not to be confused with Brenda Strong
Brenda Song ( born March 27, 1988 ) [ 1 ] is an american actress. Born in California, Song began her career at the old age of six, working as a child model. She made her screen debut with a guest appearance on the situation comedy Thunder Alley ( 1995 ), and went on to roles such as the children ‘s television serial Fudge ( 1995 ) and the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd ( 1999 ). song starred in the Disney Channel original film The Ultimate Christmas Present ( 2000 ), which won her a Young Artist Award. She subsequently signed a sign with Disney Channel and earned far-flung recognition for playing the titular character in the action film Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior ( 2006 ), and London Tipton in the drollery franchise The Suite Life ( 2005–2011 ), earning her applaud and two Young Hollywood Awards. [ 3 ] She additionally played the character of Tia on Phil of the Future ( 2004-2005 ), and had starring roles in the television receiver films Get a Clue ( 2002 ) and the comedy film Stuck in the Suburbs ( 2004 ).
Reading: Brenda Song
birdcall made her transition into mainstream roles with the critically acclaimed biographic drama film The Social Network ( 2010 ) and went on to roles in the ABC political thriller Scandal ( 2012–2013 ), the Fox situation comedy New Girl and the situation comedy Dads ( 2013 ). In October 2014, she signed a talent holding deal with Fox and twentieth Century Fox Television [ 4 ] and was subsequently cast in several television pilots for NBC and CBS, including the medical drama series Pure Genius ( 2016–2017 ) and the military action drama series Station 19 ( 2018–2020 ). [ 5 ] She presently provides the voice of Anne Boonchuy in the Disney Channel animated series Amphibia ( 2019–present ) and stars as Madison Maxwell in the Hulu comedy-drama serial Dollface ( 2019–present ). She has besides headlined the romantic drollery film Angry Angel ( 2017 ), the psychological thriller film Secret Obsession ( 2019 ) and the comedy-drama film Changeland ( 2019 ). [ 6 ] [ 7 ] In 2010, Song had begun dating musician Trace Cyrus, to whom she was engaged from 2011 to 2012 ; following a series of on-and-off date, their kinship ended in 2017. [ 8 ] In 2017, Song began a relationship with Macaulay Culkin, [ 9 ] with whom she has one son, Dakota. [ 10 ]
Life and career [edit ]
1988–2001 : early animation and work [edit ]
Brenda Song was born in Carmichael, California, a suburb of Sacramento, to a Thai and Hmong kin. [ 11 ] Her paternal grandparents were from the Xiong kin ( 熊 ; Xyooj in Hmong ), but changed their last name to Song when the family immigrated to the United States. [ 11 ] Her parents were born in Thailand and met as adults in Sacramento. Her father works as a school teacher and her mother is a housewife. She has two younger brothers named Timmy and Nathan Song. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] When she was six years old, Song moved with her mother to Los Angeles, California, to support her acting career ; the rest of the syndicate followed two years late. As a young female child, Song wanted to do ballet, while her younger brother wanted to take tae kwon do. She said, “ My ma entirely wanted to take us to one target, ” so they settled on tae kwon do. Although Song cried all the way through her first class, [ 14 ] she now holds a black belt out in tae kwon do. Song was named an All-American scholar in the one-ninth mark. She was homeschooled and earned a high school diploma at old age 16, [ 12 ] [ 11 ] then took courses at a residential district college. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2009, [ 2 ] major in psychology [ 11 ] and minoring in occupation. [ 15 ] [ 16 ] [ 17 ] Song began in show business as a child fashion model in San Francisco after being spotted in a patronize promenade by an agent from a model school. [ 18 ] She began acting at the historic period of five or six in a little Caesars commercial, [ 12 ] [ 19 ] and then a Barbie commercial. [ 12 ] Her first base film function was in the 1995 Requiem, an AFI scholar light film by actress Elizabeth Sung. “ She came in confident [ at the auditions ]. She was very concenter, and it was very obvious that she loved what she was doing, ” said Sung. [ 14 ] The film is about a waitress/dancer named Fong who remembers her loving brother and their bittersweet childhood in Hong Kong. The seven-year-old Song played a young version of “ Fong ”, who is portrayed as an adult by Tamlyn Tomita. The film won a CINE Golden Eagle award. [ 20 ] She appeared in another unretentive film directed by Elizabeth Sung called The White Fox. [ 11 ] Song adjacent appeared in two episodes of the television receiver program Thunder Alley, and was a unconstipated in the children ‘s television series Fudge, in which she portrayed Jenny. Her theatrical film debut was in Santa with Muscles, a 1996 independent movie starring professional wrestler Hulk Hogan. After a small function in Leave It to Beaver ( 1997 ), she appeared in the Nickelodeon television series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd, where she played Sariffa Chung in thirteen episodes. After 100 Deeds, she had a count of small parts in television receiver shows such as 7th Heaven, Judging Amy, ER, Once and Again, The Brothers García, Popular, Bette, The Bernie Mac Show, The Nightmare Room, For the People, and George Lopez. Two of Song ‘s early roles led to recognition in the Young Artist Awards. Her function in the 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie, The Ultimate Christmas Present, won her the award for “ Best performance in a television receiver Movie Comedy, Supporting Young Actress ”. [ 21 ] The film centers on two adolescent girls, Allison Thompson ( Hallee Hirsh ) and Samantha Kwan ( Song ), who find a upwind machine and make it snow in Los Angeles. Her 2002 appearance on The Bernie Mac Show led to her nominating speech for “ Best performance in a television Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress ”. [ 22 ] In the like year, she was in the twentieth Century Fox syndicate film Like Mike, which grossed over $ 60 million. [ 23 ] The film stars rapper Bow Wow as an orphan who can abruptly play NBA -level basketball. Song portrays the character Reg Stevens, a thirteen-year-old orphan. it was successful enough to spawn a sequel. song did not participate in the sequel .
2002–2007 : discovery with Disney Channel [edit ]
In 2002, Song signed a narrow with Disney [ 14 ] and appeared in the Disney Channel movie Get a Clue ( alongside Lindsay Lohan ). After 2002, Song continued to make guest appearances in popular sitcoms such as That’s So Raven and One on One. She had a recurring function as Tia in the Disney Channel serial Phil of the Future, appearing in seven episodes of the series in 2004 and 2005. In summer 2004, Song starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie Stuck in the Suburbs, portraying Natasha Kwon-Schwartz. [ 24 ] The television premiere received 3.7 million viewers. [ 25 ] The film is about two adolescent girls living in suburbia who by chance exchange cell phones with a celebrated adolescent singer. She late said : “ When Stuck came out it was crazy ’cause we went to Six Flags and we were there and so many kids recognized us from Stuck in the Suburbs, I ‘m like belly laugh that movie must have done in truth well. ” [ 26 ] In an interview with W Magazine, Song revealed three life-changing things that happened when she was 15, including an early on toleration to Harvard University that she turned down. talk of the clock time, she said, “ My ma got summit cancer for the first clock, I booked Suite Life, and I was accepted into the college I ‘d constantly wanted to go to. My dad, who ‘s a schoolteacher, sat me down and said, ‘Here ‘s the thing. You have an amaze opportunity, if act is what you want to do. education is the most crucial thing. You go to college to figure out what you want to do, but if this is what you want to do, you have an opportunity to do it. ” [ 27 ]
In 2005, Song began appearing in the function of rape heiress London Tipton in the Disney Channel Original Series, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The function was named “ Paris ” in an early draft of a script and alludes to Paris Hilton ( London spoofing Paris, and Tipton is the diagnose of the hotel her father owns in the prove ). [ 12 ] [ 28 ] [ 29 ] She got the function without an audition [ 30 ] and was surprised to find her acquaintance Ashley Tisdale working in the show. [ 24 ] Song says, “ London is my fantasy person, I wish I could be her. I wish I had her closet. ” [ 12 ] The series is about the residents and workers at the fabricated Tipton Hotel in Boston and chiefly centers around the trouble-making twins, Zack and Cody Martin ( Dylan and Cole Sprouse ), and London Tipton ( Song ). The series premiered on the Disney Channel on March 18, 2005, receiving four million viewers, making it the most successful premier for the Disney Channel in 2005. [ 31 ] Critics often praised Song ‘s performance in the Suite Life series. An April 2009 andPOP.com article stated that as London Tipton, “ birdcall is the One to Steal the Spotlight ” on the Disney Channel. It said, “ if you ever watched an episode of ‘The Suite Life with Zack & Cody ‘ you should realize that express is watchable because of one character : London Tipton. Brenda plays the ditzy spoiled hotel heiress London ( an allusion to Paris Hilton ) and, if I could say so myself, she does quite an excellent job doing indeed. ” [ 32 ] While commenting on Song, MSN’ mho 2009 cover history on the serial stated, “ song is one of the main reasons why the “ Suite Life ” franchise remains one of the most successful and highly rated series in the Disney stable. ” [ 33 ] In a 2009 People cartridge holder article, the character was described as a “ histrionic high-seas prima donna. ” [ 13 ] The series finally earned a 2007 Young Artist Award for “ Best Family Television Series ( drollery ) ”, [ 34 ] Emmy nominations for “ Outstanding Children ‘s Program ” ( twice ) [ 35 ] and “ Outstanding Choreography ”, [ 36 ] and three Nickelodeon Kids ‘ Choice Award nominations for “ Favorite television receiver show ” in 2007, 2008, and 2009. [ 37 ] In 2006 Song earned an asian Excellence Award nomination for “ Outstanding Newcomer ” for her character in the series. [ 38 ] After her debut on the Suite Life series, Song became a regular on the Disney Channel, and had a voice role in Disney Channel ‘s American Dragon: Jake Long series. In 2006, Song had a voice-over function in Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn’t Happen. She late starred in an on-line series called London Tipton’s Yay Me!. Song was part of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars, a group of performers from several different Disney Channel television series. She was featured in the recording and music video recording of a version of “ A Dream Is a wish Your Heart Makes “, which was included on the especial edition Cinderella platinum edition DVD and on the DisneyMania 4 certificate of deposit, released in April 2006. In the Suite Life High School Musical -themed episode, Song performed “ Bop To The Top “ and “ actually Great ”. “ in truth Great ” became the theme song for the on-line series, London Tipton’s Yay Me!. She sang “ Bling Is My Favourite Thing ” on another Suite Life sequence. In these episodes, Song purposefully sang ill in character as London Tipton. In 2008, Ian Scott wrote and produced show songs for her, credited to Mark Jackson Productions. [ 39 ]
Song ‘s beginning starring function as the title character was in the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, [ 40 ] which had over 5.7 million viewers at its premier. [ 18 ] [ 41 ] Wendy Wu was planned to be a comedy, but the directors of the film were having worry finding a suitable actor with both the comedic presence and tae kwon do ability to play the main character, primitively named Kenny Lu. Lydia Cook, one of the film ‘s directors, said, “ Brenda was originally brought in to play the [ supporting ] monk ‘s function. We started training with her in martial arts, and that ‘s when we realized that she should be Kenny Lu. They cursorily switched things around and offered Brenda the run in the movie. She had the arrant combination of brain and soldierly arts. ” [ 14 ] Song had to break a brick with her handwriting in a screen test before landing the title character. According to The New York Times, the film became a “ leading vehicle ” for Song. [ 12 ] The film was about an average, popular Chinese-American adolescent whose life is turned top down by a visit from a young chinese monk ( Shin Koyamada ). The monk claims she is the reincarnation of a potent female warrior and the alone person who can prevent an ancient evil spirit from destroying the universe. In a second history channel, Wendy and most of her family struggle with keeping their culture and heritage. [ 42 ] Song felt she could relate to the message since she knew little about her own people before making the film. [ 12 ] She said, “ I in truth identified with Wendy because I do n’t want to not know where I came from ”. [ 43 ] To promote the film, she posed for the cover of Seventeen, Teen People, Teen, Seventeen Malaysia, and several other magazines, [ 44 ] and traveled to Malaysia, Singapore, and Costa Rica. [ 45 ] A Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior sequel, starring Song and Koyamada, was announced in the end of 2007. [ 46 ] The film received convinced reviews from critics. UltimateDisney.com called the character “ a strong departure from her bizarre London Tipton character in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody “, adding that Song “ shows in this movie that she no longer has to restrict herself to playing the speechless one. ” [ 40 ] The site praised the film, submit, “ Wendy Wu : Homecoming Warrior is an enjoyable little telefilm, prevailing with killer whale military action sequences ( for a DCOM ), and a great showcase of endowment in both acting and warlike for Brenda Song. Aside from a few wholly clichéd characters and situations, it ‘s worth 91 minutes of your time. ” [ 40 ] Allmovie described Song as a “ charm and appealing personality, even when playing a shoal airhead ”. [ 47 ] While commending Disney for the strong asian cast, a BellaOnline reappraisal noted that it is rare to see a female martial arts star with a black belt. [ 48 ] Song did most of her own stunt work for the film, with steering from Koichi Sakamoto, administrator producer for the Power Rangers series. Song was inspired to endure the stunt train by the way her mother consider with front cancer in 2005. [ 18 ] Disney Channel executive frailty president Gary Marsh called the film “ Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon “ and said of Song : “ She ‘s incredibly talented, she ‘s smart. She adds diverseness to our net, and she ‘s a real kyd. ” [ 42 ]
2008–present : mainstream film and television [edit ]
song reprised her function as London Tipton in the Suite Life by-product, The Suite Life on Deck. [ 49 ] The appearance ‘s premiere on the Disney Channel drew 5.7 million viewers, [ 50 ] and it became the most-watched series premier on Canada ‘s Family Channel. [ 51 ] The prove became the most-watched script serial among children aged 6 to 11 and among tweens in 2008. [ 52 ] In 2009, the read was the most-watched scripted series among children and the second most-watched scripted series among pre-teens. [ 53 ] Disney ordered second and third seasons for the series. [ 54 ] Song besides starred as Paige in an animize television particular for NBC, “ Macy ‘s Presents Little Spirit : Christmas in New York ”. [ 55 ] In deep 2008, Song made a special appearance at the grand piano open of the RTA HealthLine in Cleveland. [ 56 ] In May 2009, Disney Channel ‘s administrator vice president of the united states Gary Marsh issued a press free, which stated : “ with this second-season extension, the cast of ‘The Suite Life ‘ makes Disney Channel history by becoming the longest running continuous characters on our air – 138 half-hour episodes. We are thrilled for them, and for the brilliant, inspired product team that made this extraordinary run possible. ” [ 3 ] According to The Wall Street Journal, Song ‘s participation in the series led to her becoming highly popular among children between the ages of seven and ten. [ 57 ] besides in 2009, she starred in the telefilm Special Delivery, [ 58 ] a film about a bonded messenger, Maxine ( Lisa Edelstein ) and a trouble oneself adolescent, Alice ( Song ). The Daily Record called it a “ sympathetic comedy ”. [ 59 ] The australian publication Urban CineFilm gave Song a positive recapitulation for her performance in the film. [ 60 ] Song besides appeared in the theatrical movie College Road Trip with Raven-Symoné and Martin Lawrence. In 2010, Song joined the main cast of Columbia Pictures ‘ The Social Network alongside Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake. [ 61 ] Song portrayed Christy Ling, a Harvard University student who dates Eduardo Saverin ( Andrew Garfield ). In 2012, Song starred in the short film First Kiss along with her Social Network costar Joseph Mazzello. First Kiss was screened at numerous film festivals throughout the US and won the Best short-change Film award at the Omaha Film Festival and TriMedia Film Festival. [ 62 ] [ 63 ] In 2012 and 2013, Song had a recurring function as Alissa in the television display Scandal in the first and second gear seasons. In 2013, Song had a recurring character as Daisy in New Girl. [ 64 ] In August 2013, Song was cast in a run function in the Fox television receiver series Dads, in which Song portrayed Veronica. The testify ‘s fender sequence was criticized by asian american watchdog groups because Song ‘s character wore a stereotyped “ aphrodisiac asian schoolgirl ” costume, which was deemed “ racist ” by watchdog groups. [ 65 ] [ 66 ] [ 67 ] [ 68 ] [ 69 ] [ 70 ] In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Song defended the show and denied the racism allegations. [ 71 ] Fox refused to re-shoot the scenes which were deemed racist by watchdog groups. [ 66 ] [ 72 ] The express premiered September 17, 2013 but in May 2014, Fox canceled the serial after alone one season. [ 73 ] [ 74 ] In October 2014, Song signed a endowment holding bargain with Fox and twentieth Century Fox Television to star in a television receiver project. [ 4 ] [ 75 ] [ 76 ] [ 77 ] In April 2015, Song was cast in a even function in the NBC comedy navigate Take It From Us. [ 78 ] In November 2015, Song was cast in the show Life in Pieces as Bonnie. [ 79 ] In February 2016, Song was cast in CBS pilot burner Bunker Hill. [ 80 ] Later renamed Pure Genius, the serial was picked up by CBS and is scheduled to begin airing in the 2016-2017 television season. [ 81 ] In March 2017, Song was cast as a serial regular in the CBS pilot Real Life. [ 82 ] She was besides cast in Seth Green ‘s directorial debut Changeland. In August 2017, it was announced that Song would be starring in Freeform ‘s first master vacation movie, Angry Angel. The film is contribution of the network ‘s “ Countdown to 25 Days of Christmas ” series of programming, which premiered November 18, 2017. [ 83 ] In March 2018, it was revealed Song would join the hurl of newly appearance Station 19 for a multi-episode arch. [ 5 ] In December 2018, it was announced that Song would star in the Netflix psychological thriller Secret Obsession. [ 84 ] The film was released on July 18, 2019. [ 85 ] In January 2019, it was announced that Song is starring in the Hulu television series Dollface alongside Kat Dennings. [ 86 ] Since June 17, 2019, she has starred in the Disney animation series Amphibia [ 87 ] as Anne Boonchuy. In June 2019, she appeared in the Seth Green movie Changeland. [ 88 ] She besides appeared as a guest star in Aly & AJ ‘s music video recording for the birdcall “ Star Maps ”, from their 2019 EP Sanctuary. [ 89 ]
personal life sentence [edit ]
From 2010 to 2017, Song was in an on-and-off relationship with musician Trace Cyrus, to whom she was engaged from 2011 to 2012. [ 8 ] In 2017, Song began dating actor Macaulay Culkin. [ 9 ] Their son, Dakota Song Culkin, was born on April 5, 2021. [ 10 ]
In the media [edit ]
In 2005, an article “ Maths Spotlight on … Brenda Song ” in Scholastic Math included facts about Song and mathematical guidance from her. [ 90 ] [ 91 ] sung appeared aboard Paula Abdul and respective other celebrities in a “ Our time to Vote ” commercial, which aimed to encourage american citizens to vote during the 2008 presidential election. [ 92 ] In 2006, CosmoGirl named Song the “ Queen of Disney ”, citing her major contributions on the Disney Channel. [ 93 ] Song ranked one-ninth in Netscape ‘s 2007 “ crown 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment ”, [ 94 ] was voted one of AOL ‘s “ exceed 20 Tween ( and Teen ) television Stars ”, [ 95 ] and was ranked # 3 on Maxim’ south asian Hot 100 of 2008 tilt. Song was besides rank # 45 in AIM ‘s “ clear 100 Celebs Under 25 ” list. [ 96 ] TV Guide listed her in its 2008 tilt of “ 13 Hottest Young Stars to Watch ”. [ 97 ] In April 2008, a painting of Song was used in an ad for an date means in the LA Weekly. [ 98 ] A representative from Disney told TMZ.com, “ This is an unauthorized use of Brenda Song ‘s prototype and her personal lawyer has issued a discontinue and abstain to the advertiser. ” [ 99 ] Song filed a libel suit seeking $ 100,000 in damages. [ 100 ] Song stated, “ As a role model to millions of young people, I feel I have to take a stand against this company in respect to its exploitation of my image. ” [ 101 ] The settlement was announced in March 2009. [ 102 ] In 2009, Song was featured in Celebuzz ‘s “ Rising Stars ” list [ 103 ] and was described as one of “ young Hollywood ‘s most predict rising stars ”. [ 104 ] In 2009, the blog angry asian man named her one of the most influential asian Americans under the age of 30. [ 105 ] In 2009, Song participated in the “ Diet Pepsi Easter Holiday House ” event. She decorated an egg at the event that was sold in an on-line auction benefiting Feeding America. [ 106 ] In 2006, Song was stewardess for the “ A World Of Change ” annual jacob’s ladder fashion usher to benefit Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services. [ 107 ] She besides supported the tenth Annual L.A. Cancer Challenge. In 2008, Song was region of the “ Power of Youth carnival ”, a benefit for the St. Jude ‘s Children ‘s Research Hospital. [ 108 ] In 2006 and 2007, she participated in the YMCA Healthy Kids Day in Chicago. [ 109 ] She began hosting a Disney special day by day segment called Pass the Plate in 2007, in which she helps children and their families learn more about nutrition and healthy food. [ 110 ] The series is produced in ten countries in association with Disney Channel. [ 111 ] Song returned for the second season of the miniseries. sung was a spokesperson for Disney ‘s environmental campaign, Disney ‘s Friends for Change. [ 112 ] She was featured in several commercials on the Disney Channel for the political campaign. The jacob’s ladder ‘s aim was to explain how children can help preserve the Earth and invited them to go to the Friends for Change web site to register and pledge, offering them the luck to help choose how Disney will invest $ 1 million in environmental programs. [ 113 ] In 2010, she was the fame subscriber of the Walt Disney Company ‘s Disney Cruise Line. [ 114 ] In 2011, she was besides the spokesperson of the dress brand OP. [ 115 ]
Filmography [edit ]
film [edit ]
television [edit ]
Web series [edit ]
Year
Title
Role
Notes
2007–2011
London Tipton’s Yay Me! Starring London Tipton
London Tipton
Web series; 3 Episodes
2019
Teen Girl in a Frog World
Anne Boonchuy (voice)
Web series; 4 Episodes
TBA
Blue Eye Samurai’[119]
Web series
Awards and nominations [edit ]
References [edit ]
further read [edit ]
- Tamra Orr (2009). Brenda Song (A Robbie Reader). Mitchell Lane Publishers. ISBN 1-58415-753-4.
- Katherine Rawson (2009). Brenda Song (Kid Stars!). PowerKids Press. ISBN 1-4358-3406-2.