Olivia Godfrey was born into a very wealthy family in, presumably, Romania in the mid-19th century. She lived with her father and elder sister, who was considered to be much more beautiful than she. At the age of 13 a gypsy slave, Dmitri, was purchased for her sister's dowry at a price of two oxen. Olivia stole Dmitri and the two rode off together on a pair of horses. Olivia seemed to be in love with Dmitri but one night, when the two finally decided to stop and rest, Dimitri disappeared and stole the two horses and the rings on her fingers. When Olivia woke, she was distraught upon finding herself alone. She found a very sharp rock, unlaced the back of her dress to reveal a tail and cut off her tail. Olivia died but the next day her father's search party finally comes upon her body. Her father went up to her lifeless body, pressed his hand to where her tail once was and Olivia gasps. Nine months later she gave birth to a baby, Magdalena. Her father suggests that in order to avoid a scandal, that they give the baby to her older sister, who is married. Olivia, however, objects and says that the baby is of slave blood and once a slave, always a slave. She dismisses her father and tells him to give Magdelena to the swineherd, a group of pig farmers.
Following the birth of her first child Magdalena, Olivia leaves her family home to study acting in the city.

Most likely due to her study of acting and Upyr qualities, Olivia is manipulative and conniving. It is hinted that she mesmerized, perhaps even compelled, JR Godfrey into falling in love with her when the two met in England. She does not scruple to get what she wants, and the whole town is afraid of her. She is even quoted to be, "the most beautiful and despised woman in Hemlock Grove". She is demanding, especially when it comes to Shelley and Roman. She does not hesitate to throw her wealth and power around. The only time that she seemingly had tenderness was when Roman was in a coma. Despite her earlier dismissal and rudeness to Peter Rumancek, she is gentle and kind to him when he comes to deliver a gift to Roman. This could be seen though, as a manipulation to Roman and Peter, as she orchestrated Letha's death and Peter's disappearance to drive Roman deeper into her control. She loves to drink wine, shop and also is addicted to a substance which only gypsies seem able to produce.

It is much assumed that because of her predilection for eating live prey and her son's status as an "Upyr" that Olivia is also of the same race. There is however evidence to the contrary that she is of at least a higher class of Slavic demon than her son and daughter. In Slavic folklore, there are two processes for becoming an Upyr. First, a child born of the union between a Witch and a Demon. This form of Upyr will classically retain a tail and other demonoid features. "Bisytsia" or "mamuna" might be a more appropriate category for Olivia noting the difference between her physical characteristics and Roman's more human likeness as well as her appetite for flesh and his for blood.