Biography
Date of Birth
27 December 1988, Carmichael, California, USA
Birth Name
Brenda Julietta Song
Nickname
B
Bren
BS
Bren S
Height
5' 2" (1.57 m)
Mini Biography
Brenda Song was born in Carmichael, California. Her father is Hmong and her mother is Thai-American. Brenda, her parents, and her younger brothers Timmy and Nathan now live in a suburb of Los Angeles.
Brenda was named an All-American Scholar in ninth grade and holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
She stars as London Tipton, the hotel owner's spoiled daughter, in the Disney Channel's sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005). Having acted since age six, Brenda is already a familiar face to Disney Channel viewers. Before beginning production on the new series, she had a recurring role as the hip and trendy Tia on Phil of the Future (2004). She also starred in the top-rated Disney Channel Original Movies Stuck in the Suburbs (2004), the mystery Get a Clue (2002) with Lindsay Lohan, and The Ultimate Christmas Present (2000) with Hallee Hirsh and Spencer Breslin.
Her other television credits include guest starring roles on That's So Raven (2003), George Lopez (2002), The Bernie Mac Show (2001), 7th Heaven (1996), One on One (2001), The Nightmare Room (2001), Judging Amy (1999), Popular (1999), Once and Again (1999), and as a panelist on Small Talk (1996). Brenda also had a starring role on the series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd (1999).
On the big screen, she starred in Like Mike (2002) opposite Shad Moss and Jonathan Lipnicki, and appeared in Leave It to Beaver (1997) and Santa with Muscles (1996) starring Hulk Hogan.
A self-proclaimed total dork, she loves sampling international cuisine, shopping and studying. She is an avid Los Angeles Lakers fan.
Trivia
Her mother (a homemaker) is Thai-American and her father (a second-grade teacher) is Hmong.
She is close friends with actors Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens, Frankie Muniz, and Kristin Herrera.
Was a panelist on Small Talk (1996) in 1996.
She has two younger brothers, Timmy (three years younger) and Nathan (eight years younger).
While growing up, she wanted to take ballet lessons, but her mother refused and put her in karate lessons where although she hated the idea of fighting, ironically she loved it so much that she earned a black belt, and was named an All-American Scholar in ninth grade.
Her family immigrated to the United States from Laos in 1976.
She began acting at the age of six. Her first television appearance was in a Little Caesars commercial.
Ranked #5 in Forbes Hollywood's Top-Paid Tweens list [2006]. Getting paid an estimated $5.5 million.
She has a Maltepoo called Teddy.
Voted one of Teen People's 25 hottest stars under 25.
CosmoGIRL! and Popstar! Magazine called her the Queen of Disney.
Her favorite kind of music is rock.
She was offered a role in the remake of the movie Prom Night (1980), but turned it down.
She has been home-schooled since the fourth grade.
She graduated from high school at the age of 16.
Participated in the 13th Annual Race to Erase M.S. charity event by modeling clothes.
She started modeling at the age of 3.
Brenda was team captain for three summers in a row in the Disney Channel Games.
Ranked #10 on interview magazines Hollywood faces to watch "future stars of tomorrow" (2006).
Her favorite singers are Hilary Duff, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey and Ashlee Simpson.
Enjoys reading "Memoirs of a Geisha.".
She has worked as a model for Abercrombie & Fitch Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids.
Ranked #10 on the Maxim magazine's Asian Hot 100 of 2006 list.
Ranked #5 on the Maxim magazine's Asian Hot 100 of 2007 list.
Ranked #3 on the Maxim magazine's Asian Hot 100 of 2008 list.
Speaks Hmong and Thai.
She got her first gig when her friend couldn't go to an audition for a commercial and asked if Brenda could go.
Studied business while in college.
Her musical theater roles include leads in Carousel, The Music Man, Cinderella, Damn Yankees, and The Little Mermaid, among others.
She's a fan of the late Natalie Wood.
Both sets of her grandparents were musicians during the Big Band era.
She has three cats and a dog.
Her stylist is Rachel Zoe, who's also the stylist of Nicole Richie.
Her idols are Marilyn Monroe and Angelina Jolie.
Is a fan of Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.
Topped US Weekly's Ten Most Powerful Girls in Hollywood list [2007].
Was voted the 12th Greatest Tween Star of all time by VH1 in 2007.
Topped US Weekly's Ten Most Powerful Girls in Hollywood list [2006].
Lindsay Lohan and Ashley Tisdale were among the guests at her 16th birthday party.
One of Teen People 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 [2006].
First magazine cover was the April 2004 issue of Popstar! Magazine.
One of Teen People 25 Hottest Stars Under 25 [2005].
Once saved her brother, Timmy Song, from drowning.
Watches and studies Audrey Hepburn films.
She was rated the #5 Hottest Teen Female Star for 2006 based on her acting, endorsement deals, public appearances, and charity work.
Has topped TV Guide's 20 Hottest Young Stars to Watch list for four years.
Was ranked #5 on Hollywood's Richest Kids list by People magazine (2006).
Was ranked #7 on Hollywood's Richest Kids list by People magazine (2005).
Was ranked #7 on Forbes List of the Top Young Earners (2006).
Has a net worth of approximately $7 million dollars based on her movies, shows, and other works.
Engaged to Trace Cyrus from October 14, 2011 to June 11, 2012.
Was ranked #6 in the 2019 "Feet of the Year" list on WikiFeet.
Has one child: son Dakota Song Culkin (b. April 5, 2021) with partner Macaulay Culkin.
Trademarks:
Husky voice
Quotes
Shoot for the moon, if you fall you might catch a star.
My first kiss was on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody (2005), actually. I was a late bloomer - I was 16, and I did it front of, like, 50 people!
I live in heels, give me a pair of flip-flops and I'll trip all over myself.
I'm the oldest in my family, so I do nothing but chores, chores, and chores! I do the laundry and cooking, and I drive my brothers everywhere. I'm like a second mom!
Writing in a journal comes naturally to me. It helps me escape reality for a while. When I'm upset, instead of taking it out on my brothers. I'll write it down. I feel so much better afterwards.
(On her character "London") It's so much fun to play London, because she's my fantasy character. Her daddy owns the hotel, she shops until she drops, everyone works for her, and her closet is a dream.
The sky's the limit. Reach for the stars. Anything that you want to do, you never know. Like anything's possible. Like, if I can get here, anyone can. I was just a little two year old saying I want to be on TV and you know, I going to be doing my own show next month. And so I really think you should just try, 'cause you never know, and if you really, truly want to do this and you really have passion for it, go for it. Because no one should tell you that you can't do something.
[on not being allowed to audition for Crazy Rich Asians (2018)] Their reasoning behind that, what they said was that my image was basically 'not Asian enough,' in not so many words. It broke my heart. I said, 'This character is in her late to mid-20s, an Asian American, and I can't even audition for it?
