Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Rita Volk moved to San Francisco with her family when she was 6 years old. Approached by a modeling scout, Volk was given the opportunity to audition for commercials and instantly fell in love with acting. Through high school, Volk acted in school plays and further explored her burgeoning love for film, which, she claims, helped her and her family acclimatize to the American language and culture. After high school, Volk attended Duke University, where she graduated with a degree in psychology/pre-med. But she never lost sight of her passion for acting as she starred in student films and was a member of Inside Joke, Duke University's sketch comedy troupe.