Who Plays Olivia Caliban on 'A Series of Unfortunate Events'?

The second season of A Series of Unfortunate Events is finally on Netflix and there's really so much to discuss. One of the best parts of the latest season are all the new, interesting characters the Baudelaire children come across. There's one new character in particular that has quickly become a new fan favorite: the Prufrock Preparatory School librarian Olivia Caliban. Not only is she in instantly lovable character, she's also one of those actresses that looks so familiar but you can never quite place them. So, who does play Olivia Caliban on A Series of Unfortunate Events? Sara Rue was tapped to bring the well-meaning librarian to life. 

Rue has one of those careers where she turns up in a ton of popular TV series in memorable roles. Case in point: her turn as Olivia Caliban in A Series of Unfortunate Events. In addition to joining Violet, Klaus, and Sunny on their journey, Rue has appeared in other popular shows like Roseanne, Blossom, E.R., and Will & Grace, according to Romper. Rue also made a name for herself in the TV world with turns on Eastwick, The Big Bang Theory, Rules of Engagement, Popular, and Impastor. And, of course, she's recently starred in the Hallmark movie All for Love and the TV series American Housewife. To say that Rue has an impressive resume would be an understatement. 

The popularity of Rue's character might surprise some loyal fans of the original A Series of Unfortunate Events book series, though, because the on-screen version of Olivia Caliban differs greatly from the book-version. In the show, Olivia first meets the Baudelaires at Prufrock Prep where she works as the much-maligned school librarian (Even though the first two episodes take place at a school, the Vice Principal at Prufrock Prep isn't a fan of libraries). After meeting Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, and learning about their struggle to escape the clutches of Count Olaf, Olivia quits her job and joins the mysterious, crime fighting organization V.F.D. She goes on a journey with Jacques Snicket, another volunteer, to help the Baudelaires. 

In the books, however, Oliva is actually a fortune teller who prefers to go by the name "Madame Lulu." So, yeah, it's pretty big difference. While it can be difficult for fans of the books to deal with changes when it's adapted for the screen, it's actually kind of exciting to see an adult character who isn't totally useless to the Baudelaires or an evil villain trying to steal their fortune. 

***Spoilers Ahead***

If you've finished the second season of A Series of Unfortunate Events, you know where Olivia's storyline ends: she gets eaten by a lion. It seems unlikely that she survived the attack, so, she most likely won't be appearing next season. Another new character from this season will most likely be back for the final season. Esmé Squalor remains an important part of the series until The Penultimate Peril, which is the second to last installment. We just have to wait until then to see the Baudelaire's story come to an end.