Brenda Song – who shot to fame in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody – has claimed Disney blocked her from starring in Gran Torino because of a sexual assault scene in the movie.
Brenda Song has claimed Disney blocked her from starring in Gran Torino because of a sexual assault scene.
The 37-year-old actress shot to fame as hotel heiress London Tipton in the Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and went on to star in a number of the network’s own movies before moving away from child stardom to more adult roles.
However, despite her success, Brenda revealed her transition wasn’t made easy and she faced difficulties such as missing out on a role she wanted in Clint Eastwood’s 2008 drama Gran Torino.
Accepting Variety’s Virtuoso Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, she recalled: “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 also had to fight for her role as Christy in The Social Network, which also featured a sexually-explicit scene, going to then-COO of Disney Branded Television Gary Marsh to plead her case.
She recalled: “I was just like, ‘I am an actor. When you hired me, I was not a hotel heiress. If I have ever done anything in my personal life to ever draw bad attention to your company, I understand. But this is the last season of the show, and this is the opportunity of a lifetime.’
“And I was so fortunate, they were so supportive. They allowed me to do this film that truly changed my life.”
Brenda – who has sons Dakota, four, and Carson, two, with fiance Macaulay Culkin – was grateful to break into acting at a young age because it was “really hard” for Asian-American women to find success.
She said: “That was the tricky thing growing up, being an Asian-American actress in Hollywood.
“Like if you weren’t Jackie Chan or Jet Li — I’m not an Asian man — it was really hard. But I was fortunate to have actors like Ming-Na Wen, Michelle Yeoh and Lucy Liu, who really inspired me.”
Of working with Ming-Na when she was eight years old, she added: “I’m so grateful because she was so encouraging, so kind and just so supportive.”
Brenda Song blocked from movie role by Disney
