Odeya Rush is, quite simply, ridiculously beautiful. And yes, we suspect most people will agree before they even finish this sentence.
She has the kind of beauty that somehow manages to be both sizzling and regal—as if she was personally cast to keep the rest of us staring at the screen a little longer than necessary. Frankly, it’s a lot to process.
But enough with the beauty report. Let’s get to know the actress behind the face that clearly understood the assignment.
Who is Odeya Rush
Odeya Rush is an Israeli actress based in the United States, known for taking on a wide range of roles across film and television. She has appeared in films including The Giver (2014), Goosebumps (2015), The Bachelors (2017), Lady Bird (2017), Dumplin’ (2018), Let It Snow (2019), and Dangerous Waters (2023).
In 2026, Rush added television crime drama to the résumé, taking on the role of Maria in Fox’s Memory of a Killer. From dystopian dramas and horror comedies to indie films and crime thrillers, apparently sticking to one genre was never really her thing.
Her Early Life
Odeya Rush was born Odeya Rushinek on May 12, 1997, in Haifa, Israel, to Jewish parents Shlomo Rushinek, an Israeli, and Maia (née Greenfeld), who immigrated from Russia, then part of the Soviet Union. Hebrew was her first language, while she also grew up speaking Russian. Her name means “I will thank God” in Hebrew, which is a rather meaningful name for a child who would eventually end up entertaining audiences for a living.
Rush was already showing a flair for performance as a child. At just eight years old, she wrote and performed her own plays in Haifa. Apparently, waiting for Hollywood to discover her was never really part of the plan.
When she was nine, her family moved to the United States after her father took a job as a security consultant in Alabama. Rush arrived without knowing English and initially spoke only Hebrew and Russian. She attended the N. E. Miles Jewish Day School in Birmingham before the family later moved to Midland Park, New Jersey, where she attended public school. Going from Hebrew and Russian to navigating American school life was quite the adjustment.
In early 2013, Rush moved with her family to Los Angeles as her acting ambitions began taking shape. She is one of seven siblings, with six brothers in total. Four are younger than her, including two sets of twins who live with their parents in Los Angeles, while her two older paternal half-brothers live in Israel.
From writing plays in Haifa at eight to moving across countries and learning a new language, Rush’s childhood was already giving “future actress” long before the cameras officially arrived.
Career Journey
Odeya Rush began her career in the spotlight long before Hollywood came calling. As a child and teenager, she was discovered as a model in the United States and went on to appear in campaigns and advertisements for major fashion brands including Polo Ralph Lauren, Gap, Tommy Hilfiger, and H&M. Apparently, the camera had already decided she belonged in front of it.
In 2018, Rush also appeared in a summer campaign for the collaboration between FILA and Urban Outfitters, adding another fashion credit to an already busy résumé.
Her transition into acting began in 2010, when she made her television debut in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing Hannah Milner in the episode “Branded.” That same year, she appeared as Emily in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm titled “Mister Softee.” Two very different shows, but a pretty solid way to start.
Rush made her feature-film debut in 2012 in Disney’s The Odd Life of Timothy Green, directed by Peter Hedges. She played Joni Jerome, the best friend of Timothy, marking her first step into the world of movies.
Her breakthrough came in 2014 when she co-starred as Fiona in the science-fiction drama The Giver, based on Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel and directed by Phillip Noyce. The film featured an impressive cast including Brenton Thwaites, Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, Katie Holmes, Alexander Skarsgård, and Taylor Swift. Not exactly a bad group of people to have on the call sheet.
In 2015, Rush appeared in the comedy See You in Valhalla as Ashley Burwood, the niece of Sarah Hyland’s character, Johana Burwood. She followed that with one of her most recognizable roles: Hannah Fairchild in Goosebumps. Based on R. L. Stine’s bestselling book series, the film saw Rush play the daughter of Stine himself, portrayed by Jack Black. Hannah teams up with her neighbor to battle the monsters that have escaped from her father’s books. Because apparently having a famous horror writer for a dad comes with a few occupational hazards.
Rush kept the momentum going in 2016, completing filming on the satirical comedy Dear Dictator, in which she starred alongside Michael Caine and Katie Holmes. She was also cast opposite Sam Worthington in The Hunter’s Prayer, an action thriller directed by Jonathan Mostow, playing Ella Hatto.
In 2017, Rush took on a supporting role in Greta Gerwig’s critically acclaimed coming-of-age film Lady Bird. The movie received numerous award nominations, including recognition for its ensemble cast. That same year, she starred alongside J. K. Simmons in The Bachelors, adding another dramatic project to her growing filmography.
After several years working primarily in American film and television, Rush returned to her Israeli roots in 2021 with Baalat HaChalomot, her first Hebrew-language Israeli drama series, in which she played the title role. The following year, she appeared in two very different films: the comedy-drama Cha Cha Real Smooth, playing Macy, and the supernatural horror film Umma, in which she portrayed River.
Odeya Rush has never seemed particularly interested in keeping her career predictable. She’s moved between fashion campaigns, television, Disney movies, prestige dramas, supernatural horror, and Hebrew-language television with impressive ease. One lane? Clearly not her thing.
Facts and Trivia
Long before she was acting professionally, Odeya Rush was already running her own miniature film studio at home. She directed her four younger brothers in homemade short films on an iPad and even made them sign contracts promising to pay a $1 penalty if they quit. Apparently, Rush discovered the joys of being a director—and the importance of keeping her cast under contract—very early.
Her first movie role was supposed to be a single scene in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, but there was an unfortunate plot twist: she learned her part had been cut the night before filming. Hollywood, apparently, was already teaching her about disappointment.
Rush has also frequently been compared to actress Mila Kunis, thanks to their similar features. A comparison she has apparently had to hear more than once.
Her Body Measurements
Odeya Rush stands at approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall, with unofficially reported measurements of 34-25-35 inches. In other words, petite by Hollywood standards, but apparently with no shortage of camera-ready proportions.
Odeya Rush Photos
Follow Odeya on Instagram for her latest lifestyle and personal content.
And do check out our Odeya Rush page for a good number of her pictures.
