Odeya Rush

Odeya Rushinek (; born ), known professionally as Odeya Rush , is an Israeli actress based in the United States. She is known for her lead roles in The Giver, Goosebumps (2015), The Bachelors (2017), Lady Bird (2017), Dumplin' (2018), Let It Snow (2019) and Dangerous Waters (2023). In 2026, she began playing the role of Maria in the Fox crime drama Memory of a Killer.

Early life Rush was born Odeya Rushinek in Haifa, Israel on 12 May 1997 to Jewish parents, Shlomo Rushinek, an Israeli, and Maia (née Greenfeld), who made aliyah from Russia (then the Soviet Union). Her first language is Hebrew, but she also grew up speaking Russian. In Hebrew, her given name means "I will thank God". As an eight-year-old growing up in her hometown of Haifa, Israel, she wrote and performed plays.

Her family moved to the United States when she was nine years old so that her father could take up a job as a security consultant in Alabama. When she arrived, Rush did not know English and could only speak Hebrew and Russian. She attended the N. E. Miles Jewish Day School in Birmingham, Alabama, where she resided; she later moved to Midland Park, New Jersey, where she attended public school.

In the beginning of 2013, Rush moved to Los Angeles with her family. She has six brothers; four of them are younger than her—two sets of twins who reside with their parents in Los Angeles, and two older paternal half-brothers who reside in Israel.

Career

Modelling

Before becoming an actress, Rush began her career in her childhood and adolescence when she was discovered as a model in the United States, appearing in major campaigns and advertisements for fashion brands Polo Ralph Lauren, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, and H&M.

She also starred in a summer campaign for a collaboration between FILA and Urban Outfitters in 2018.

Acting Her first acting roles began in 2010 in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, in the episode "Branded", in which she played the character Hannah Milner; and in the television series Curb Your Enthusiasm in the episode "Mister Softee", as Emily.

Her first film role was in 2012, playing Joni Jerome, the best friend of Timothy, in the Peter Hedges-directed Disney film The Odd Life of Timothy Green.

Rush co-starred, as Fiona, in the science fiction film The Giver (2014), based on the 1993 novel of same name from Lois Lowry, and directed by Phillip Noyce. The film also starred Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, Alexander Skarsgård and Taylor Swift.

In 2015, Rush played Ashley Burwood, niece of Johana Burwood (played by Sarah Hyland), in the comedy film See You in Valhalla. Rush's next role was the female lead in the film Goosebumps, based on the R. L. Stine's popular book series. Rush played Hannah Fairchild, the "daughter" of R. L. Stine (portrayed by Jack Black), who teams up with her neighbor to fight the Goosebumps monsters.

In 2016, Rush completed filming the satirical comedy film Dear Dictator, in which she starred with Michael Caine and Katie Holmes. She was also cast as Ella Hatto, opposite Sam Worthington, in action-thriller film The Hunter's Prayer directed by Jonathan Mostow.

In 2017, she had a supporting role in Greta Gerwig's Lady Bird, which received numerous best ensemble and cast award nominations. In that same year, she also starred in The Bachelors with J. K. Simmons.

In 2021, Rush played the title role in her first Hebrew-language Israeli drama series, Baalat HaChalomot, and, in the following year, she played Macy in the comedy-drama film Cha Cha Real Smooth and River in the supernatural horror film Umma.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos Year Title Artist Album Notes2018"Rooftops"Harry NathanSongs About Dreams About HerAlso director and writer

Accolades

2013: Rush was named one of Hollywood's 20 up and coming young actresses under 20 to watch by The Midwest TV Guys 2014: Rush was one of two Israeli actresses, along with Gal Gadot, to be named as Hollywood's newest leading ladies by InStyle magazine

Year Nominated work Award / film festival Category Result 2012 The Chambie Awards Best Actress 2013 Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Feature Film – Supporting Young Actress We Are What We Are The Chambie Awards Best Actress 2014 Herself Teen Choice Awards Olay Fresh Effects Breakout Star Award The Chambie Awards Best Actress 2016 Goosebumps Young Artist Awards 2017 Lady Bird Detroit Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Best Performance by an Ensemble Seattle Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Cast Online Film Critics Society Awards Best Ensemble Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Best Cast Chicago Indie Critics AwardsBest Ensemble CastGeorgia Film Critics Association AwardsBest Ensemble 2018 Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Ensemble International Cinephile Society AwardsBest Ensemble Columbus Film Critics Association AwardsBest Ensemble Critics' Choice Awards Best Acting Ensemble Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2019 CinEuphoria Awards Best Ensemble – International Competition