Miranda Cosgrove stars as Carly Shay, a cool teen who clicks with kids everywhere by hosting her own home-grown web show, on the hit series iCarly. “;Carly is level-headed and calm and tries to find the best solution to any problem while others go crazy. In real life, I’m the one who freaks out,”; says the 16-year-old, who segued directly from stealing scenes as deceptively sweet, mischievous little sis Megan on Nick’s hit Drake & Josh. Cosgrove landed both her first TV series and feature film in early tween-hood. At age 9, she nabbed co-starring stints on Drake & Josh and on the big screen as the over-achieving preppy manager of Jack Black's rock band in School of Rock. She and Bell forged additional family ties as two of Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo's blended brood in the 2005 Nick Movies/Paramount Pictures release Yours, Mine and Ours. Next, she guest starred in the comedy feature Keeping up with the Steins and reunited with her Drake & Josh co-stars in the holiday movie Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh. Most recently, she starred in the family movie The Wild Stallion and lends her voice to the upcoming animated comedy Despicable Me along with Steve Carell and Julie Andrews. Cosgrove’s additional voice-over credits include Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie and What’s New, Scooby Doo? On television, she guest-starred on Nick’s Zoey 101, Unfabulous and Just Jordan, plus Grounded for Life and Smallville. In addition to being a talented actress, Cosgrove sings the theme song to iCarly with her former co-star Bell, who provides musical backup. After signing a deal with Columbia Records – part of a partnership between Nickelodeon and the Sony Music Label Group, she currently is working on her first solo album, which is scheduled to hit stores Spring 2010. Cosgrove recorded several songs for the iCarly CD, iCarly: Music from and Inspired by the Hit TV Show, and can be heard singing the theme song for the hit animated movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Cosgrove, along with her co-stars, accepted the 2009 Kids’ Choice Award for Favorite TV Show when iCarly won the infamous orange blimp. Cosgrove was nominated for Favorite TV Actress at the 2009 Kids Choice Awards and for Choice TV Actress: Comedy at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards. She also earned a Young Artist Award nomination for Leading Young Actress in a TV Series. Los Angeles native Cosgrove grabbed a toehold in show business as a tot doing what came naturally. While dancing and playing amid the tables at a restaurant, she caught an agent's eye. Her first audition at age three yielded a Mellow Yellow commercial and led to numerous print ads for the preschooler. No overnight sensation, she honed her craft for six years before landing her big breaks onscreen. While she trained at the Young Actors Space, Commercial Workshop and Marnie Cooper School of Acting, Cosgrove took singing and dancing lessons, appeared in small theater productions and sang in the school chorus. A former PTA Reflections Award winner in writing, drawing and photography, Cosgrove takes pleasure in scripting and posting videos with her friends to You Tube. She also enjoys horseback riding, fencing, tennis, shopping (especially for shoes and vintage clothing) and is “;addicted”; to movies. After getting the chance to plunk guitar on the set of School of Rock, she now takes lessons and writes her own songs.
