Latest news with #TheSuiteLife
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Brenda Song says Disney blocked her audition for a Clint Eastwood movie
Brenda Song first came into prominence on the hit Disney Channel show The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and while it launched her career it also hindered her from other roles. The 37-year-old actress attended the Bentonville Film Festival in Bentonville, Arkansas over the weekend, where she received the Variety Virtuoso Award. She revealed during her acceptance speech that she was trying to branch out into more adult roles while still on Suite Life, but Disney wouldn't allow it. One of those movies was director/star Clint Eastwood 's 2008 film Gran Torino, but the Mouse House wouldn't even let her audition for the role. She ultimately did break out from Disney in 2010's The Social Network, though she added that was another role she had to fight for. '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,"' she admitted, after recently breaking her silence over accusations from ex Trace Cyrus. When the role for Christy in The Social Network came along, she went straight to the top, approaching Disney Branded Television COO Gary Marsh with a plea. '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,"' she began. She added, '"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,' Song admitted of her role in The Social Network. While Song continued to branch out as an actress, she still kept working quite regularly with Disney. She reprised her role as hotel heiress London Tipton on The Suite Life On Deck, which followed Zack and Cody (Dylan and Cole Sprouse) on a study abroad program aboard a cruise ship. Song also opened up about breaking through in Hollywood at a time where there was not as much representation for Asian artists like herself. 'That was the tricky thing growing up, being an Asian-American actress in Hollywood,' Song admitted. '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,"' she began '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,' she added. She said she worked with Wen when she was around eight years old, adding, 'I'm so grateful because she was so encouraging, so kind and just so supportive.' The actress also singled out another great role model for her, Night Court star Richard Moll, who she worked with on the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd. 'I remember being so star-struck because he was a very, very large man and I was so intimidated. And he was so kind and so gentle. I feel like that was my first kind of long-term project. So that was really special,' she said of Moll.
Buzz Feed
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Disney Nixed Brenda Song's Gran Torino Role
Brenda Song was just 7 years old when she made her acting debut in the ABC sitcom Thunder Alley, with the star going on to make several other TV show appearances over the years, and signing a contract with Disney Channel after starring in its original movie The Ultimate Christmas Present. However, you probably best know her playing hotel heiress London Tipton in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, a role that she landed at 16 years old. Brenda, now 37, remained on the Disney Channel series for all three seasons, until September 2008, and later reprised London in the Suite Life spin-off The Suite Life on Deck, which aired until 2011. And Brenda has now revealed that her ties to the network impacted the rest of her career, with Disney even stopping her from appearing in Clint Eastwood's 2008 movie Gran Torino because it included a sexual assault scene. Brenda would have been around 20 years old at the time, and recalled being 'very upset' that she wasn't able to go for the part. Speaking at the Bentonville Film Festival earlier this week, the actor explained: 'The character had an intended sexual assault scene, so Disney nixed it. And I was very upset, but I was like: 'OK, I guess it didn't work out.'' And while the star allowed Disney to dictate her career choices at this point, she ended up putting her foot down two years later when they tried to stop her from accepting the role of Christy in The Social Network. For reference, Christy is Eduardo's love interest in the Oscar-winning movie, and at one point, it is implied that the characters have sex in a public Disney raised concerns about Brenda taking on the adult role, she ended up going directly to the president and COO of Disney Branded Television at the time, Gary Marsh. '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,'" Brenda shared. "And I was so fortunate, they were so supportive. They allowed me to do this film that truly changed my life.' Brenda's comments come soon after she revealed that her agents dropped her after she committed to The Social Network because she'd already been booked onto another project. In a conversation captured by the Wrap, she explained: "There was another project that I had booked when I also booked The Social Network and my agents very much pushed me for the other project. [They're] like: 'It's a lead role, it's a big movie. This is amazing, this is it.'""I was like: 'David Fincher is one of my favorite directors of all time,'" Brenda went on. "They're like: 'It's two scenes,' but I'm like: 'This is what I really wanted.' And my agents dropped me over this decision." After The Social Network, Brenda's career took on a new lease of life, with appearances on episodes of Scandal, New Girl, and Dollface. More recently, she starred in Gia Coppola's 2024 movie The Last Showgirl, opposite Pamela Anderson and Jamie Lee Curtis, with Brenda crediting her role as showgirl Mary-Anne as a 'turning point' in her told Entertainment Weekly earlier this year: '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.' And they're like: 'What are you talking about? You're 35 years old.' But I was at such a crossroads in my life.' What do you make of Disney's impact on Brenda's career? Let me know in the comments below!
Express Tribune
6 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.
Daily Mail
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Remember Rico from Hannah Montana? You won't believe what the actor looks like now
Moises Arias was skyrocketed into the spotlight when he starred as the troublemaker Rico in the beloved Disney Channel series Hannah Montana in the early 2000s. But now, nearly two decades after the show premiered, the actor looks so different from his Disney days. Moises, now 31, was cast in the Miley Cyrus-lead series in 2006 when he was only 12 years old. He played Rico Suave, a rich genius who manages Rico's Surf Shop - the beach concession stand that Miley's older brother Jackson works at. The two would sometimes feud and other times get into trouble together, making for a pretty epic duo. The actor started as a supporting role in the first season, but his character was so popular he was promoted to the main cast for its second season. He continued to star Rico for all four Hannah Montana seasons before it came to an end in 2011. But now, flash forward 14 years later, and Moises is practically unrecognizable. In a recent selfie shared to Instagram, the former Disney star sported some scruffy facial hair and a much-shorter hairstyle. Moises made his acting debut in 2006 in the movie Nacho Libre. He also had a brief appearance in the show The Suite Life of Zack and Cody before he landed his breakout role in Hannah Montana. The show followed teen Miley Stewart who was secretly living a double life - some days she was a normal middle school student but other days she was pop sensation Hannah Montana. Hiding her true identity - which was concealed by a blonde wig - from her classmates often put her in tricky situations. It also starred Billy Ray Cyrus, Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso, and Jason Earles. After the show turned Moises into a sensation practically overnight, he went on to star in a slew of big movies and shows. He acted in the film Beethoven's Big Break, the drama The Perfect Game, the comedy Noobz, the coming-of-age film The Kings of Summer, sci-fi flick Ender's Game, historical drama Ben-Hur, Pitch Perfect 3, the comedy Little B***hes, Five Feet Apart, crime drama American Murderer, and superhero movie Samaritan, amongst other things. Most recently, he played Norm MacLean in the wildly popular TV show Fallout, based off the video game of the same name. Over the years, Moises also dabbled in directing, working on a series of YouTube films with his brother, Mateo Arias, under the name Moiswashere. He also co-founded a fashion brand with his brother, Jaden Smith, and Willow Smith in 2012 called MSFTSrep. He is now also a photographer, and often shares his photos to his Instagram, where he has over 800,000 followers. Back in 2014 he became embroiled in scandal after a photo was shared to social media that showed a then-20-year-old shirtless Moises lying on a bed with a fully-clothed 13-year-old Willow. At the time, reports emerged that said Willow's parents Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were being investigation by child protective services over the controversial snap. Jada defended the image at the time, saying there was 'nothing sexual about it.' All parties were later cleared. Jada later recalled her rage over the ordeal, explaining her on her Red Table Talk show in 2019, 'That was the first time I ever got furious.' 'I was looking at the [CPS] lady and the whole time I was thinking, "You could be helping so many kids right now,"' Willow added of the social worker. 'And you're wasting your time with a child who has everything they need.' 'The woman that was on our case, she was a nice lady,' Jada said. 'She knew.'
Buzz Feed
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Brenda Song Dropped By Agent After The Social Network
Brenda Song says she was dropped by her agent after taking a role in — wait for it — The Social Network. I know — of all things! Let me explain. If you remember, Brenda appeared in the David Fincher film as Eduardo Saverin's girlfriend, Christy Ling. It was a small role, but obviously one of a lifetime, which is why Brenda decided to take it. Unfortunately, her agents at the time had other ideas in mind, and when Brenda chose to go with The Social Network over a starring role, they dropped her! Brenda explained the whole situation in a recent conversation captured by The Wrap. She said, "There was another project that I had booked when I also booked The Social Network and my agents very much pushed me for the other project. [They're] like, 'It's a lead role, it's a big movie. This is amazing, this is it.'" "I was like, 'David Fincher is one of my favorite directors of all time,'" Brenda continued. "They're like, 'It's two scenes,' but I'm like, 'This is what I really wanted.' And my agents dropped me over this decision." Brenda recalled being "really upset" at the time because she'd been trying to find her footing after The Suite Life of Zack & Cody — but looking back, she's glad she followed her gut. "You have to follow your gut instinct because it's your life. It's about your life experience, it's not about the outcome," Brenda shared. "I realize now that for me, when I make a project, I'm not making it for the final product. I love the process, I love being on set, I love my castmates. My favorite moments of my job are between 'action' and 'cut,' and growing up on a set, it's where I feel most safe, so I always try to say I don't ever want to do a project that I wouldn't stand on the firing line for because it's not a final product, it's about your experience." "But yeah, I thought I fucked up at that moment," she laughed, "but I guess I didn't." I surely hope so! You can catch Brenda on Running Point now and check out the clip of her remarks here.
