Christy Carlson Romano Biography

Date of Birth

20 December 1984, Milford, Connecticut, USA

Birth Name

Christy Michelle Romano

Height

5' 7" (1.7 m)

Mini Biography

TV & Film

Romano has had a long relationship with Disney ABC Television Group by starring in hit series and movies for the Disney Channel and ABC Family including: Cadet Kelly, The Even Stevens franchise, Campus Confidential, Taking Five, The Cutting Edge 2: Going for the Gold, and The Cutting Edge 3: Chasing the Dream. Romano became the first person to act in three Disney Channel projects simultaneously. Various other TV appearances include MTV's Kaya, NBC'S Joan of Arcadia, CW's Summerland, and TNT's HawthoRNe. At twelve, she made her feature film debut in Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You. She continued acting in independent films with famed directors Hal Hartley in Henry Fool and Martin Davidson in Looking for an Echo. Amongst her many Film & TV titles, Christy recently completed 3 features including a cameo in the live-action Kim Possible movie (2019).

Voice Work

Supplementing her on-camera work on Even Stevens, where she co-starred with Shia LaBeouf, she voiced the title animated character in Kim Possible. Romano's voice was nominated for a Daytime Emmy and the show inspired an adventure ride at Disney's Epcot, as well as two Disney Channel original movies. She originated the voice of 'Yuffie Kisaragi' in the English version of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, as well as in the Disney/Square game Kingdom Hearts. She has continued success as a voice actor on shows like Family Guy and The Penguins of Madagascar and films like Casper's Scare School and The Legends of Secret Pass. She has done scratch vocal work for Mila Kunis in 'To Hell and Back' and voiced 'Black Cat' and 'Black Widow' in Marvel video games. She can also be heard narrating many Audible audio book titles as well as her own book Grace's Turn (available via iTunes). She is also the voice of Disney's Scene it: Deluxe Edition. She recurs as the 'Trina' in the Disney Channel series 'Big Hero 6' (2019).

Musical Work

Christy's singing voice can be heard on the recording soundtracks of Everyone Says I Love You, Parade, Kim Possible: A Stitch in Time, Disney's Teachers Pet, and Disney's Princess Diaries 2. Her solo album 'Christy Carlson Romano Greatest Movie & TV Hits' was released by Disney Records. She was briefly signed to Atlantic records and toured with Raven Symone.

At six years old Christy was cast in several national tours of Broadway musicals, including Annie, The Will Rogers Follies, and The Sound of Music. Before heading to Hollywood, Romano made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical Parade by Alfred Uhry and Jason Robert Brown originating the role of 'Mary Phagan'. On February 17, 2004, Romano began a 31-week run of playing 'Belle' in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. She left the production after raising ticket attendance from 30% to 99%. Romano later returned to Broadway and starred in Avenue Q, in which she puppet-mastered 'Kate Monster' and 'Lucy the Slut'. She was asked to perform at the Center Theater Group's 50th Anniversary in LA.

Publications

Romano penned a novel, Grace's Turn (2006), published by Hyperion, which received accolades by The New York Public Library as the '2007 Teenage Book of the Year'. She recently wrote an op-ed for Teen Vogue which discusses her time as a child-actor.

Advocacy

Romano received the 'GI Spirit Award' with the GI Film Festival due to her work as a member of the 'Ambassadors of Hollywood' support tour to Afghanistan. She traveled to the Capitol building to be presented by former Senator Chris Dodd (CT) and performed the National Anthem for the festival's veteran filmmakers.

She was awarded the key to the city of her hometown in Connecticut and been given a day (Feb 22) commemorating her contribution as a positive role model for young women with the 'CT's Finest Award'.

Romano has actively participated in many charities such as Equity Fights Aids, Leukemia Foundation, American Heart Association, L.A's AVIVA Center, and Unicef. She dedicated the proceeds of her 'Ready for Action' Mickey statue to the Children's Miracle Network. She has fulfilled several wishes for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and has also sat on the board of the young Hollywood committee at St. Jude's Hospital. She has done PSA's for the Child's Safety Network on internet safety as well as acted as a campaign spokesperson for The American Counseling Association to speak out against bullying. She volunteered at The Actor's Fund's 'Looking Ahead' program for youth in entertainment.

Trivia

Sang a duet with Greg Raposo from Dream Street: Live (2001) called "Hair" while they were in The Broadway Kids.

She attended New York Professional Children's School as a commuter student, graduating in 2001. She often tagged along with friends to local high school dances. In 1999, she actually attended the Burbank High School Homecoming Dance with former Disney Channel alum and Freddy vs. Jason (2003) star Chris Marquette.

Turned down a role on American Dreams (2002).

Parents are Sharon and Anthony.

Mother's maiden name is Carlson.

Christy was named Honorary Cheerleader by American Cheerleader Junior magazine.

2003-2004 Agency Cordinator Committee Head for Columbia University's A.M.M.P.

Goddaughter of Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT).

[2004] The youngest actress to play Belle in the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast (1991).

Went to St. Joseph High School in Trumbull, Connecticut before going on Even Stevens (2000).

Grandfather was Joseph Romano of Romano and Son's Bakery on Cherry Street in New York.

Attended Barnard College, Columbia University as a political science major. [2005]

Mayor James Richetelli Jr. honored her at Milford City Hall by naming February 22, 2005, Christy Carlson Romano Day.

Received the first-ever Connecticut's Finest award on February 22nd, 2005.

Has 2 older sisters (Marcella & Jennifer) & 1 older brother (Anthony Jr.)

Is a member of the Sigma Delta Tau sorority at Columbia Universty.

Signed with Lava/Atlantic Records and will release her debut album as a mainstream singer in 2006.

Took dance class when she was younger.

Trained at the School of American Ballet when she was 13 years old.

Is of Italian, German, and Swedish descent.

Christy is also a director.

She plays the guitar.

Graduated from Barnard College (Columbia University), Class of 2015,with a BFA in Film Studies (2015).

(December 31, 2013) Married her boyfriend of 2 years Brendan Rooney at the Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta following a 2-year-long engagement. Romano and Rooney met in February 2011 while she was studying at Barnard College.

Has two daughters, Isabella ''Izzy'' Victoria Rooney (b. December 24, 2016) and Sophia Elizabeth Rooney (b. February 18, 2019), with her husband Brendan Rooney.

Quotes

As a performer, much of my life has been spent in the spotlight. I know how important appearance can be to teens, especially the impact it can have on the way you feel about yourself.

I want to be a positive influence in little girls' eyes. Little girls need to be confident and grow up with a healthy state of mind. It's a tough, tough world out there.