Biography
Date of Birth
30 December 1988, Oahu, Hawaii, USA
Birth Name
Janel Meilani Parrish
Height
5' 2" (1.57 m)
Mini Biography
Janel Parrish is an American actress and singer who portrayed Mona Vanderwaal in Pretty Little Liars (2010).
She was born Janel Meilani Parrish on October 30, 1988 in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii, to parents Joanne (Mew) and Mark Phillip Parrish. Her mother is of Chinese descent and her father is Caucasian. Her sister, Melissa Nohelani, is eight years her senior. At age 6, Parrish began piano lessons, and within a year was also studying acting, singing, tap dance and jazz dance. She was educated at Moanalua Elementary and Moanalua High School, but left after ninth grade to be home schooled. At 14, she moved to Los Angeles with her family. That same year, she entered the talent competition Star Search (2003), but did not progress further than the first round.
Parrish began her acting career in 1996 with the role of Young Cosette in "Les Misérables", first performing in the U.S. national tour and then transferring to the Broadway production. She subsequently guest starred in various television series, before landing her breakthrough role as Jade in Bratz (2007). Three years later, she was cast in her most notable role, Mona Vanderwaal, in Pretty Little Liars (2010). Parrish won four Teen Choice Awards for her performance throughout the series' run.
In addition to acting, Parrish also competed in the nineteenth season of Dancing with the Stars (2005), in which she finished third, and released her first single as a singer-songwriter in 2007 through Geffen Records.
Trivia
Has played the piano since age 6 and is an accomplished songwriter.
Is a very talented singer, and has been on Broadway.
In Hawaii, she is called Hapa, which is a term for being half Asian. Janel is half Chinese, half Caucasian.
Missed her initial flight to film the pilot of Pretty Little Liars (2010), because her passport had expired.
Moved to Burbank in Los Angeles, California when she was 14.
Studied acting, singing, the piano, and tap dance and jazz dance from the age of 7.
Her only sister, Melissa, is eight years older than her and served in the United States Army.
Her parents, Joanne and Mark Parrish, were former bodybuilders.
Was the maid of honor at her sister's wedding.
Attended Moanalua Elementary School and spent her freshman year at Moanalua High, before being home schooled.
Signed to Geffen Records as a solo artist in 2007. Her first single, "Rainy Day", was released that same year and appeared on the Bratz (2007) soundtrack.
As of April 2017, she has 24 tattoos.
(September 8, 2018) Married her boyfriend of 2 years Chris Long at Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii, also known as the spot where Jurassic Park (1993) was filmed. He proposed on October 23, 2017 when they went on a walk in Toronto with their dog.
(September 22, 2018) Her father-in-law, Herbert "Buck" Long, was killed in a car crash on August 26th at age 74 when an 18-year-old drunk driver collided with him head-on as he was riding his motorcycle.
Trademarks:
Honey brown eyes
Quotes
I like to stay hydrated with water throughout the day and snack on apples, but my guilty pleasure would definitely be a caramel macchiato from Starbucks!
I like jewelry. Big rings, big necklaces. Shoes, belts, luggage.
I am really looking forward to being a role model for girls.
In every high school, there is a clique.
For me, my favorite trends of summer are lots of color, wedges, rompers and bright lipstick.
My top three personal best-dressed list: Lea Michele. I think she really knows how to dress. Blake Lively is great. And Rihanna. I really respect how bold and out-there she is.
I'm hoping to do more with my music. I did the stage musical "Spring Awakening" recently and it reignited the love I have for singing.
Music is my passion, singing, performing. I play piano and musical theater is my background.
I am terrified of sharks, so I don't surf!
I definitely am a Twihard!
I have been studying piano since I was six. Classical, jazz, compositional, Broadway, everything. I just love it all.
I'm lucky to have parents who used to be bodybuilders! They help me keep fit by going to the gym and training with me. I'm also addicted to Cardio Barre classes and hiking.
