Few film adaptations arrive with quite as much hype as Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights. And while much of the pre-release conversation has orbited its headline stars, Aussies Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, there’s another presence commanding attention. Enter Alison Oliver — the Irish actor steadily on the rise — who has been hailed for stealing the show with her portrayal of the feverishly repressed Isabelle Linton.
Here's what you need to know about the woman of the hour.
She's originally from Ireland...
Now 28, Oliver was born in Ballintemple, Cork and later moved to Blackrock. Although she wasn't born into a theatrical family (her mother is a social worker and her father worked in the motor trade), Oliver has had creative interests since she was a child, taking acting, singing, and dancing lessons at The Performer's Academy and the Cork School of Dance.
After finishing school, she applied to Trinity College Dublin's prestigious drama school The Lir Academy (of which Paul Mescal is also an alumni), and after taking a year-long foundation course in Acting and Theatre, went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in acting in 2020.
Her breakout role came in Conversations with Friends
The morning after she graduated (yes, really), Oliver proved she was going to make a mark in the acting world. with her first role in the adaptation of Sally Rooney's hit novel, Conversations with Friends. She played Frances Flynn, cast opposite major names like Sasha Lane, Joe Alwyn, and Jemima Kirke.
You probably recognise her from Saltburn
Not long after, Oliver made her feature film debut in Emerald Fennell's Saltburn, which went on to win two Golden Globes and five BAFTAs. The thrilling (and at times absurd) tragedy saw Oliver take on the role of Venetia, the spoilt but complicated sister of Jacob Elordi's Felix.
The role of Isabella was always intended for her
Yep, thanks to her longtime working relationship with Fennell, Oliver didn't actually need to audition for Isabella Linton. Instead, the director simply sent her the script along with a text: "If you want Isabella, she's yours."
It goes without sayign that Oliver made the character hers. You only need to peruse a few Letterboxd reviews to see how the audience really felt about her expertly absurd portrayal of Edgar Linton's younger sister.
She's dating Josh O'Connor
Although this couple are notoriously private (and have never explicitly confirmed their romance), they're thought to have been quietly dating for the last few years.
They were first publicly spotted in early 2024, holding hands in Rome. Since then, they've been spotted on several more occasions — and are even thought to have matching tattoos.
She frequently collaborates with The Hope Foundation
When she's not busy acting, Oliver frequently supports the fundraising campaigns and initiatives of HOPE — including a trip to Kolkata, India, to visit several of their projects.
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