That Dog From ‘Widows’ Also Starred In ‘Game Night’ And Netflix’s ‘Insatiable’
Several actors in Steve McQueen’s new heist filmWidowshave appeared in multiple movies this year:Carrie Coonwas inAvengers: Infinity War,Elizabeth Debickiwas inThe TaleandThe Cloverfield Paradox,Daniel Kaluuyawas inBlack Panther, andBrian Tyree Henryis having a heck of a year by appearing inIf Beale Street Could Talk, Hotel Artemis, White Boy Rick, and more.
But there’s one otherWidowscast member who’s having a prolific 2018:Olivia, the West Highland white terrier who serves as Viola Davis’s pet pup in the film. And if you’re thinking, “Hmm, where else have I seen her this year?”, you may have missed our headline: Olivia also popped up in Netflix seriesInsatiableand had a memorable part to play in the party-gone-wrong comedyGame Night.
The Ringerwrote a long piece about Olivia, the three-year-old, fifteen pound dog who burst onto the scene in a big way this year, and they tracked down some quotes from a couple of Olivia’s more famous co-workers (who, at this rate, might only be more famous for just a little while longer).
InWidows, Olivia steps in as Viola Davis’s character’s pet – a fluffy, calm companion that gives Davis a bit of hope in the bleak aftermath of her husband’s death. At one point, Olivia is threatened by Brian Tyree Henry’s character – don’t worry, she makes it out okay – and later in the film, she makes a discovery that’s pivotal to the rest of the story.
loving the new@WidowsMovieposterpic.twitter.com/dHGtZMgtbQ
— reggie (@rvlsco)June 02, 2025
“I don’t own a dog in life, so I was [complaining] like, ‘I’ve gotta work with adog. What if the dog licks me? Dogs are nasty and disgusting,'” said Davis at aWidowsscreening in New York earlier this month. “Within the first five minutes, I’m kissing the dog, I’m holding the dog, the dog was on my chest. Ilovethat dog, and she came to me so easily.”
Olivia just had a quick cameo inInsatiable, but inGame Night, she plays Bastion, the beloved pet ofJesse Plemons’ Gary. Gary is an awkward and annoying neighbor who tries to guilt his way into the protagonists' game night party, and Bastion is a good dog that gets covered in Jason Bateman’s blood at one point:
Bateman, who didn’t realize Olivia was a female, spoke highly (and wryly) of his canine co-star in an interview withMTV:
“He was pretty easy, he didn’t talk that much. He was pretty serious about what he was doing. He was nervous. He peed on the set. He had a real weak bladder on him. But he did hit his mark and was there on time. And didn’t complain that much.”
Welcome to Hollywood, Olivia. Hopefully we’ll see you in many more movies to come.
