One literally needs a show biz scorecard to keep up with 5’4″ Olivia Munn. For some, she was the firecracker, fast-talking “Sloan Sabbith” on Aaron Sorkin‘s and HBO’s “Newsroom.” But her resume reveals far more within the entertainment industry ranging from her early days as a correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in 2010 to more recently diverse roles ranging from a ruthless and smart CIA operative in the second season of “HISTORY series SIX,” “X-Men: Apocalypse”‘s Psylocke and upcoming romantic comedies like “Love, Wedding, Repeat” and social drama “The Gateway.”
Even off-screen she was making news when she reported an encounter with director Brett Ratner that she recounted in her 2010 best-seller, “Suck It, Wonder Woman! The Misadventures of a Hollywood Geek.” While she didn’t name Ratner in the book, he had his own version of the encounter which he recounted on Howard Stern’s radio show. However, due to similar allegations, Ratner resigned as the producer of the 2012 Academy Award Ceremonies and had his $450M financing deal with Warner Bros. canceled.
In the meantime, Olivia got on with her career and life with award-winning writer, actor and comedian John Mulaney that set the viral chats in overload with their dating and having a child in 2021.
It was also in 2021 while filming “Violet” that Olivia worked with 43-year-old actress Erica Ash. Little did they know that they would have more in common than the film. It seems that Erica had been diagnosed with Stage 2B cancer in 2008. Early detection and treatments remedied the situation only for the cancer to return in an even more aggressive Stage 4 form a decade later.
While Erica was continuing to work and battle cancer, Olivia admitted that she had had all the tests. But three months after a mammogram and having recently tested negative for the BRCA cancer gene, she discovered she had luminal B—a fast-moving, aggressive cancer—in both breasts.
Olivia showed courage much like Sloan would have and charged ahead with a double mastectomy and reconstruction surgery. In turn she has become an ardent advocate for women not to shy away from having mammograms and dealing with the possible results.
This past Monday, when Olivia learned that 46-year-old Erica had lost her long and courageous battle with cancer, she posted on Instagram, “So sad to hear about the passing of Erica Ash after a long battle with cancer.” She later added a four-letter word starting with an “f” that summed up her anger for cancer. {Editor’s note: Sorry, but there are some words that just don’t make it in MySweetCharity posts even if they do fit the occasion.]
Today it was announced that Olivia will bring that feisty, fearless spirit to Baylor Scott and White Dallas Foundation‘s 25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee Celebrating Women Luncheon fundraiser on Friday, October 18, at the Hilton Anatole.
According to 2024 Celebrating Women Silver Jubilee Presiding Chair Linda Custard, “Breast cancer has touched the lives of so many women and families around the world, and I’m so proud of our Dallas community for leading the way in the fight against this disease. As Celebrating Women marks 25 years of impact, I continue to be inspired by the physicians who remain so committed to this cause, by the patients who bravely share their stories and by the thousands of community members who stand together in this fight.”
Sponsorships ranging from $5,000 to $100,000 are now available here!
Funds raised through the luncheon will champion new developments in the battle against breast cancer.
* Photo credit: Ryan West ** Graphic courtesy of Baylor Scott And White Dallas Foundation