Mandy Moore on AllMovie

Although teen dance-pop sensation Mandy Moore may rank alongside Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera as one of the most popular female singers of her generation, her midriff-free image and genuine vocal talents have propelled her from the recording studio to movie sets in projects that are both family friendly and positive in nature.

Born in Nashua, NH, and raised in Orlando, FL, Moore was inspired to pursue a career as a vocal artist after attending a stage performance of Oklahoma! and witnessing the entrancing effect the lead performer had on the audience. Honing her skills with singing lessons and countless bedroom performances of "The Wind Beneath My Wings," Moore took to musical theater and began regularly performing the National Anthem at local sporting events. It wasn't long before two producers who had heard her sing at a game asked if she would be interested in cutting a demo. Eagerly accepting the offer, the young songstress recorded her first album at 14, with film roles following close behind. Gaining confidence in front of the camera with her self-titled MTV show in addition to appearances on The Andy Dick Show and a children's video entitled Magic Al and the Mind Factory, Moore loaned her voice to the character of a Girl Bear Cub in Dr. Dolittle 2 before making her feature debut (much against type as she claims) as a mean cheerleader in The Princess Diaries (2001). Dying her blonde locks brunette for her first major role in A Walk to Remember (based on Nicholas Sparks' best-seller), Moore brought her comparatively chaste image to the screen in an innocent tale of young lovers from opposite sides of the spectrum. Low key and with a plot that leans toward Christian themes, Moore proved with her feature debut that her values come well before public image regardless of how un-chic they may color her in the public eye.

Publicly admitting that she was gravitating towards a career in front of the camera since it was easier than singing, Moore continued her onscreen career with the release of How to Deal in 2003. Though the film was immediately savaged by critics, many were quick to point out that the presence of young Moore was likely the movie's sole redeeming factor.