Disney Channel has been known to raise powerhouse celebrities. Selena Gomez is just one of the multi-talented performers to come out of the House of Mouse. Alongside her, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, and Dylan and Cole Sprouse were making names for themselves as well. Admittedly, it is known that plenty of child actors have had issues with Disney Channel in the past due to how the network's executives have treated them. However, the performers themselves had proven, on Disney Channel and after leaving the network, that their range as actors, musicians, or interest in business goes beyond what anyone could have expected the first time they were cast.
Disney Channel, like Nickelodeon as well, is known to be a jumping point for young actors and actresses. Given Disney Channel's love of triple threats, more than likely, most of its leading stars have tried their hand at acting, singing, and dancing throughout their involvement in whichever show or movie they were cast in. Some have strived to make a point that they are more than a "Disney Channel actor" while others take what they have learned from their time with the network and have brought it with them to new projects. While Disney Channel has given a chance to many talented entertainers, some have graduated to stardom in ways others never hit.
Selena Gomez
Getting her breakout role on Wizards of Waverly Place as magical mishap protagonist Alex Russo was the beginning of Selena Gomez's jump to stardom. As the lead of one of Disney Channel's most popular sitcoms, and portraying one of the network's most beloved characters, Selena Gomez stole fans' hearts, and they followed her career of acting, music, business, and philanthropy into adulthood.
Since Wizards of Waverly Place ended, Selena Gomez has made a name for herself separately from her days on Disney Channel. Presently, she is also known for her role as Mabel Mora on Hulu's Only Murders In The Building, her Rare business, and her success in the music industry.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus broke out as an actress and musician by Disney Channel's Hannah Montana. Miley Stewart's double life as a teen singing sensation allowed Miley Cyrus to portray her skills in acting and singing. Hannah Montana, as a series, and soundtrack, became one of the most successful brands Disney Channel had. Since Hannah Montana Forever concluded, Miley Cyrus has moved away from acting to focus on singing. Miley Cyrus had taken large leaps in striving to carve out a more mature identity in the aftermath of leaving Disney Channel.
Demi Lovato
Demi Lovato's first main role on Disney Channel was as Mitchie Torres in Camp Rock. Leading the film, Demi Lovato took center stage in a story where Mitchie needed to find herself and step into the spotlight. Later on, Demi Lovato would go on to star in Sonny With A Chance, as the lead character, Sonny, who moves to Hollywood from Wisconsin to pursue her dream of joining her favorite hit comedy show, "So Random."
While Demi Lovato has been involved in some acting projects since leaving Disney Channel, Demi Lovato has become more involved in releasing music. Over the years, Demi Lovato has also been one of the biggest names in speaking out against Disney Channel and the problems the network had placed on child actors.
Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega may have reached critical acclaim through Netflix's Wednesday as the title character, and other projects in the horror genre, including the Scream franchise, but she had gotten her start on Disney Channel's Stuck In The Middle. Jenna Ortega played Harley Diaz, the middle child in a family of seven children. Even with so many co-stars, Jenna Ortega still shined as the show's lead character. Jenna Ortega's more recent work is vastly different from her time on Disney Channel, but such a change also shows her acting range.
Olivia Rodrigo
Before Olivia Rodrigo was releasing angsty, heartbreaking songs, she was paving her way on Disney Channel. First, Olivia Rodrigo starred on Bizaardvark as Paige Olvera in Disney Channel's take on Nickelodeon's iCarly, where Paige and her best friend, Frankie, are popular internet stars. Afterward, Olivia Rodrigo continued working with Disney on Disney+'s High School Musical: The Musical: The Series as Nini Salazar-Roberts, a shy stage performer wanting to break out as Gabriella Montez in the school's production of High School Musical.
Throughout Olivia Rodrigo's two seasons as a constant series regular, she demonstrated her strengths as a singer and songwriter, which would end up being foreshadowed in her real-life career as a musician.
Zendaya
Dancing her way into people's hearts, Zendaya's breakout role came on Shake It Up, where she starred as Rocky Blue, an aspiring dancer on a dance show. While Shake It Up gave a peak into Zendaya's dancing and singing abilities, as well as her acting, she also got the chance to show off her acting range on K.C. Undercover, a series where Zendaya got to play an entirely different role as a teenage spy. Zendaya has had one of the fastest career jumps, as not long after leaving Disney Channel, Zendaya became one of the stars in Spider-Man: Homecoming as MJ, and a leading role in Euphoria, roles that have helped send her even further into stardom.
Dylan and Cole Sprouse
Twin terrors Zack and Cody Martin caused chaos in the halls of the Tipton Hotel and among the high seas on the S.S. Tipton. Dylan and Cole Sprouse were two of Disney Channel's biggest stars for years as they led The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, followed by The Suite Life on Deck. Since then, the twins had gone to college and then returned to acting in more serious roles. Cole Sprouse joined the dark, gloomy, and eventually bizarre Riverdale as Jughead Jones in addition to other films, such as Five Feet Apart and Moonshot. Meanwhile, Dylan Sprouse also joined a more mature demographic, starring in Dismissed and taking on a supporting role in After We Collided.
Zac Efron
Zac Efron got his breakout role in High School Musical. For three movies, Zac Efron embodied Troy Bolton, a basketball player finding an unexpected love and passion for stage and theater performances. He also used his singing and dancing background in movies such as Hairspray and The Greatest Showman. Zac Efron has become one of the biggest names in Hollywood, starring in an array of films and even diving into documentary-style projects.
Hilary Duff
Lizzie McGuire was the average, ordinary girl that anyone could relate to. Hilary Duff's portrayal of her relatability, from annoying younger siblings to conflicts with parents and friends to unrequited crushes allowed her to flourish with a strong fan base backing her up. Hilary Duff's music career, which started as Lizzie McGuire was concluding, allowed her fans to easily follow her from one project to the next. As an adult, Hilary Duff holds on to the relatability that made her so popular as a teenager. While still tackling acting, such as in Younger and How I Met Your Father, and singing, Hilary Duff has also transformed into a businesswoman.
Brie Larson
One of Brie Larson's earliest acting credits came in the Disney Channel original movie, Right On Track. The movie was based on a true story, and Brie Larson played Courtney Enders, one of the sisters who had gotten involved in drag racing, traditionally a men's sport, and, together with her sister, Erica Enders, they show they are more than capable of competing, and winning, races against boys. As an adult, Brie Larson has starred in various films that have given her critical acclaim, such as Room, while also taking on the title character of one of Marvel's most powerful superheroes, Captain Marvel.
Comments
Post a Comment