Mary-Kate Olsen takes a break from university

LOS ANGELES - Teen actress Mary-Kate Olsen has taken a leave of absence from New York University to focus on the entertainment company she runs with her twin sister, Ashley, said her spokesman last week.

"She's not dropping out. She's taking an approved leave of absence to focus on her increasing responsibilities and live her life," spokesman Michael Pagnotta said, adding that Olsen had returned to Los Angeles.

"She and her sister run a global business and it demands quite a bit of their time," he said, adding that Mary-Kate would return to New York in November to accept a fashion award.

Ashley Olsen will remain at New York University's Gallatin School, where the 19-year-old film and TV stars are sophomores studying a liberal arts curriculum, Pagnotta said.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are co-presidents of Dualstar Entertainment Group, a multimillion-dollar brand catering to young girls with home videos, CDs, books, apparel, fragrances and dolls. Fortune magazine last year estimated they were worth $137 million each.

Pagnotta said Mary-Kate, who was treated for an eating disorder in 2004, was not taking a leave of absence for health reasons.

"She's not going into hiding," he said, adding that among the interests Mary-Kate pursed outside of film were travel, painting and photography.

- REUTERS