Olga Kurylenko, a Ukrainian-born actress and model, went from sharing a cramped flat with her aunt, uncle, grandparents and cousin to starring as a Bond girl opposite Daniel Craig.

She was born Olga Konstantinovna Kurylenko on November 14, 1979, in Berdyansk, Ukraine, Soviet Union. Her mother, Marina Alyabysheva, divorced her father, Konstantin Kurylenko, soon after her birth. After the divorce her mother struggled to survive as an art teacher. Young Olga was brought up by her mother and her grandmother, Raisa. During her youth Olga had the humbling experience of living in poverty; she had no choice but to wear rags and had to darn the holes on her sweater. During her years in Ukraine she studied art and languages and spent seven years studying piano at a local school of music in Berdyansk. She also went to a ballet studio until 13.

Trivia

Trained as a dancer and model in Moscow.
Plays the piano.
Served on the jury at the 2007 Brussels International Film Festival.
Admires old movies.
Speaks Russian, English, and French fluently. Can also speak Spanish and Italian.
Originally believed she had failed to impress director and producers of Quantum of Solace (2008) after her audition.
Was told she had got the part of Camille in Quantum of Solace (2008) on Christmas Eve 2007.
Trained as a ballerina in the Soviet Union (Ukrainian SSR) from ages 8 to 12 and Independent Ukraine from ages 12 to 13.
Quantum of Solace (2008) in which she starred, opened worldwide on her 29th birthday (November 14).
Has appeared in two movies with "Oblivion" in the title: Oblivion (2013) and Land of Oblivion (2011).
She learned Turkish for her role in The Water Diviner (2014).
Played with two James Bond actors in separate movies, Daniel Craig in Quantum of Solace (2008) and Pierce Brosnan in The November Man (2014).

If you do these big blockbusters, suddenly people know who you are. That's how it works. It's the industry. You have to do that. That's what people watch.
A lot of movies are made to make us dream.
Every one of us, no matter how damaged or abnormal or shut down, we're all looking for love. Every person needs love in this world, but our views on what love is vary enormously.
When I was a kid, we never had a video game in my house. But my cousin did, and each time I went to her house I was able to play "Tetris" and "Mario" Those were the only two games I played as a child.
I don't see divorce as a failure. I see it as the end to a story. In a story, everything has an end and a beginning.
I hate jealousy, I hate possessiveness. I'm nobody's possession.
I maybe missed money in my childhood, but I didn't miss love, that's for sure. My dad wasn't there, but I can tell you not even once did I think I was missing something.
I always listen to all kinds of different music from different years. I listen to the contemporary, but once in a while into '80s, you know, just for fun, and sometimes classical, too. So I have this big mix on my iPod . . . Amy Winehouse, Gwen Stefani, Outkast, Jay Z. I listen to trance, pop, everything. It really depends on my mood.