Brenda Song was born in Carmichael, California, to parents of Hmong origin, on September 24, 1987. She began her professional performing career almost from infancy, and was appearing on television in commercials, series guest roles, and minor movie parts from the age of 6.

Some of her earliest appearances include a commercial for Reese's Puffs cereal, the recurring role of Kathy on ABC's Thunder Alley (1994-95), the movies Requiem (1995) and Santa with Muscles (1996), and the revival of the 1950s sitcom Leave it to Beaver (1997).

In 1999, Song landed the co-starring role of Sariffa Chung in the Nickelodeon series 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd, a show in which she interacted with talking dogs. During the same year, the then 12-year-old appeared on ABC's Once and Again in an episode which aired in October, and The WB's Popular in December.

brenda wins her first award

For her role as Samantha Kwan in 2000's The Ultimate Christmas Present, Song was presented with that year's Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Young Actress in a Comedy TV Movie. In May 2000, she appeared in a two-parter entitled Love Stinks on The WB's 7th Heaven. In 2001, the young actress padded her resume with guest spots on CBS' Bette in February, on NBC's ER in May, and on Judging Amy on CBS in October.

2002 added more guest-starring roles to Song's credit, including the series The Nightmare Room and George Lopez on ABC. For her January 2002 appearance in "The King and I" episode of The Bernie Mac Show, Song received her second Young Artist Award nomination, though she failed to take the prize home this time around.

brenda hits the big screen

Song appeared on the big screen in 2002's Like Mike, a family comedy which starred rapper Bow Wow. In the Disney Channel Movie of the Month Get A Clue (2002), Song appeared as Jennifer, alongside actresses Amanda Plummer and Lindsay Lohan.

More television work followed in 2003, as the actress was seen on the Disney Channel's That's So Raven in June, while in November she appeared on One On One. Another Disney Network TV movie, Stuck In The Suburbs, followed in 2004, the same year she appeared as Kelly Anderson in the feature film A Cinderella Story, starring teen idol Hilary Duff. Song then won the co-starring role of Tia on ABC's popular Saturday morning Phil of the Future series.

In 2005, Song has a regular starring role on the Disney Channel's The Suite Life, portraying London, the spoiled daughter of the owner of a luxury Boston hotel. Her next project, American Darlings, a feature film set during the swing era, stars Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez.