In June 2008, Olivia was named one of Vanity Fair's top picks for "Hollywood's New Wave". In the same year but earlier in January, the New York Daily News called her "the next hot thing".
Olivia Thirlby: (on Snow Angels) Mostly, the film is beautiful, and that's the reason to go see it. I saw it last night for the fifth time. I was not planning on sitting through the movie. And it just started, and I didn't want to go get up. I enjoyed the movie again so much. I'm so familiar with it-I know every cut that's coming up, I know what's about to happen. Every time I watch it, I love it more and more. It's beautiful, beautiful.
Olivia Thirlby: (about her sex scene with Josh Peck in The Wackness) When you're naked with somebody with a whole bunch of people who aren't naked, it's a really bonding experience!
Olivia Thirlby: (if being a native New Yorker helped her filming The Wackness) I knew as soon as I read the script that I'd be really perfect for it. I sort of ended up playing Stephanie as myself. That's actually really me.