Brenda Song
(born March 27, 1988) is an American actress, singer, and model. Song started in show business as a child fashion model. After many commercials and television roles in the late 1990s, Song won a Young Artist Award for her work in The Ultimate Christmas Present
(2000). She went on to appear in feature films aimed at teenagers, including Like Mike
(2002) and College Road Trip
(2008).
Song's movies on the Disney Channel include Get a Clue
(2002) and Stuck in the Suburbs
(2004). In 2005, she was selected for a role in the Emmy Award-nominated Disney series, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
, in which she played hotel heiress London Tipton. Song earned an Asian Excellence Award nomination for her part in the series. Song continues portraying the character in The Suite Life on Deck
. The Suite Life
series is one of Disney Channel's most successful and top rated series, and Song's character is the channel's longest continuous female character. [1] In 2006, Song was named the "Queen of Disney" by Cosmogirl Magazine
due to her contributions on the channel. [2]
Her fame increased after she played the title role in the Disney Channel Original Movie, Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
. [3] [4] Song connected emotionally with the lead character struggling to keep her heritage. The film was one of the top rated Disney Channel Original Movies with over 5.7 million viewers on the night of its premiere, [5] and she will reprise her role as Wendy Wu in the film's sequel. TV Guide
listed her in its 2008 "13 Hottest Young Stars to Watch".
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BRENDA SONG TICKETS
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Early life
Song was born in
Carmichael, California, a suburb of Sacramento, to a
Hmong father and a
Thai mother who had been adopted by a Hmong family.
[7] Her paternal grandparents were from the Xiong clan but changed their last name to Song when the family immigrated to the United States.
Her parents were born in Asia and met as adults in Sacramento. Her father works as a
schoolteacher and her mother is a
homemaker. She has two younger brothers, Timmy and Nathan.
[8] [9]
When she was six years old, Song moved with her mother to
Los Angeles to support her acting career; the rest of the family followed two years later. As a young girl, Song wanted to do ballet, while her younger brother wanted to take
taekwondo. She said, "my mom only wanted to take us to one place" so they settled on taekwondo. Although Song cried all the way through her first class,
[10] she now holds a
black belt in taekwondo. Song was named an All-American Scholar in the ninth grade. She was homeschooled and earned a high school diploma at age 16,
then took courses at a community college and online from the
University of California, Berkeley with a major in psychology
and a minor in business.
[11]
Acting
Early work
Brenda Song started in show business as a
child fashion model in San Francisco after being spotted in a shopping mall by an agent from a modeling school.
She began acting at the age of five or six in a
Little Caesars commercial,
and then a
Barbie commercial.
Her first film role was in the 1995
Requiem
, an
AFI student
short film by actress
Elizabeth Sung. "She came in confident [at the auditions]. She was very focused, and it was very obvious that she loved what she was doing," said Sung.
The short film is about waitress/dancer, 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.
[13] Song appeared in two episodes of the television program
Thunder Alley
and was a season regular in the children's television series,
Fudge
where she portrayed Jenny.
Following this, she was in another short film directed by Elizabeth Sung called
The White Fox
.
Her theatrical film debut was in
Santa with Muscles
, a 1996 independent film starring professional wrestler
Hulk Hogan. After a small role 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 this, she had a number of small parts in series such as
7th Heaven
,
Judging Amy
,
ER
,
Once and Again
and
Bette
, where she met
Ashley Tisdale.
Two of Song's early roles led to recognition in the
Young Artist Awards. She starred in the 2000 Disney Channel Original Movie
The Ultimate Christmas Present
, which won her the award for "Best Performance in a TV Movie Comedy, Supporting Young Actress".
[14] The film centers two teenage girls, Allison Thompson (
Hallee Hirsh) and Samantha Kwan (Song) who find a
weather machine and make it snow in
Los Angeles. Her 2002 appearance on
The Bernie Mac Show
led to a nomination for "Best Performance in a TV Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress".
[15] In the same year, she was in the family film
Like Mike
, which grossed over
$50 million.
[16] The film stars rapper
Bow Wow as an orphan who can suddenly play
NBA-level basketball. Song portrayed the character Reg Stevens. Although the film was criticized for its "frightening myths about adoption",
[17] it was successful enough to spawn a sequel. Song was not in the sequel.
In 2002, Song signed a contract with
Disney and appeared in the Disney Channel movie,
Get a Clue
. After 2002, Song continued to make guest appearances in Disney Channel shows such as
That's So Raven
, and appeared in the American
situation comedy,
One on One
. She had a recurring role as Tia in the Disney Channel series
Phil of the Future
, appearing in seven episodes of the series in 2004 and 2005.
In late 2004, Song starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie
Stuck in the Suburbs
, portraying Natasha Kwon-Schwartz.
The television premiere received 3.7 million viewers.
[18] The film is about two teenage girls living in suburbia who accidentally exchange cell phones with a famous teen musician. She said later: "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 wow that movie must have done really well."
[19] That year, Song posed for the cover of
Teen People
with her
Get a Clue
co-star
Lindsay Lohan.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
In 2005, Song got the role of the spoiled heiress
London Tipton in the Disney Channel Original Series,
The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
. The role was named "Paris" in an early script and is an allusion to "
Paris Hilton" (London spoofing Paris, and Tipton is the name of the hotel her father owns in the show).
She got the role without an audition,
[22] and was surprised to find her friend
Ashley Tisdale working in the show.
[23] Song says "London is my fantasy person, I wish I could be her. I wish I had her closet."
The series is about the residents and workers at the fictional
Tipton Hotel in
Boston and mainly centers the trouble-making twins
Zack and
Cody Martin (
Cole and Dylan 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 premiere for the Disney Channel in 2005.
[24] In 2007, the series was the top rated television program among children aged 6 to 11 and was the second top rated television program for children aged 9 to 14.
[25] Song's participation in the series led to her becoming highly popular among children between the ages of seven and ten.
[26]
The series eventually earned a 2007 Young Artist Award for "Best Family Television Series (comedy)",
[27] Emmy nominations for "Outstanding Children's Program" (twice)
[28] and "Outstanding Choreography",
[29] and three
Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Award nominations for "Favorite TV show" in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
[30] In 2006, Song earned an
Asian Excellence Award nomination for "Outstanding Newcomer" for her part in the series.
[31]
After she started 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 role in
Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen
, which also featured the voices of fellow Disney stars
Cole & Dylan Sprouse and
Emily Osment. She later starred in an online series called
London Tipton's Yay Me!
based on the episode "Tiptonline" on
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody
.
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
Song's first starring role as the title character was in the 2006 Disney Channel Original Movie
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
,
[32] which had over 5.7 million viewers at its premiere.
[33] At first,
Wendy Wu
was planned to be a comedy, but the directors of the film were having trouble finding a suitable actor with both the comedic presence and taekwondo ability to play the main character, originally named Kenny Lu. Lydia Cook, one of the films's directors said, "Brenda was originally brought in to play the [supporting] monk’s role. We started training with her in martial arts, and that’s when we realized that she should be Kenny Lu. They quickly switched things around and offered Brenda the lead in the movie. She had the perfect combination of wit and martial arts."
According to
The New York Times
, the film became a "star vehicle" for Song.
The film was about an average, popular Chinese-American teenager whose life is turned upside down by a visit from a young Chinese monk (
Shin Koyamada). The monk claims she is the reincarnation of a powerful female warrior and the only person who can prevent an ancient evil spirit from destroying the world. In a second story line, Wendy and most of her family struggle with keeping their culture and heritage.
[34] Song felt she could relate to the message since she knew little about her own people before making the film.
She said: "I really identified with Wendy because I don’t want to not know where I came from".
[35] To promote the film, she posed for the cover of
Seventeen
,
Teen People
,
Teen
,
Seventeen
Malaysia and several other magazines,
[36] and traveled to
Malaysia,
Singapore, and
Costa Rica.
[37]
UltimateDisney.com called the role "a strong departure from her flaky 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 dumb one."
described Song as a "charming and appealing personality, even when playing a shallow airhead".
[38]
While commending Disney for the strong Asian cast, a BellaOnline review noted that that it is rare to see a female martial arts star with a black belt.
[39] Song did most of her own stunt work for the film with guidance from
Koichi Sakamoto, executive producer for the
Power Rangers
series. Song was inspired to endure the stunt training by the way her mother dealt with
breast cancer in 2005.
Disney Channel executive vice 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 diversity to our network, and she's a real kid."
Theatrical films and Suite Life
spin-off
thumb
in May 2009.
In 2008, Song appeared in the
Walt Disney Pictures film
College Road Trip
alongside
Raven-Symoné and
Martin Lawrence. In its opening weekend in March 2008, the film grossed $13.6 million, ranking #2 at the box office.
[40] The family film centers on college-bound teen Melanie Porter (Symoné), who goes on a road trip to different colleges with her father, while her college-bound friends Nancy Carter (Song) and Katie (
Margo Harshman) surprise Melanie on her road trip. The film grossed $45 million in the United States and $6 million outside the United States, grossing .
[41] Although it earned a
Teen Choice Award nomination for "choice movie comedy",
[42] the acting was panned and the film mainly received negative reviews. A
Daily Mail
review said the film was "one of those churn-'em-out Disney comedies in which every performer seems to be competing to give the most annoying performance in cinematic history."
[43]
After being a captain for three years in the
Disney Channel Games
, she was featured in
Studio DC: Almost Live
with other Disney stars. Song had a cameo in the Disney Channel Original Movie
Camp Rock
credited as "Girl near lake".
[44] She also had minor voice roles in
Phineas & Ferb
and
The Emperor's New School
. She starred in the
Lifetime Movie Network telefilm
Special Delivery
,
[45] a film about bonded courier, Maxine (
Lisa Edelstein), who is forced to take care of a 14-year old troubled teen, Alice (Song). The
Daily Record
called it a "likeable comedy".
[46]
Song reprised her role as London Tipton in the 2008
Suite Life
spin-off/sequel,
The Suite Life on Deck
.
[47] The show's premiere on the
Disney Channel drew 5.7 million viewers,
[48] and it became the most-watched series premiere on Canada's
Family Channel.
[49] The show became 2008's highest-rated scripted series among children aged 6 to 11 and among tweens.
[50] Disney ordered a second season for the series which aired in August 2009.
[51] In May 2009, Disney Channel's executive vice president
Gary Marsh issued a press release where he said: "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 production team that made this extraordinary run possible."
Song's character, London Tipton, is Disney Channel's longest continuous female character.
A
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
sequel, starring Song and Koyamada, started filming in 2008.
[52] Song starred as Paige in a December 2008 animated TV special for
NBC, "Macy's Presents Little Spirit: Christmas in New York".
[53] The animated TV special is about a friendly New York cab driver (
Danny DeVito) who tells a magical story to two sisters (Song and Rachel Shier).
[54] The TV special received 5 million viewers.
[55] In late 2008, Song made a special appearance at the grand opening of the RTA HealthLine in
Cleveland.
[56]
In early 2009, Song started filming
Boogie Town
with
Marques Houston and
Vanessa Simmons. The film is a modern day
West Side Story
and is set in
New York City in the year of 2015, where dancing battles occur in "Boogie Town". In the film Micah (Houston) falls in love with Natalie (Song), the sister of the head of a rival dance group, and the two become a modern
Romeo and Juliet. The film is distributed by
Vivendi Entertainment and was scheduled to be released in the summer of 2009 but the film's shooting and release date was postponed due to Song's busy schedule.
[57] The film was shot in
Downtown Los Angeles. and will be theatrically released in 2010.
[58]
Song has been represented by the
International Creative Management and Richard Konigsberg Management.
Music
Song was part of the
Disney Channel Circle of Stars, a group of performers from several different Disney Channel television series. She took part in the recording and music video of a version of "
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes". The recording was included 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 #15 on the
Billboard
200, and #2 on the Top Kids Audio chart
[59] and Top Compilation Albums chart.
[60]
In 2004, Song appeared in Jesse McCartney's music video for "Good Life". Film clips from
Stuck in the Suburbs
, which included Song, appeared in music videos for Anneliese van der Pol's song "
Over It" and
Taran Killam's "More Than Me", "On Top of the World" and "Make a Wish". In 2007, Song filmed a music video for "Open Up Your Eyes" which was featured in her movie,
Holidaze
. She recorded a song for
Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
called "I'm Not That Girl", which aired on
Radio Disney and was on the
Wendy Wu
DVD. In the
Suite Life
High School Musical themed episode, Song performed "
Bop To The Top" and "Really Great". "Really Great" became the theme song for the online series,
London Tipton's Yay Me!
. She also sang "Bling Is My Favourite Thing" on another
Suite Life
episode.
Ian Scott wrote and produced demo songs for her.
[61] The songs are credited to Mark Jackson Productions, which is associated with
Warner Bros. Records.
Public image
In 2006, Song was hostess for the "A World Of Change" annual charity fashion show to benefit Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services.
[62] She supported the 10th Annual L.A. Cancer Challenge, and was part of the
Disney Channel Games
which supported various charities including
Make-a-Wish Foundation and
UNICEF.
[63] In 2008, Song was part of the "Power of Youth carnival", a benefit for the
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
[64] In 2006 and 2007, she participated in the YMCA Healthy Kids Day in Chicago.
[65] She began hosting a Disney special daily segment called
Pass the Plate
in 2007, in which she helps children and their families learn more about nutrition and healthy food.
[66] The series is produced in ten countries in association with Disney Channel.
[67] Song returned for the second season of the miniseries.
In 2006, a series of articles by
Scholastic included facts about Song and mathematical guidance from her. The first article in the series was "Maths Spotlight on... Brenda Song".
[68] [69] Song also appeared alongside
Paula Abdul and several other celebrities in a "Our Time to Vote" commercial which aimed to encourage
American citizens to vote during the
2008 presidential election.
[70] In 2009, Song participated in the "Diet Pepsi Easter Holiday House" event. She decorated an egg at the event which was sold in an online auction benefiting
Feeding America.
[71]
According to
Time
, Song is one of the three Disney starlets who have not been involved in the Hollywood party girl scene, along with
Hilary Duff and
Raven-Symoné.
Asiance Magazine
calls her a "great role model" for young girls.
[72] She said in 2005: "Besides Hollywood grand-openings and award shows, I try to stay away from the parties. It’s so easy to be swept away from that whole scene because it’s expected of you. I’ve never drank or smoked in my entire life, but I’ve seen 15-year-olds drinking and smoking and I just think that’s gross."
On being a young role model to kids, Song said: "Oh goodness, I hope I can set a good example. If I can do it, anyone can. I’m living my dream every single day."
In 2006, Song was named the "Queen of Disney" by
Cosmogirl Magazine
due to her major contributions on the
Disney Channel.
[73] Song ranked ninth in Netscape's 2007 "Top 10 Pretty Petites in Entertainment",
[74] was voted one of AOL's "Top 20 Tween (and Teen) TV Stars",
[75] and was ranked #3 on ''Maxim
s Asian Hot 100 of 2008 list. Song was also ranked #45 in AIM's "Top 100 Celebs Under 25" list. [76]
TV Guide'' listed her in its 2008 list of "13 Hottest Young Stars to Watch".
[77]
In June 2009, Song underwent
LASIK eye surgery.
[78] Song is a spokesperson for Disney's environmental campaign,
Disney's Friends for Change.
[79] Song was featured in several commercials for the campaign on the
Disney Channel. The charity's aim is to explain how children can help preserve the Earth and invites them to go to the Friends for Change website to register and pledge, offering them the chance to help choose how Disney will invest $1 million in environmental programs.
[80]
Lawsuit
On April 18, 2008, a picture of Song was used in an ad for an
escort agency in the back of that week's
LA Weekly
. Disney lawyers were not pleased with the use of Song's copyrighted image for advertising adult activities. A rep from Disney told
TMZ
: "This is an unauthorized use of Brenda Song's image and her personal attorney has issued a cease and desist to the advertiser."
[81] Song filed a libel suit against the Vibe Media Inc. seeking at least $100,000 in damages.
[82] Song said: "As a role model to millions of young people, I feel I have to take a stand against this company in regard to its exploitation of my image."
[83]
Song's attorney said the photo used in the advertisement was taken when Song was 16 years old. Song's attorney later found that an individual, and not Vibe Media, was responsible for the use of the photo. He told
Back Stage
:
I'm not sure if they were trying to just find a picture of a pretty girl or an Asian-looking girl or whether they expected that Brenda would be recognized.... Brenda's demographic is a lot different from what I would suppose the clients of this business are. If you're the sort of person who would use the services of a business like this, it is quite possible that you have never heard of Brenda Song. [84]
Song's attorney said that it may be hard to show how much the misuse of the photo hurt her career, but that a lawsuit was needed. "Brenda's public image is very important to her. Brenda has been careful to not accept roles that would taint her in the way that some other young actors have been."
In January 2009, a tentative settlement was reached, although the terms were still being finalized.
[85] In March 2009,
Radar
reported Song won the lawsuit.
[86]
Filmography
Films
| Year
| Title
| Role
| Notes
|
| 1995
| Requiem
| Young Fong
|
|
| 1996
| Santa with Muscles
| Susan
|
|
| 1997
| Leave It to Beaver
| Susan Acustis
|
|
| 1999
| The White Fox
| N/A
|
|
| 2000
| The Ultimate Christmas Present
| Samantha Kwan
| Disney Channel Original Movie, Young Artist Award
|
| 2002
| Like Mike
| Reg Stevens
| Main role
|
| Get a Clue
| Jennifer
| Disney Channel Original Movie
|
| 2004
| Stuck in the Suburbs
| Natasha Kwon-Schwartz
| Main role/Disney Channel Original Movie
|
A Cinderella Story
| Kelly Anderson
| Warner Bros. film
|
| Costume Party Capers: The Incredibles
| Alex
| Voice
|
| 2006
| Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
| Wendy Wu
| Main role
|
| Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn't Happen
| Treat
| Voice
|
| 2007
| American Darlings
| Marissa
| Lead/never released' [87]
|
| 2008
| Special Delivery
| Alice Cantwell
| Lifetime Movie Network
|
| College Road Trip
| Nancy
| Walt Disney Pictures
|
| Camp Rock
| Girl near lake
| Cameo appearance
|
| Macy's Presents Little Spirit: Christmas in New York
| Paige
| NBC television special
|
| 2009
| Sequel to Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior
| Wendy Wu
| Main role
|
| 2010
| Boogie Town
| Natalie
| Main Role
|
Television
| Year
| Title
| Role
| Notes
|
| 1995
| Fudge
| Jennie
| Season one regular
|
| 1999
| 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd
| Sariffa Chung
|
|
| 2004–2005
| Phil of the Future
| Tia
| 7 episodes
|
| 2005–2008
| The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
| London Tipton
| Main role
|
| 2007–pres
| Pass the Plate
| Host
| Disney Channel miniseries
|
| 2008–pres
| The Suite Life on Deck
| London Tipton
| Main role
|
Online series
| Year
| Title
| Role
|
| 2006
| Disney Channel's Imagineer That
[88]
| Herself
|
| 2007–pres
| London Tipton's Yay Me!
| London Tipton
|
Guest appearances
| Year
| Title
| Role
| Notes
|
1994
1995
| Thunder Alley
| Kathy
| Two episodes
|
| 1996
| Small Talk
| Panelist
| Five episodes
|
| 1999
| Once and Again
| Chrissy
| Aired on October 19, 1999
|
| MADtv
| Trick-or-Treater
| Cameo appearance
|
| Popular
| Mandy Shepherd
| Brief appearance
|
| 2000
| 7th Heaven
| Cynthia
| Brief appearance
|
| 2001
| Bette
| Stacey
| Aired on February 7, 2001
|
| ER
| Lynda An
| One episode
|
| Judging Amy
| Vanessa Pran
| Aired on October 9, 2001
|
| 2002
| The Bernie Mac Show
| Shannon
| Young Artist Award nomination
|
| George Lopez
| Jennifer
| Aired on October 9, 2002
|
| The Brothers García
| Jenny
| Episode: Love Me Tender
|
| For the People
| N/A
| Episode: Nascent
|
| 2003
| That's So Raven
| Amber
| Aired on June 20, 2003
|
| One on One
| Asanti
| Aired on November 11, 2003
|
| 2006
| That's So Raven
| London Tipton
| Part of That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana
|
| American Dragon: Jake Long
| Tracey
| Voice
|
| Disney Channel Games 2006
| Herself
| Disney Channel special
|
| 2007
| The Emperor's New School
| Dancing queen
| Voice
|
| Disney Channel Games 2007
| Herself
| Disney Channel special
|
| 2008
| Studio DC: Almost Live
| Herself/London Tipton
|
|
| Disney Channel Games 2008
| Herself
| Disney Channel special
|
| 2009
| Phineas and Ferb
| Wendy
| Voice
|
| Wizards of Waverly Place
| London Tipton
| Part of Wizards on Deck With Hannah Montana
|
| Hannah Montana
| London Tipton
| Part of Wizards on Deck With Hannah Montana
|
Awards and nominations
| Year
| Award
| Category
| Motive
| Result
|
| 2001
| Young Artist Award
| "Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy), Supporting Young Actress"
| The Ultimate Christmas Present
| Won |
| 2003
| Young Artist Award
| "Best Performance in a Television Comedy Series, Guest Starring Young Actress"
| The Bernie Mac Show
| Nominated |
| 2006
| Asian Excellence Award
| "Newcomers Award"
| The Suite Life of Zack & Cody
| Nominated |
| 2009
| Popstar Magazine's Poptastic Awards
| "Favourite Television Actress"
| The Suite Life on Deck
| Nominated [89]
|