Ashley Tisdale

Ashley Michelle Tisdale (born July 2, 1985) is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Maddie the candy counter girl at the Tipton Hotel on Disney Channel's situation comedy The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and as Sharpay in the made-for-television film High School Musical.

Biography

Early life

Tisdale was born in West Deal, Monmouth County, New Jersey to Lisa Morris and Mike Tisdale; she has an older sister, Jennifer, who is also an actress. Her Jewish maternal grandfather is Arnold Morris, the developer of Ginsu Knives,Tisdale mentioned her family relation on The Jimmy Kimmel Show, May 9, 2006 while her great-grandfather was Nathan Morris, the great-uncle of Ron Popeil, and her great-great-grandfather was Kidder Morris, a cantor and shoemaker. Tisdale was discovered at her hometown mall in Monmouth County when she was three. She sang at the White House when she was twelve years old.

Career

Tisdale began acting in the late 1990s, and appeared in episodes of several television series, including Smart Guy, 7th Heaven, Grounded for Life, Boston Public, Strong Medicine and Beverly Hills, 90210. She appeared in a minor role in the 2001 film, Donnie Darko, and had recurring roles on the series The Hughleys and Still Standing. Tisdale tried out for both the roles of Maddie Fitzpatrick and London on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody before being cast as Maddie. Tisdale was ultimately happy to receive the role, because she wanted to portray a positive character, rather than the mean-spirited London. In order to play the character, she had to cut her long brown hair short and dye it blonde. As The Suite Life gained in popularity, she became a featured performer on the Disney Channel, appearing in several promotions, specials, and ads for the network.

Most recently, she starred in the Disney Channel Original Movie High School Musical; she has pointed out that she enjoyed playing the villainous character in the film because she was nothing like herself. The role required Tisdale to perform several songs including, "What I've Been Looking For", "Bop to the Top" and "We're All in this Together", which had all managed to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 at one point or so. She also sings her version of the song "Someday my Prince Will Come" (from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) on the Disneymania 4 CD and "Kiss the Girl" (for the DVD special edition release of the Little Mermaid (1989 film)). Tisdale appears in the Disney Channel Games, which began airing in June of 2006; she is the captain of the Green Team, the members of which are Lucas Grabeel, Miley Cyrus, Emily Osment, Mitchel Musso, and Kyle Massey.