seasons, being the only cast member to remain in a starring role for all eight seasons of the series's first generation, late departing from the series in 2016.

Following her departure from *Æskan*, Ólöf was cast as a young version of Hrafnhildur III in 2016. She appeared in one episode of the miniseries *Ragnhildur*, appearing in the episode that chronicled the years between 1961 and 1969. For her role, Ólöf received critical acclaim and was noted by critics as one of the "standouts" of the episode. In 2017, she was cast as Anna Brynsteinnsdattir in the VNT3 teen drama *Í sundur*, appearing in a leading role since its first season.

## Personal life

Since 2013, Ólöf has resided in a high-rise apartment in the Álfhöfn neighborhood of Narísandur. Ahead of the 2018 election, Ólöf publicly endorsed the Green-Socialist Party, and later gave a speech at a campaign event with Svandís Hjarnarsdattir, in an effort to appeal to the youth.

## Filmography

*Main article: Ólöf Jóhanna Hlérsdattir filmography*.

## Awards and nominations

*Main article: Awards and nominations received by Ólöf Jóhanna Hlérsdattir*.