Brenda Song, widely recognized for her breakout role in Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, has opened up about the struggles she faced transitioning from child star to serious actress.
While accepting Variety’s Virtuoso Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, Brenda revealed that Disney once barred her from auditioning for the film Gran Torino — a moment that still lingers painfully in her memory.
Brenda Song said she had her heart set on the Gran Torino role, believing it would mark a turning point in her acting career. However, the studio refused to let her audition due to the film’s depiction of sexual assault. “The character had an intended sexual assault scene, so Disney nixed it. And I was very upset but I was like, ‘Okay, I guess it didn’t work out,’” Brenda recalled.
Having spent years building her career under the Disney banner, Brenda Song found the decision especially disheartening. She believed she had earned the opportunity to take on more serious and emotionally demanding roles. Despite her rising fame, she said her Disney image became a barrier rather than a stepping stone.
Brenda Song also discussed how she had to fight for the chance to appear in The Social Network, a film that ultimately transformed her career. She personally appealed to Disney executive Gary Marsh to approve her participation. “I am an actor,” she insisted. “When you hired me, I was not a hotel heiress… This is the opportunity of a lifetime.” Her passionate plea worked, and Disney allowed her to take the part.
“Their support on that project changed my life,” Brenda said, looking back with gratitude. The experience not only broke new ground for her professionally but also proved her dedication to evolving beyond the “Disney star” label.
Brenda Song, who shares two sons with her fiancé Macaulay Culkin, also acknowledged how fortunate she felt to have entered acting at a young age. As an Asian American actress, she noted, it was particularly challenging to secure meaningful roles in Hollywood — making each opportunity hard-won and deeply personal.