Olivia Kate Cooke lahir pada 27 Desember 1993 di Oldham, Greater Manchester. Ia adalah putri dari Lndsy Wild dan John Cooke. Dia memiliki seorang adik perempuan bernama Eleanor.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Latics' new safety officer - News - Oldham Athletic|url=https://www.oldhamathletic.co.uk/news/2013/june/latics-new-safety-officer/|website=www.oldhamathletic.co.uk|language=en-gb|access-date=2021-02-26}}</ref> Orangtuanya bercerai ketika dia masih kecil, dan dia serta adik perempuannya tinggal bersama ibu mereka.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-06-08|title=Three questions for Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, stars of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/movies/2015/06/08/three-questions-for-thomas-mann-rj-cyler-olivia-cooke-stars-of-me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl.html|website=thestar.com|language=en|access-date=2021-02-26}}</ref> Dia mulai berakting ketika dia berusia delapan tahun di Oldham Theatre Workshop, sebuah program drama.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-08-21|title=Oldham News {{!}} News Headlines {{!}} Secret’s out: Olivia a rising star in UK and US - Chronicle Online|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821180754/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news/75418/secrets-out-olivia-a-rising-star-in-uk-and-us|website=web.archive.org|access-date=2021-02-26|archive-date=2014-08-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821180754/http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/news-features/8/news/75418/secrets-out-olivia-a-rising-star-in-uk-and-us|dead-url=unfit}}</ref> Dia berperan sebagai Maria dalam produksi dari West Side Story untuk Teater Oldham.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-03-03|title=Discovery: Olivia Cooke|url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/culture/discovery-olivia-cooke|website=Interview Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2021-02-26}}</ref>Ketika dia berusia 14 tahun, dia mendapatkan agen lokal pertamanya.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-12-18|title=Wayback Machine|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218065158/http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/the-quiet-ones-star-olivia-cooke-i-have-no-dignity-anymore-after-this-movie/#.U2e_FnrD8m8|website=web.archive.org|access-date=2021-02-26|archive-date=2014-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141218065158/http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/the-quiet-ones-star-olivia-cooke-i-have-no-dignity-anymore-after-this-movie/|dead-url=unfit}}</ref> Pada 2012, ia muncul dalam video tur "Autumn Term" [[One Direction]] sebagai seorang siswa yang mendapatkan tumpangan dari [[Harry Styles]]. Meskipun agennya melarangnya untuk mendaftar di sekolah drama karena dia sudah mendapatkan pekerjaan akting, dia tertarik untuk melamar ke Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) dan berhasil mencapai babak final audisi, tetapi tidak diterima.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rotunno|first=Anthony|title=Meet Olivia Cooke, the Scary-Good Actress Set to Take Hollywood by Storm|url=https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/olivia-cooke|website=Teen Vogue|language=en-us|access-date=2021-02-26}}</ref>
