ENCORE: Brenda Song, Disney Channel’s Original “It” Girl, Remains Prominent in Hollywood

As an industry veteran, Brenda Song continues to stay booked and busy. The 36-year-old first began her acting career as a child actor in 1995 and grew to fame starring as London Tipton in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody on Disney Channel from 2005 to 2008. Nearly two decades later, Song was one of the longest standing talents active in the Disney dynasty, voice acting in Amphibia and The Proud Family: Louder And Prouder. With an extensive resume in both drama and comedy projects, EnVi delves into Brenda Song’s career trajectory and what’s still to come.

Disney Powerhouse

Song’s most prominent role on Disney Channel was her portrayal of London Tipton in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and its spinoff series, The Suite Life On Deck. Both sitcoms follow twins, Zack and Cody, played by Dylan and Cole Sprouse, as they juggle school and cause mischief in the Tipton Hotel and S.S. Tipton cruise ship. The teenagers befriend London Tipton, the spoiled heiress whose father owns the hotel and ship vessel. Her character is wealthy and ditzy but also lovable, and her lack of class awareness made room for iconic dialogue throughout the series.

The actress continuously made guest appearances in other hit Disney Channel shows, such as That’s So Raven, Lilo & Stitch: The Series, Phil of the Future, Phineas and Ferb, Hannah Montana, and Wizards of Waverly Place. Song extended her presence throughout the network as a host on Pass the Plate. Airing during commercial breaks, the series encouraged healthy eating for young viewers. Song highlighted a food item that viewers could enjoy in international recipes through cultural tours. 

Ode to Culture

Brenda Song, who has both Thai and Hmong heritage, stood out as one of the only Asian actors on Disney Channel in the early 2000s. In 2006, she starred in Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior where she played a Chinese American high school student campaigning for Homecoming Queen while learning that she was the reincarnation of an ancient warrior tasked with saving the world. When interviewing with The New York Times, Song mentioned the film piqued her interest due to its empowering Asian American lead character and its many martial arts fight scenes. With her background in taekwondo, Song was able to translate her skills and perform her own stunts throughout the film. 

Song further paid homage to her Thai heritage in an episode of The Suite Life On Deck: Family Thais. The episode centers around London Tipton as she visits her grandmother’s rice patty farm in Thailand. London and her grandmother, Khun Yai, clash over their differing lifestyles. Their tumultuous relationship symbolizes an accurate representation of Asian Americans feeling not Asian enough or feeling too assimilated in American culture to fit in with their Asian identity. The episode concludes with Khun Yai affirming that she still loves London despite their polarizing personalities. 

Branching Out Beyond Asian Characters

Adding to her portfolio, Song acted in the Oscar-winning historical drama film, The Social Network. Based on the novel “The Accidental Billionaires,” the film covers the founding tale of the powerhouse social network Facebook. Song delivers a memorable performance as Christy, the college girlfriend of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. 

Following the series finale of The Suite Life On Deck in 2011, Brenda Song expanded her career beyond Disney Channel sitcoms. She starred in the Fox sitcom—Dads— as Veronica, a cunning assistant for two video game developers. Throughout her career, Song has ping-ponged between comedy and drama productions. She also had roles as recurring characters in ABC’s Scandal and Station 19. While she scored lead roles in the CBS medical drama Pure Genius and Hulu’s original sitcom Dollface, both series were canceled after their first seasons.

A Return to Disney

Brenda Song has since returned to her Disney Channel roots, but in a slightly different form. Lead voice acting for the animated series Amphibia, Song was able to reconnect with her cultural heritage. The show features Anne Boonchuy, a Thai American teenager who gets transported to the world of Amphibia, which was heavily inspired by creator and executive producer Matt Braly’s childhood in Thailand. With Song and Braly both being of Thai descent, they strove for accuracy in the show’s themes of both friendship and culture. While discussing the show with NBC News, they mentioned they would consult Braly’s mother via phone call to nail Thai pronunciations for Amphibia recording sessions.

Looking Forward

Song’s latest project is The Last Showgirl, alongside Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Dave Bautista. Directed by Gia Coppola,  it follows the story of a Las Vegas showgirl grappling with the unexpected end of the only career she knows. In an interview with Variety, Song described her character Marianne as someone who “really represents the woman who is sort of beaten down by life,” and expressed her gratitude toward Coppola for “look[ing] past the tropes… or stereotypes that people pigeonholed me in.” The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6, 2024. However, the release date for theaters is yet to be announced. 

Song also joined the cast for Mindy Kaling’s upcoming Netflix comedy with a 10-episode order. The series follows Kate Hudson’s earnest and unnoticed Isla Gordon as she takes on the role of President of the Los Angeles Waves. After her brother resigns due to a scandal, she must prove to her family that she is the right person for the job. Song will play the humorous and stern chief of staff of The Waves, Ali Lee, who knows all the ins and outs of the Gordon family.

While Brenda Song has paid homage to her heritage in many roles, she has also represented the Asian community on screen without specifically portraying characters that are defined by their Asian identity. Throughout her career, she has packed her resume within the drama and comedy genre. From the early 2000s to present, Song continues this balancing act with her upcoming projects.
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