Latest news with #BrendaSong
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Brenda Song says Disney blocked her from pursuing 'Gran Torino' role because of sexual assault scene: 'I was very upset'
Brenda Song's transition from Disney child star to Hollywood actress wasn't always so suite. The actress, 37, rose to prominence for her role as hotel heiress London Tipton on Disney Channel sitcom The Suite Life of Zack & Cody in the early 2000s, starring in a number of original films on the network (Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior, Stuck in the Suburbs) before transitioning to more mature roles in such titles as David Fincher's The Social Network. While accepting Variety's Virtuoso Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, Song shared that her career path was not without obstacles due to her Disney background, revealing that she had been considered for a role in Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino — but Disney ultimately would not allow it due to a sexual assault scene. "The character had an intended sexual assault scene, so Disney nixed it,' Song said. 'And I was very upset but I was like, 'Okay, I guess it didn't work out.'' The 2008 thriller starred Eastwood as a disgruntled and prejudiced Korean War vet who forms an unlikely friendship with a Hmong teen (Bee Vang) after the latter reluctantly attempts to steal his treasured car. Disney actually had similar concerns about her role as Christy, a love interest of Andrew Garfield's Eduardo who has a sexually explicit scene in the film, in The Social Network, Song shared. But she pushed back, going directly to Gary Marsh, president and COO of Disney Branded Television, at the time. 'I was just like, 'I am an actor. When you hired me, I was not a hotel heiress. If I have ever done anything in my personal life to ever draw bad attention to your company, I understand. But this is the last season of the show, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime,'" Song shared. "And I was so fortunate, they were so supportive. They allowed me to do this film that truly changed my life.' Following her departure from Disney, Song appeared across episodes of Scandal, New Girl, Station 19, and Dollface. She also starred in movies like Changeland, where she met future husband Macaulay Culkin, and Secret Obsession. It was her recent turn in Gia Coppola's 2024 drama The Last Showgirl, starring opposite Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis, that ushered in what many have hailed as the Brendaissance. Song told Entertainment Weekly earlier this year that the role — as a fiery showgirl named Mary-Anne — marked a "beautiful turning point' in her career. 'I had literally just said to my mom and my partner, 'If the best of my career's behind me, I think I'm okay with that. I am really proud of what I've done,'' she recalled. 'And they're like, 'What are you talking about? You're 35 years old.' But I was at such a crossroads in my life.' Most recently, she appeared on Mindy Kaling's sports comedy series Running Point, which was renewed for a second season. As with The Last Showgirl, that experience "re-energized me and reminded me why I love doing what I do so much," Song said. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Perth Now
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Brenda Song blocked from movie role by Disney
Brenda Song has claimed Disney blocked her from starring in Gran Torino because of a sexual assault scene. The 37-year-old actress shot to fame as hotel heiress London Tipton in the Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and went on to star in a number of the network's own movies before moving away from child stardom to more adult roles. However, despite her success, Brenda revealed her transition wasn't made easy and she faced difficulties such as missing out on a role she wanted in Clint Eastwood's 2008 drama Gran Torino. Accepting Variety's Virtuoso Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, she recalled: "The character had an intended sexual assault scene, so Disney nixed it. And I was very upset but I was like, 'Okay, I guess it didn't work out.'' Brenda also had to fight for her role as Christy in The Social Network, which also featured a sexually-explicit scene, going to then-COO of Disney Branded Television Gary Marsh to plead her case. She recalled: 'I was just like, 'I am an actor. When you hired me, I was not a hotel heiress. If I have ever done anything in my personal life to ever draw bad attention to your company, I understand. But this is the last season of the show, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime.' "And I was so fortunate, they were so supportive. They allowed me to do this film that truly changed my life.' Brenda - who has sons Dakota, four, and Carson, two, with fiance Macaulay Culkin - was grateful to break into acting at a young age because it was "really hard" for Asian-American women to find success. She said: "That was the tricky thing growing up, being an Asian-American actress in Hollywood. 'Like if you weren't Jackie Chan or Jet Li — I'm not an Asian man — it was really hard. But I was fortunate to have actors like Ming-Na Wen, Michelle Yeoh and Lucy Liu, who really inspired me.' Of working with Ming-Na when she was eight years old, she added: 'I'm so grateful because she was so encouraging, so kind and just so supportive.'
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Brenda Song reveals Disney tried to stop her from filming ‘The Social Network'
Brenda Song is opening up about the challenges she faced transitioning from child star to serious actress, revealing that Disney once prevented her from pursuing key film roles. Speaking at the 2025 Bentonville Film Festival, where she received Variety's Virtuoso Award, Song reflected on her career and the lasting legacy of her Disney Channel role as London Tipton on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Despite her comedic success, Song said she wasn't allowed to audition for Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino due to a sexual assault scene involving her character. Later, when she was offered a role in David Fincher's The Social Network, Disney again hesitated. Song took her case directly to then-president of Disney Branded TV, Gary Marsh. 'I told him, 'I am an actor. This is the opportunity of a lifetime,'' she recalled. Ultimately, Disney approved the role—a turning point that changed her career. Song also shared stories from her early years in Hollywood, including stealing wardrobe items from the Suite Life set and taking home a massive portrait of her character, which now resides in the home she shares with partner Macaulay Culkin. Reflecting on representation, Song noted that she lacked Asian-American female role models growing up but credited Ming-Na Wen and Michelle Yeoh as inspirations. Now a mother and veteran actor, Song is proud of how far she's come. 'It was hard being an Asian-American actress in Hollywood. But I was lucky to have support,' she said. The Bentonville event also featured Song performing with Geena Davis and Culkin in gender-swapped scenes from The Producers and Stranger Things.
UPI
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Brenda Song, Harvey Guillén to announce Emmy nominations July 15
1 of 4 | Brenda Song will co-host the 77th Emmy Award nominations in a July 15 ceremony. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo June 26 (UPI) -- The Television Academy announced actors Brenda Song and Harvey Guillén will announce this year's Emmy Awards nominations on July 15. The academy said Song (The Last Showgirl) and Guillén (What We Do in the Shadows) will announce the nominees in a live-streamed event on at 11:30 a.m. EDT July 15. Comedian Nate Bargatze was previously announced as the host of the 77th annual Emmy Awards. The ceremony will take place Sept. 14 at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. "It's a huge honor to be asked to host such an iconic awards show and I'm beyond excited to work with CBS to create a night that can be enjoyed by families around the world," Bargatze said in news release.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harvey Guillén & Brenda Song Set To Announce 2025 Emmy Nominees
Brenda Song and Harvey Guillén will announce the nominations for the 77th Emmy Awards, the Television Academy announced Thursday. Set for Tuesday, July 15 at 8:30 a.m. PDT/11:30 a.m. EDT, the announcement will stream live from the Academy's Wolf Theatre on Television Academy Chair Cris Abrego will join Guillén and Song at the nominations ceremony. More from Deadline 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More Nate Bargatze Admits He's "Nervous" To Host Emmys In 'Late Show' Spot Jimmy Kimmel Hopes Spreading Conspiracy Theories Leads To Emmys; Julianne Nicholson Holds A Hot Hand For Two Acting Nominations - Notes On The Season 'This year's submissions reflect the remarkable talent, innovation and breadth that define our industry,' said Abrego. 'Great storytelling depends on the collaboration, dedication and vision of so many across our creative community. I'm thrilled to welcome Harvey and Brenda to help us honor the nominees and kick off what promises to be an unforgettable Emmy celebration.' Song currently stars opposite Kate Hudson in Netflix hit comedy series Running Point and was recently seen on film in The Last Showgirl and in Amazon's romantic comedy Love Accidentally. Guillén is best known for his portrayal of Guillermo de la Cruz on six seasons of the Emmy-nominated FX comedy series What We Do in the Shadows, a role which earned him five Critics Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor, as well as two Imagen Awards. Most recently, Guillén starred in the Warner Bros. sci-fi thriller Companion and can be seen in Mike Flanagan's adaptation of Stephen King's The Life of Chuck and Disney+'s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip. The 77th Emmy Awards, hosted by Nate Bargatze, will be broadcast live Sunday, Sept. 14, (8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT) on CBS and will stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'My Life With The Walter Boys' Season 2 So Far Everything We Know About The 'Reminders of Him' Movie So Far Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far
