Brenda Song
Brenda Song |
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Brenda Song (born March 27, 1988[1]) is an American actress. She is best known for starring in Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior[2][3][4] which is currently the eighth highest viewed Disney Channel Original Movie, with over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere. She and Shin Koyamada will star in the Wendu Wu sequel.[5]
She also stars in the Disney Channel Original Series, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody as the not-so-intelligent heiress London Tipton, and has appeared in other Disney Channel original series and films. She won a Young Artist Award for her work in The Ultimate Christmas Present.
Personal Life
Brenda Song was born in Carmichael, California[1] (a suburb of Sacramento) to a Hmong American father and a Thai American mother.[6] Her father is a second-grade teacher and her mother is a homemaker.[7] Her family immigrated to America from Laos in 1976. Song lives in Greater Los Angeles with her parents and her two younger brothers, Timmy (three years younger) and Nathan (eight years younger). Song holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do[1] and was named an All-American Scholar in ninth grade. Song started in show business as a child fashion model in San Francisco.[8]
She graduated from high school as valedictorian with Kay Panabaker when she was 16 years old,[9] and she received her Associate's degree at age 17.
She was voted one of Teen People's 25 hottest stars under 25. Song ranked ninth in Netscape's "Top 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment".[10] In December 2006, CosmoGIRL! and Popstar! Magazine named her The Queen of Disney, and the readers of Askmen.com named her "Actress of the Year".[citation needed]
Song currently resides in Los Angeles, California, and is managed by The Curtis Talent Management.
Career
Song began acting with a Little Caesars commercial at age five.[8]
Song's first film appearance was the 1995 short film Requiem, an AFI student film by actress Elizabeth Sung. Song was discovered at 7 years old to play a young version of "Fong," who is played as an adult in the film by Tamlyn Tomita.
Television
Song's early career was marked by numerous minor television roles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including appearances on 7th Heaven, Once and Again, Popular, Judging Amy, and The Nightmare Room. She appeared in Bette with close friend Ashley Tisdale.
Her first major part was in Nickelodeon's 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd as Sariffa Chung. Her 2002 appearance on The Bernie Mac Show led to a Young Artist Award nomination for the category "Best Performance in a Television Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress".
Song guest appeared in Disney Channel shows like That's So Raven, and had a recurring role as Tia in the Disney Channel's Phil of the Future. She had minor roles in many American sitcoms, her most notable appearances were in Will and Grace, One Tree Hill and Strong Medicine.
In 2005, Song was cast in the role of the selfish heiress London Tipton[11] on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody after auditioning for the roles of Maddie Fitzpatrick and London Tipton. As the series became popular, Song became a featured performer on the Disney Channel and performed a voice role in Disney's American Dragon: Jake Long series.
In 2006, Song had a voice-over role in Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen, which also featured the voices of fellow Disney Channel stars Dylan and Cole Sprouse and Emily Osment.[12]
She appeared in the Disney Channel Games 2006 as captain of the Blue Team, and in the second rendition of the Disney Channel Games as captain of the Red Team.
Song is currently hosting a new Disney Channel short series called "Pass the Plate", which is a multicultural series produced in ten countries in association with Disney Channel.[13]
Film
Song's first role in a theatrical motion picture was with Santa with Muscles (1996), an independent film starring professional wrestler Hulk Hogan. Song appeared in Leave It to Beaver (1998) as Susan Acustis. Later in 1998, Song has a cameo appearance in the first sequel from the Blade Trilogy.
Song starred in the 2000 Disney movie The Ultimate Christmas Present, which won her a Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a TV Movie Comedy, Supporting Young Actress". She co-starred in other Disney movies, including Get a Clue and Stuck in the Suburbs.
Her first major role in a feature film was in the family film Like Mike (2002), starring rapper Bow Wow. Song portrayed the character Reg Stevens; the film received positive reviews and was successful enough to spawn a sequel, in which Song did not participate. Afterwards, Song appeared in Get a Clue, alongside actress Lindsay Lohan.
In 2006, Song starred in the Disney Channel Original Movies Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior,[14] which received 5.7 million viewers[15][16][17][18] making Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior the eighth highest viewed Disney Channel Original Movie.[2] This was the first movie where Song does not play a sidekick character. According to Variety, Song and Shin Koyamada will star in Wendy Wu 2;[5] shooting begins in early 2008.
Song has been mentioned in regard to two future projects: Disney's College Road Trip[19][20] with Raven-Symoné and Martin Lawrence; and American Darlings, a feature film with Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez.[21]
Music
Song was part of the Disney Channel Group of Stars, a group of performers from several different Disney Channel television series, in a version of "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes". The recording appeared on both the special edition Cinderella DVD and on the DisneyMania 4 CD. The album CD was released in April 2005 under the Walt Disney Records label and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200, and number 2 on the Top Kids Audio chart.[22]
Song appeared in the music video for "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" with the Disney Channel Circle of Stars. In 2007, she made a cameo appearance in Ashley Tisdale's music video for her debut single "He Said She Said".
- Soundtracks
| Year | Song | Film |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | "A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes" | DisneyMania 4 |
Awards and nominations
- 2001
- Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a TV Movie Comedy, Supporting Young Actress", for The Ultimate Christmas Present (Won).[23]
- 2003
- Young Artist Award for "Best Performance in a Television Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress", for The Bernie Mac Show (Nominated).[24]
- 2004
- "Poptastic's rising star" award for Popstar! Magazine's 3rd Annual Poptastic Awards! (Won).[citation needed]
- 2006
- "Poptastic's Favourite TV actress" award for Popstar! Magazine's 5th Annual Poptastic Awards! (Won).[citation needed]
- Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK: "Best TV Actress (Won)
- 2007
- "Poptastic's Favourite beauty" award for Popstar! Magazine's 6th Annual Poptastic Awards! (Nominated).[citation needed]
- Emmy Awards: "Outstanding Children's Program - with Suite Life Of Zack and Cody Cast" (Nominated)
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | College Road Trip | TBA | Walt Disney Pictures | TBA | Wendy Wu 2 | Wendy Wu | (Planned to start shooting in 2008) |
| 2007 | There's Something About Ashley: The Story of Headstrong | Herself | Documentary | ||||
| 2006 | Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior | Wendy Wu | Disney Channel Original Movie | ||||
| Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen | Treat | voice | |||||
| 2004 | Stuck in the Suburbs | Natasha Kwon-Schwartz | Disney Channel Original Movie | ||||
| 2002 | Like Mike | Reg Stevens | |||||
| Get a Clue | Jennifer | Disney Channel Original Movie | |||||
| 2000 | The Ultimate Christmas Present | Samantha Kwan | Disney Channel Original Movie | ||||
| 1998 | Blade | School Girl | short cameo | ||||
| 1997 | Leave It to Beaver | Susan Acustis | |||||
| 1996 | Santa with Muscles | Susan | |||||
| 1995 | Requiem | young Fong |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-present | Pass the Plate | Herself | Host |
| 2005-present | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | London Tipton | |
| 2004-2005 | Phil of the Future | Tia | 7 Episodes |
| 1999 | 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd | Sariffa Chung |
Guest appearances
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Disney Channel Games 2007 | Herself | Red Team Captain |
| Good Morning America | Herself | Aired on February 6 | |
| Pass the Plate | Herself | Host | |
| The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Herself | ||
| Punk'd | Herself | (never aired) | |
| Live with Regis and Kelly | Herself | Aired on May 28 | |
| American Darlings | Unknown yet | Filming | |
| 2006 | American Dragon: Jake Long | Cheerleader Tracey | 1 episode |
| Late Night With Conan O'Brien | Herself | Aired on February 8; Guest | |
| Total Request Live | Herself | Aired on February 7 | |
| Disney Channel Games 2006 | Herself | Blue Team Captain | |
| Mike's Super Short Show | Herself | ||
| Live with Regis and Kelly | Herself | ||
| That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana | London Tipton | Part of the That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana special. | |
| 2004 | Stuck in the Suburbs | Natasha Kwon-Schwartz | |
| Costume Party Capers: The Incredibles | voice over | ||
| Phil of the Future | Tia | 7 episodes | |
| Will and Grace | Cady | Guest Appearance | |
| 2003 | That's So Raven | Amber | Guest Appearance |
| Strong Medicine | Britney | Guest Appearance | |
| One on One | Asanti | 1 episode | |
| One Tree Hill | Lindsey | Guest Appearance | |
| 2002 | Get a Clue | Jennifer | |
| Gilmore Girls | cheerleader captain | Guest Appearance | |
| Grounded for Life | Popular girl | Guest Appearance | |
| Like Mike | Reg Stevens | ||
| The Nightmare Room | unknown | ||
| The Bernie Mac Show | Shannon | 1 episode | |
| George Lopez | Popular Girl #2 | 1 episode | |
| 2001 | ER | Lynda | 1 episode |
| Judging Amy | Vanessa Pran | ||
| Bette | Stacey | 1 episode | |
| Popular | Mandy Shepherd | 1 episode | |
| 2000 | Charmed | Haunted girl | |
| The Ultimate Christmas Present | Samantha Kwan | ||
| Once and Again | Chrissy | 1 episode | |
| 7th Heaven | Cynthia | 2 episodes | |
| 1999 | 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd | Sariffa Chung | |
| 1997 | Leave It to Beaver | Susan Acustis | |
| 1996 | Santa with Muscles | Susan | |
| Small Talk | Panelist | 1 episode | |
| 1995 | Requiem | Young Fong | |
| 1994-1995 | Thunder Alley | Kathy | 2 episodes |
References
- ^ a b c About Brenda. BrendaSongSite.com. Accessed 2007-05-19.
- ^ a b R. Thomas Umstead (January 22, 2007). "Disney Movie Skips to Another Record". Retrieved 2007-09-22.
- ^ Stacy Jenel Smith. RISING STAR: Brenda Song Shows Off Chops in 'Wendy Wu' Netscape Celebrity. Accessed 2007-09-08.
- ^ Robert Bianco (6/15/2006). What to watch this weekend USAToday.com. Accessed 2007-10-24.
- ^ a b Shin Koyamada Variety.com. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ "Meet Brenda Song, Actress and Athlete". Time for kids. May 8, 2006. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ Jacques Steinberg (June 15, 2006). "Brenda Song Turns Warrior in Disney's 'Wendy Wu'". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ a b Interview with Brenda Song. TheStarScoop.com. Accessed 2007-11-20.
- ^ Pictures of Brenda Song and Kay Panabaker's Graduation party Graduation party (2), ShootingStarAgency.com Accessed 2007-10-24
- ^ Stacy Jenel Smith (2007). Top 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment Netscape. Accessed 2007-11-20.
- ^ Celebrity interview with Brenda Song Teenmag.com Accessed 2007-10-24.
- ^ ""Holidaze" Trailer". DylanSprouse.org. Retrieved November 30.
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"Holidaze: The Christmas that Almost Didn't Happen". revver.com accessdate=2007-09-22.{{cite web}}: Missing pipe in:|work=(help) - ^ 'Suite Life' Actress Hosting Disney's Multicultural Series buddytv.com Accessed 2007-10-27.
- ^ Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior UltimateDisney.com. Accessed 2007-08-25
- ^ Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior - Free Screening AsianAmericanFilmFestival.org. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ Brenda Song is Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior AsianceMagazine.com. Retrieved 2007-08-08
- ^ "Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior Review". RevolutionSF.com. Retrieved 2007-08-08.
- ^ Caroline Baker. Brenda Song hits the big screen -- Wendy Wu Homecoming Warrior. BellaOnline.com Accessed 2007-08-08.
- ^ Brenda Song Teen Mag Interview 2 TeenMag.com. Accessed 2007-11-02.
- ^ New York Times Movies College Road Trip Cast. Accessed 2007-11-20
- ^ "Brenda Song Biography". Biggeststars.com. Retrieved 2007-09-22.
- ^ Disneymania, vol 4. Allmusic.com. Accessed 2007-06-18.
- ^ 22nd Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2007-06-20.
- ^ 24th Annual Young Artist Awards. YoungArtistAwards.org. Accessed 2007-06-20.
External links
- 1988 births
- American actor-singers
- American child actors
- American child singers
- American film actors
- American models
- American television actors
- American voice actors
- Asian Americans in music
- California actors
- Disney actors
- Hmong Americans
- Laotian Americans
- Living people
- People from Sacramento, California
- Thai Americans