Janel Parrish Stars In Paramount Studio’s “Mighty Oak”
You may think that you know Janel Parrish from her starring role in Pretty Little Liars, as the complex character, Mona Vanderwaal, but you will see a new side of this talented actress in her emotional, new film from Paramount Studios, Mighty Oak.
Janel plays Gina Jackson, who is the music manager of her brother Vaughn Jackson (Levi Dylan) and his band. When the band’s big break finally comes, Vaughn tragically dies in a car accident. Ten years pass and Gina comes across Oak Scoggins (Tommy Ragen), a fourth-grade guitar prodigy who Gina believes is the reincarnation of Vaughn. Jackson is drawn to this boy as she tries to decipher if his uncanny likeness to her brother is a sign that he has returned.
It is no surprise Janel is a star, she studied acting, singing, piano, tap dance and jazz since she was just 7. She began her acting career in 1996 with the role of Les Misérables in “Les Misérables,” first performing in the U.S. national tour and then transferring to the Broadway production.
After relocating from Hawaii to Los Angeles when she was 14 years-old, Parrish tried to make her entry into TV by appearing on Star Search. Shockingly, she didn’t progress past the first round, but that was no deterrent. She went on to guest star in various television series, before landing her breakthrough role as Jade on the hit show, Bratz.
Three years later, she was cast in the role that shot her to fame, as Mona Vanderwaal, in Pretty Little Liars. Janelle has since won four Teen Choice Awards (TV VILLAIN) for her performance as Mona.
During this time, she appeared on Dancing With The Stars, finishing third with partner Val Chmerkovskiy. Janel was signed to Geffen Records as a solo artist in 2007. Her first single, “Rainy Day” appeared on the “Bratz” soundtrack.
Not content to only perform, Janel loves to give back. Recently, she has been participating in Cast4Good, which raises money for charity in exchange for hour-long Q&A sessions with the casts of TV shows and movies. She was a part of two sessions on May 15 with the Pretty Little Liars’ cast, raising money for Feeding America.
She will also be participating in another session on June 6 with the cast, this time supporting another worthwhile cause, Smile Train. Janel shares her personal life with husband, Chris Long and her pup Kleo, who has his own insta page @therealkleopup.
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