Olivia Richards
| Olivia Richards | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Sunset Beach character | |||||||||
| Portrayed by | Lesley-Anne Down | ||||||||
| Duration | 1997–99 | ||||||||
| First appearance | January 6, 1997 | ||||||||
| Last appearance | December 31, 1999 | ||||||||
| Created by | Robert Guza, Jr. | ||||||||
| Introduced by | Gary Tomlin, Aaron Spelling and E. Duke Vincent | ||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||
| Occupation | Broadcasting Executive | ||||||||
| Home | Sunset Beach, California | ||||||||
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| Father | Thomas Blake |
|---|---|
| Husband | Gregory Richards (1975–98) |
| Sons |
Sean Richards Trey Deschanel |
| Daughters | Caitlin Richards |
Olivia Richards is a fictional character from the US NBC soap opera Sunset Beach, played by Lesley-Anne Down.
In November 1996, it was announced that Lesley-Anne Down had been cast into the role of Olivia. She was billed as a "troubled alcoholic" and the "trophy wife" of Gregory Richards (Sam Behrens). The serial's creator and producer Aaron Spelling, originally named the character "Sheila", however Down looked through a list of potential names and requested that it be changed to Olivia. Olivia was also billed as one of the serial's lead characters.
Olivia was featured in a high-profile storyline in which an earthquake and tsunami occur in Sunset Beach. The storyline was created in a bid to gain ratings. In the storyline Olivia becomes trapped underneath her mansion home. Down agreed to do some stunts herself and was placed in a makeshift set of rubble and timber. Down was required to wear safety matter to prevent actual harm to herself. Down said she complete confidence in the production. However, in one scene a stunt double was used to drop a chandelier onto Olivia in the wreckage. Down admitted she was glad that she did not have to perform the stunt.
Olivia is introduced as the wife of Gregory and a mother of, Caitlin (Vanessa Dorman) and Sean Richards (Randy Spelling). She is revealed to be a recovered alcoholic and secret lover of Del Douglas (John Reilly). Olivia is enemies with his daughter Annie Douglas (Sarah Buxton). When Del is murdered, Olivia and Annie are both suspects, though Elaine Stevens (Leigh Taylor-Young) is the real murderer. Olivia is angry when she discovers Gregory's scheme to ruin Caitlin's relationship with jewel thief Cole Deschanel (Eddie Cibrian). Olivia has a flash back and realises that she has slept with Cole. Olivia soon discovers that Cole is the son of her former lover A.J. Deschanel (Gordon Thomson) and Elaine Stevens. Olivia becomes pregnant and is unsure whether Cole and Gregory is the father. Caitlin manages to prevent Olivia from having an abortion. Caitlin then discovers that she too is pregnant. Olivia and Gregory ruin Sean's relationship with Tiffany Thorne (Jennifer Banko-Stewart) so they can perfect their plan to get Caitlin away from Cole.
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