Willa Holland

Holland grew up with two sisters: Brianna Holland and Piper De Palma, from her mother Darnell Gregorio's then-marriage to film director Brian De Palma.^[2] She briefly attended Palisades Charter High School before leaving to focus on her acting career.^[3]

At age seven,^[4] while visiting her stepfather's neighbor in The Hamptons, New York, Holland was noticed by film director, Steven Spielberg. He advised Holland's parents "to put her in front of a camera."^[5][6][7]

Upon returning to Los Angeles that September, Holland signed with Ford Modeling Agency,^[7][8] and immediately booked a shoot for Burberry.^[8] She has also modeled for Guess, Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Ralph Lauren.

In 1999, De Palma introduced Holland to a theatrical talent agency.^[7] She subsequently appeared in several national commercials. In 2001, when Holland was ten, she worked alongside her father in Ordinary Madness. She was initially cast to co-star in the 2005 Fox series The Inside with fellow model Rachel Nichols, but left the show when writer Tim Minear was brought in to overhaul it. She initially played the role of Kaitlin Cooper on The O.C.,^[7] replacing Shailene Woodley, first as a recurring character in season 3, and then as a regular in season four.^[9]

In December 2007, Holland was cast in the independent drama film Garden Party, as April, a troubled teenage aspiring model who tries to make it in Los Angeles. In September 2008, The CW announced Holland would appear in three episodes of the second season of the teen-drama television series Gossip Girl, created by The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz. Holland played the role of a rebellious 16-year-old model who befriends and creates havoc for Jenny Humphrey (Taylor Momsen).^[7] In March 2010, Holland made a one-off return in the 16th episode of the third season, "The Empire Strikes Jack".

In May 2010, Square Enix announced Holland would voice Aqua in the PlayStation Portable title Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, which was released on September 7, 2010 in North America.^[10] That same year, Holland starred in her first major studio film, the apocalyptic thriller film Legion, playing the role of a bratty teenager.^[11] She played Janice Heddon in the film Straw Dogs (2011), a remake of the 1971 film of the same name.

In February 2012, Holland was cast in The CW action-adventure series Arrow as Thea Queen / Speedy, the sister of Oliver Queen / Green Arrow.^[7][12][13] She remained a regular cast member in the series until leaving during the sixth season episode "The Thanatos Guild".^[14] Holland returned for a cameo in the season seven episode "Emerald Archer".^[15] She returned twice during the eight and final season, first in the episode "Leap of Faith", then in the series finale "Fadeout".^[16][17]

In the 2012 film Tiger Eyes, Holland played Davey Wexler.^[7][18] The film was based on the 1981 novel of the same name written by Judy Blume.^[7][18][19]