Name	Olesya Rulin
Height	5' 0
Naionality	Russian
Date of Birth	17 March 1986
Place of Birth	Moscow, Russia
Famous for

Olesya Rulin (born March 17, 1986 in Moscow, USSR) is an Russian-American actress and singer who is perhaps best known for starring in High School Musical and High School Musical 2 as Kelsi Neilsen, and she is set to star alongside with Jessica Simpson in Major Movie Star. Olesya will also be appearing alongside Billy Ray Cyrus in the new drama Flying By.

Olesya spent her early childhood in a poor, 12-house village where her family made hats. Her father emigrated from Russia to the United States in the early 90s, leaving her mother, brother and Rulin behind while he worked in Utah. Two years later, the whole family followed and settled in Texas, where they lived in a trailer for six months before relocating to Salt Lake City, Utah, where her father started a taxidermist business. She is fluent in both Russian and English, although Russian is her native language.

She hopes to serve as a role model for youth, encourages them to learn about the world around them and to contribute to making a difference. An advocate for animals, Rulin serves as a "foster parent" for rescued dogs, which led her to her Cocker Spaniel, Charlie, with whom she couldn't part when adoption day came. While attending West Jordan High School in Utah, Olesya founded "Project Orphanage," an organization dedicated to helping unwanted children in developing countries. Friendly and approachable, Olesya regularly involves herself in humanitarian and environmental programs and campaigns.

Olesya recently moved to Los Angeles to further pursue her acting career. She has now co-starred in High School Musical and High School Musical 2.

In addition to her role in "High School Musical" and "High School Musical 2", her other credits include the Disney Channel Original Movies "Halloweentown High", "The Poof Point" and "Hounded," the television series "Everwood" and the feature films "Forever Strong," "Mobsters and Mormons" and "The Dance."

Olesya's part in High School Musical 2 was significantly larger than the first movie, including a solo in "You Are The Music In Me" and a few lines in "Work This Out". .

It is rumored that Olesya will reprise her role as Kelsi Nielsen in High School Musical 3, which is scheduled to be released in 2008, Rulin is also set to star alongside with Jessica Simpson in Major Movie Star .

Olesya will be starring alongside Hannah Montana co-star Billy Ray Cyrus in a drama set to begin filming in late November. Rulin will play the supportive daughter of the businessman (Cyrus) alongside Oscar winner Patricia Neal, Robert Gossett (TNT's "The Closer"), Eric Allan Kramer ("American Wedding") and Ted Hutton in the family-friendly indie feature.