The Olsen twins
The Olsen twins (born June 13, 1986) are American actresses named Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen who have appeared in television and films since the age of 3 months. Despite their near-identical looks, the pair are actually fraternal (non-identical) twins (as is evident from their height difference).
They started their acting careers on the television series Full House. The show was widely popular during the late 80s and early 90s, and both sisters played one character, Michelle Tanner, taking turns during the recordings to do so, in order to comply with child labor laws regarding child actors.
Shortly after the end of Full House, they returned to the entertainment industry, riding the momentum of their role on Full House by heavily merchandising their image. Taking the world of pre-teens and children by storm, their names have become an industry that makes them over 160 million dollars each a year, with their likeness seen in movies, posters, magazines, clothes, and even video games like Mary Kate and Ashley's Magical Mystery Mall.
The Olsen twins are popular figures in today's pre-teen market, following along the lines of such Hollywood child stars as Shirley Temple, Ron Howard and Macaulay Culkin among others.
They starred in the ABC's show Two Of A Kind (now in rerun on ABC Family), as well as ABC Family's So Little Time, essentially a white Sister, Sister.
Among the movies they have made (mostly for television and video):
- Getting There
- It Takes Two (their only cinema film besides a cameo in The Little Rascals, and their only one where they're not playing sisters)
- Passport To Paris
- Switching Goals
- Winning London
- When In Rome