Brenda Song has been working in the entertainment industry almost her entire life. She got her start as a children’s model in catalogs and work in commercials and television soon followed. Song and her mother moved to Los Angeles when she was just six so that Song could pursue her dreams. Her big break, however, might actually be seen as a short film instead of some of the TV projects she was in as a child.
Actress and director Elizabeth Sung was casting her short film Requiem in the mid ‘90s when she decided to cast Song as the younger version of one of the characters. Sung cast her in another short a few years later and has sung her praises ever since, calling her “focused” even from a young age (via Mochi Magazine). Contract work with the Disney Channel soon followed, and now, Brenda Song is one of the hardest-working women in Hollywood with a diverse body of work behind her.
10 Phil of the Future (2004-2005)
As Tia In 8 Episodes
Over the course of Brenda Song’s career, she has done a ton of work for the Disney Channel. Most of that work was during her teen years. One of her earliest roles for the Disney Channel was as Tia on Phil of the Future.
Tia is the best friend of Keely (Aly Michalka), so she doesn’t have a huge role in the series, only appearing in a handful of episodes in the first season. The focus is on the titular character, Phil (Raviv Ullman), and his family. From the future, a malfunction with their time machine lands them in the early 2000s and they become stranded. Phil tries to fit in and ends up telling Keely the truth, making her the only ally his family has. The closer she and Phil become in the series, the less the audience sees of Tia as the show goes on.
Despite that, it’s clear that Song had a great screen presence, which is probably why she went on to appear in so many other Disney projects.
Related Top 16 Disney Channel Shows With The Most Episodes
Disney Channel surprisingly does not have many long running shows, despite many of their series being beloved. Here are shows with the most episodes.
9 Robot Chicken (2014-2018)
Various Characters
Robot Chicken Animation Where to Watch
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In this stop-motion animated adult comedy show, a variety of original characters, pop culture icons, and notable real-life figures perform a variety of comedy sketches. At the heart of it all is Robot Chicken, a cyborg chicken reanimated by the fittingly-named Mad Scientist.
Cast Seth Green , David Lynch , Zachary Levi , Katee Sackhoff , Michael Ian Black , Christian Slater , Jamie Kaler Release Date February 20, 2005 Seasons 11 Showrunner Matthew Senreich
Robot Chicken was born from Seth Green’s interest in action figures. The series, which ran from 2005 to 2022, used action figures and stop-motion animation to create pop culture parodies. Seth Green and co-creator Matthew Senreich voice the most characters for the show and appear in the most episodes, but numerous celebrities have lent their voices to the series over the years like Breckin Meyer (who is a close friend of Green), Eden Espinosa (best-known for her work on Broadway), Michelle Trachtenberg (who Green appeared with in Buffy The Vampire Slayer), and more.
Song voiced a few different characters for the series over the course of four years. Her most memorable might be as Sailor Mars in one of several nods to the Sailor Moon manga and anime franchise and as Misty when the series riffed on Pokémon.
8 The Suite Life Series And Crossovers (2005-2011)
As London Tipton
The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody TV-GComedyFamily Where to Watch
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The Suite Life of Zack & Cody is a Disney Channel series starring Dylan and Cole Sprouse as identical twins living in the luxurious Tipton Hotel. The show follows their mischievous adventures as they interact with hotel staff, including Maddie (Ashley Tisdale) and Mr. Moseby (Phill Lewis), as well as guests. It explores themes of friendship, family, and the challenges of growing up in a unique environment.
Cast Cole Sprouse , Dylan Sprouse , Brenda Song , Ashley Tisdale , Phill Lewis , Kim Rhodes , Adrian R’Mante , Brian Stepanek Character(s) Cody Martin , Zack Martin , London Tipton , Maddie Fitzpatrick , Mr. Moseby , Carey Martin , Esteban , Arwin Release Date March 18, 2005 Creator(s) Jim Geoghan , Danny Kallis
Though fans of the network might remember Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana being the face of the Disney Channel, the truth is that the
Suite Life
stars actually appeared on it more than she did.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody premiered in 2005 with the Sprouse brothers in the lead roles, Song and Ashley Tisdale in supporting roles, and launched a franchise for the Disney Channel. Though fans of the network might remember Miley Cyrus as Hannah Montana being the face of the Disney Channel, the truth is that the Suite Life stars actually appeared on it more than she did.
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody centered on the titular twin brothers while they originally lived in a ritzy hotel with their mother, who worked as a lounge singer. Tisdale played the young woman working at the candy counter after school. Song starred as the heir to the Tipton Hotel and associated properties. The series crossed over with multiple other shows on the network, had movies, and a spinoff show.
Song was present for all of them as London Tipton, making her one of the characters who appeared the longest on the network. Song’s role as London also translated into a shortform series focusing on her fan-favorite character. The role was a great showcase for Song’s comedic talents and showed audiences who grew up with her just how much she was growing in her craft.
Note: Brenda Song turned down early acceptance to Harvard University to take the role of London Tipton.
7 Dollface (2019-2022)
As Madison
Dollface Comedy Where to Watch
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Dollface is a comedy television series created for Hulu that follows Jules, who – after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend – must deal with her own imagination to literally and metaphorically re-enter the world of women and rekindle the female friendships she left behind. Now slowly earning back the graces of her best friend and others, Jules will correct her life course and discover a life beyond being a “dollface.”
Cast Esther Povitsky , Brenda Song , Shay Mitchell , Kat Dennings Release Date November 15, 2019 Seasons 2
Dollface isn’t the most critically acclaimed show of the last decade, but the Hulu original sitcom has a cast stacked with talent, including Song. Kat Dennings stars in the series as a woman who goes through a bad breakup with her boyfriend and then tries to reconnect with the friends she left behind when she entered the relationship. Though Dennings spends a lot of time talking to figments of her character’s imagination, her friends also get quite a bit of screen time.
Song starred in the show as one of those friends, a Public Relations expert named Madison. The show really gave Song the chance to bounce off other comedic heavyweights. In addition to appearing alongside Dennings, Song also appeared with Macaulay Culkin, Poppy Liu, Dave Coulier, and Joey Lawrence among others. The show also managed to get Margot Robbie and Jennifer Grey on board as well as musical acts like Phantogram and Rozzi.
6 The Social Network (2010)
As Christy
The Social Network 
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David Fincher’s The Social Network chronicles the birth of Facebook and the rise of tech mogul Mark Zuckerberg. Following Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) as he creates his famous social network along with his friend and investor Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). As Facebook’s popularity grows, Zuckerberg faces legal action from former friends, with The Social Network following his journey from an innovative young student to a titan of industry.
Director David Fincher Release Date October 1, 2010 Writers Aaron Sorkin Cast Jesse Eisenberg , Rooney Mara , Andrew Garfield , Justin Timberlake , Armie Hammer Runtime 120 minutes
There was a lot of anticipation when Melise (then credited as Malese Jow) and Brenda Song were both announced as part of the large ensemble cast of The Social Network. The movie traced the rise of Facebook from its initial development as a way to rate female classmates in college.
While Melise and Song didn’t have huge roles in the movie, at the time, they were both known primarily for their work in children’s programming. Whereas Melise was best-known for work on Nickelodeon at the time, Song was best known for her work on Disney Channel. Appearing in The Social Network was the first time that many audience members would see them in more adult roles as the girlfriends of two of the young men at the center of Facebook’s development.
Song did manage to steal the scene when she appeared as Christy in a breakup scene, setting a small fire in a trashcan as she ranted. It’s one of the moments that has become a meme in later years.
5 Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006)
As Wendy Wu
Though Brenda Song signed a contract with the Disney Channel in 2002 to appear in multiple original movies and series, she didn’t star as the title character in any other projects aside from Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior. She was originally considered for a supporting role, as the original lead was conceived as a teenage boy, but her martial arts training led to her being cast in the lead. Song did most of her own stunts for the movie.
Note: Brenda Song has a black belt in taekwondo. She attended classes with her two brothers as a child.
The movie sees a Chinese-American teenager’s life change when she’s visited by a monk who tells her she’s been chosen to save the world. There are elements of Buffy The Vampire Slayer in it, but the kids’ movie is infused with elements of Chinese history and culture.
The movie became so popular that it broke viewership records for Disney Channel Japan and across European networks. In 2007, Disney even aired versions of the movie with additional scenes and the cast teaching kung-fu to the audience. A DCOM sequel was planned but was eventually scrapped, though Song continued to work for the network on other projects, particularly for The Suite Life franchise.
Related 12 Actors Who Appeared In Multiple Disney Channel Original Movies (Not Just Sequels)
Disney Channel is notorious for casting the same actors in several of their shows, and the same is true for Disney Channel Original Movies.
4 Amphibia (2019-2022)
As Anne
Amphibia TV-Y7ActionShortAnimation Where to Watch
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Amphibia is an animated television series created by Matt Braly. The show follows Anne Boonchuy, a 13-year-old girl who is magically transported to a world of sentient frogs, toads, and newts. Stranded in Amphibia, Anne embarks on various adventures while trying to find her way back home. The series features themes of friendship, self-discovery, and courage.
Cast Bill Farmer , Amanda Leighton , Justin Felbinger , Brenda Song Release Date June 17, 2019 Seasons 3
The series deals with the usual themes of growing up, like bullying, peer pressure, and fitting in, but it also places Anne and her friends at three different angles of the power struggle for
Amphibia…
Though Song spent a big part of her teenage years working for the Disney Channel, she also returned to the network as an adult, voicing the main character of the animated Amphibia. The series ran for three seasons on the network for a total of 58 episodes.
In the series, Song voices Anne, a Thai-American teenage girl who steals a magical box on a dare that transports her and her two best friends to a world populated by anthropomorphic frogs. She and her friends are separated when they are transported, but Anne is taken in by a family of farming frogs who help her adjust to living in Amphibia while searching for a way home.
The series deals with the usual themes of growing up, like bullying, peer pressure, and fitting in, but it also places Anne and her friends at three different angles of the power struggle for Amphibia, creating a transformative hero’s journey for the character. The series was nominated for a slew of awards from the Children’s and Family Emmys, the Annie Awards, and the GLAAD Media Awards during the course of its run.
3 The Last Showgirl (2024)
As Marianne
The Last Showgirl Not RatedDrama
Director Gia Coppola Release Date September 6, 2024 Writers Kate Gersten Cast Kiernan Shipka , Dave Bautista , Jamie Lee Curtis , Pamela Anderson , Billie Lourd , Brenda Song , John Clofine , Patrick Hilgart Runtime 85 Minutes
The Last Showgirl is the newest addition to Brenda Song’s resume. It had it’s Toronto International Film Festival Premiere on September 6, 2024, and those who were able to see the movie have loved it. The film stars Pamela Anderson as a Las Vegas showgirl who is told by the stage manager (Dave Bautista) that the show she’s been part of for 30 years is closing. Song plays another showgirl alongside Kiernan Shipka while Jamie Lee Curtis plays a cocktail waitress who is the best friend of Anderson’s title character.
The movie looks at how different it is for a seasoned performer to move on from the only life they’ve ever known compared to someone who is just starting out on the stage. The Film Stage has called the movie “heartbreakingly believable” and cited the entire cast as a “dynamic bunch,” while Screen Rant has found that the movie “wears its heart on its sleeve.”
2 New Girl (2013)
As Daisy In 4 Episodes
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Zooey Deschanel stars as Jess in New Girl, a comedy series that follows a group of twentysomething roommates in their day-to-day lives. When Jess decides to leave her boyfriend of seven years after discovering he’s been unfaithful, she finds a craigslist ad and becomes the roommate of three men around her age who desperately need to rent a room in their loft. Occasionally joined by Jess’ best friend, the group builds a quirky, dysfunctional family dynamic as they enjoy life in Los Angeles.
Cast Zooey Deschanel , Max Greenfield , Hannah Simone , Damon Wayans Jr. , Lamorne Morris , Jake Johnson Release Date September 20, 2011 Seasons 7 Showrunner Elizabeth Meriwether
She holds her own with the rest of the cast even when the comedy veers into slapstick territory…
Song only appears as Daisy in four episodes of seasons 2 and 3 of New Girl, but with season 2 arguably the best of the show, that’s a good place to find her. One of the few shortcomings of New Girl is not keeping Song around for a longer arc as the love interest of one of the main characters. Better integrating her into the friendgroup would have allowed Song to really shine in the show.
New Girl sees the titular character begin living with three men after she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her. In the second season, Daisy is introduced as a woman who hits it off with Winston (Lamorne Morris) at a bar. The two date through the rest of the season. Song’s character gets to be present in the second game of True American played on the show, and the most pivotal, as it’s the one in which Nick (Jake Johnson) admits his feelings for Jess (Zooey Deschanel).
Song fits in well the few times she’s able to be in scenes with more than just Morris. She holds her own with the rest of the cast even when the comedy veers into slapstick territory, and it’s a shame she only appears in four episodes.
Related 25 Best New Girl Episodes Ranked
New Girl aired a total of 146 episodes on Fox during its seven-season run. While many of these were brilliant, some were better than others.
1 Blue Eye Samurai (2023)
As Akemi
Blue Eye Samurai TV-MAAnimationActionAdventure
Blue Eye Samurai is a 2023 animated action-adventure series created by Michael Green and Amber Noizumi. Set In 17th-century Japan, Blue Eye Samurai follows a mixed-race Samurai named Mizu who seeks revenge for the man who abandoned her and took her mother. To do so, Mizu will have to disguise herself and assume the guise of a man as she sets forth across a war-torn nation.
Cast Maya Erskine , George Takei , Masi Oka , Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa , Brenda Song , Darren Barnet , Randall Park , Kenneth Branagh Release Date November 3, 2023 Showrunner Michael Green , Amber Noizumi
In addition to accomplished voiceover work in children’s animated programs, Song has also voiced a character in a more adult animated series. She stars as Akemi in Netflix’s Blue Eye Samurai. While her character isn’t the titular samurai, she is a cunning princess who uses the fact that many underestimate her to her advantage, running away from an arranged marriage to hide in a brothel at one point, and then, striking a deal with the husband that has been arranged for her. Her story is just as compelling as the samurai seeking revenge.
It’s not clear if Brenda Song will appear in the second season of the series, which is set to premiere on Netflix in 2026, since the action moves from Japan to a ship at the end of the first season. The first season of the series has been nominated for several Annie Awards, Primetime Creative Emmy Awards, and a Peabody Award.
Source: Mochi Magazine