Olivia Olson: Love Actually’s Joanna talks ‘expectations’ on her during X Factor Celebrity

Olivia Olson, 27, has admitted “there was more of an expectation” as she made her debut on The X Factor: Celebrity, after she found fame as singing sensation Joanna in Love Actually. The actress starred in the film when she was just 10-years-old and stole the show with her incredible performance of Mariah Carey’s hit All I Want For Christmas Is You. Nearly two decades later, the star is pursuing a career in singing after signing up to The X Factor: Celebrity. Speaking about the move in an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, Olivia explained she felt the “pressure” to impress British viewers after wowing audiences with her vocals in the festive movie.

I did feel that pressure, there was more of an expectation going into my audition.

Olivia Olson

Opening up about her role as Joanna, she recalled: “I was a 10-year-old kid singing Mariah Carey and pulled it off and that just goes to show song selection because you’re comparing yourself to Mariah Carey.”

The performer went on to address her nerves ahead of her first appearance on the ITV talent show.

She added: “I did feel that pressure, there was more of an expectation going into my audition so it made me really nervous but a lot can change in 17 years.”

“I might not be able to sing anymore,” she teased.

In spite of her concerns, Olivia revealed she is looking forward to proving herself to a British audience.

She continued: “But it’s going to be nice especially for everyone over here in England to see me grown up.

“I’ve been doing my thing in the States but over here I’m always going to be Joanna, and it’s going to be great to come out and be like, ‘I’m Olivia and I’m a woman, I’m not 10’ and I’m excited to break that barrier a little bit.”

Olivia announced she would be singing in the celebrity version of the singing competition in an Instagram post back last month.

In view of her 41,000 followers, The X Factor hopeful wrote: “WILD! I’ll be joining the cast & competition of #xfactorcelebrity.

“Thank you @ITV for giving me this shot! It’s going to be so much fun but also really out of my comfort zone.”

The star admitted she has “shied away” from performing live in recent years.

She added: “I’d hardly consider myself a ‘celebrity’ & performing live is something I’ve shied away from for so long. 

“I want to do this to push myself because I have so much more to give.”

Referencing her roles in Love Actually and Adventure Time, she explained: “You know #Marceline or ‘the little girl’ from #loveactually but I’m ready for the world to get to know OLIVIA.”

Olivia will be hoping to impress judges Simon Cowell, 60, Louis Walsh , 67, and Nicole Scherzinger, 41, during her audition, which is set to air tonight.

She will be facing competition from other celebrity contestants including reality star Megan McKenna, 27, who released a number 1 single on iTunes back in 2017, and American talk show host Rikki Lake, 51.

The X Factor: Celebrity airs tonight at 8.30pm on ITV.

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