Whereas most keep in mind her because the fashion-obsessed heiress London Tipton from “The Suite Lifetime of Zack & Cody,” the actress lately revealed that her transition from youngster star to severe actor wasn’t as easy because it appeared.
In keeping with Brenda Track, Disney tried to cease her from taking over extra mature roles in movies like “Gran Torino” and “The Social Community.”
Article continues beneath commercial
Brenda Track Says Disney Tried To Block Her From ‘Gran Torino’ And ‘The Social Community’
She mentioned she had initially been thought-about for a task in “Gran Torino,” however Disney nixed it attributable to an supposed sexual assault scene within the script. “And I used to be very upset however I used to be like, ‘Okay, I assume it didn’t work out,’” she recalled.
An identical state of affairs got here up when Track wished to audition for David Fincher’s “The Social Community.” On the time, she was nonetheless on “Suite Life,” and issues over mature content material as soon as once more threatened to derail the chance. This time, nonetheless, she took issues into her personal palms.
Article continues beneath commercial
“I went on to Gary Marsh, the president and COO for Disney-branded tv on the time,” she defined. “I mentioned, ‘I’m an actor. While you employed me, I used to be not a resort heiress. If I’ve ever finished something in my private life to ever draw unhealthy consideration to your organization, I perceive. However that is the final season of the present, and that is the chance of a lifetime.’”
Her plea labored. Disney allowed her to do the movie, which Track says, “really modified my life.”
Article continues beneath commercial
Miley Cyrus Says Disney Banned Her From Singing ‘Hannah Montana’ Songs
It’s a narrative that mirrors latest revelations from fellow Disney alum Miley Cyrus, who mentioned on Spotify’s “The Ringer” podcast that she “wasn’t allowed” to carry out songs from “Hannah Montana” after leaving the community in 2011.
“It was nonetheless unhappy realizing these songs have my voice, my face, and I wasn’t allowed to sing them,” Cyrus shared.
She was solely granted permission to carry out them once more after being named a Disney Legend at D23 in 2024.
Article continues beneath commercial
Track Says Followers Nonetheless Quote Her Iconic ‘PRNDL’ Line From ‘Suite Life’
Like Cyrus, Track discovered her breakout second on Disney. However she’s labored exhausting to evolve past her early roles. Her portrayal of London Tipton not solely helped outline Disney Channel within the 2000s however left an enduring affect.
One specific second, the place her character hilariously mispronounces the automotive gear shift abbreviation PRNDL as “The Prindle,” continues to observe her.
“It’s at all times the PRNDL and it’s surprising,” Track laughed throughout the panel. “Folks will at all times be like, ‘You taught me the PRNDL’ or ‘I nonetheless use the PRNDL.’”
Article continues beneath commercial
The Iconic ‘Suite Life’ Portrait
The actress additionally confessed to conserving souvenirs from her time on “Suite Life,” together with the pink outfit from the present’s pilot and a large portrait of London and her canine Ivana that after hung in her TV suite. It now lives within the dwelling Track shares with longtime accomplice Macaulay Culkin and their kids.
“I’m afraid to let anybody know the place it’s although, as a result of realizing a sure anyone, they’d hold it up in our home and I might be mortified,” she joked.
Brenda Track Mentioned ‘Being An Asian-American Actress In Hollywood’ Was ‘Tough’
Track credit a lot of her early inspiration to trailblazers like Ming-Na Wen, Michelle Yeoh, and Lucy Liu, who have been among the many few Asian-American actors she noticed on display screen rising up.
“That was the difficult factor rising up, being an Asian-American actress in Hollywood,” Track mentioned. “Like if you happen to weren’t Jackie Chan or Jet Li, I’m not an Asian man, it was actually exhausting.”
Track shared that Wen, particularly, had a significant affect on her. They labored collectively when Track was simply eight years outdated, and he or she remembers Wen being “so encouraging, so type, and simply so supportive.”
She additionally fondly remembered working with “Evening Court docket” actor Richard Moll on the Nickelodeon sequence “100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd,” describing him as light and welcoming throughout her first long-term challenge.
Article continues beneath commercial
Although she’s lately labored alongside Pamela Anderson and Kate Hudson and even been directed by Fincher himself, Track continues to be humbled by her Disney roots. But it surely’s her persistence, not her previous, that continues to outline her.
“I’m so lucky,” she mentioned. “However none of it got here simple. You need to struggle for the roles you understand you possibly can play.”
