Monique Coleman life and biography

Monique Coleman is an American actress, singer, entrepreneur, and philanthropist best known for her co-starring role in Disney's High School Musical movies, in which she plays Taylor McKessie. Coleman also had a recurring role on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, as a school girl named Mary-Margaret. She also competed in the third edition of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, finishing in fourth place. Most recent, Coleman was named the first ever UN Youth Champion for the International Year of Youth and is currently on a world tour to raise awareness of challenges facing youth. Coleman launched her online talk show Gimme Mo', a show dedicated to empowering today's youth on September 8, 2010.

Adrienne Monique Coleman was raised in Columbia, South Carolina and began her acting career in theatre and television at an early age. Monique attended Heathwood Hall Episcopal School and studied her craft at Workshop Theatre School of Dramatic Arts where she performed in several productions. When she was 12, she landed her first lead as Dofimae in an independent film entitled Mother of the River. By the age of 15, Monique not only wrote but also directed and starred in a one-woman show entitled Voices From Within. Then at 16, Monique appeared in the Family Channel Movie Presentation The Ditchdigger's Daughters as Young Donna and through her efforts was nominated for a Young Artists Award. Among her extensive acting credits, Monique was highly involved in school activities as well as community service. She was not only on the speech and debate team but also the environmental club, president of a girl's club, on the student council and participated in cheerleading and track.

After high school, Monique ventured to Chicago where she attended The Theatre School at DePaul University and obtained her BFA in Acting. Her studies included but were not limited to Shakespeare, Improv, Musical Theatre, Voice and Speech, and Movement for the Actor. Some of her favorite roles included the title role in Antigone, Woman 1 in The Colored Museum and Eurydice in Polaroid Stories. She was also in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Noises Off, Charlie and the Chocolate factory and A Midsummer Night's Dream among others. While in Chicago, Monique interned with Plasticene Physical Theatre Company.

Monique currently resides in Los Angeles, California and to date is most recognized as Taylor McKessie from the High School Musical Franchise. She was also the last woman standing and placed 4th on Season 3 of ABC's Dancing with the Stars. Prior to HSM, Monique appeared alongside James Earl Jones in the Hallmark Movie The Reading Room and received a CAMIE Award for her role. You may have also seen her guest starring on such shows as Boston Public, Malcolm in the Middle, Veronica Mars, and Bones. She also had a recurring role on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and most recently voiced the character Fontasia on the upcoming Fox animated series Cleveland.

She has co-hosted The View, hosted 3-minute game show on the Disney Channel, and has appeared on such shows as TRL, Rachel Ray, Good Morning America, Regis and Kelly, The Today Show, Ellen and The Tyra Banks Show. She has received 2 Teen Choice Awards, a Billboard Award for High School Musical and has presented at The American Music Awards and The NAACP Image Awards.

Read more