NEED TO KNOW
Brenda Song’s hopes to pursue more adult roles amid her time on the Disney Channel didn’t exactly go as she had intended.
Reflecting on her career after she was recently given Variety’s Virtuoso Award at the Bentonville Film Festival in Arkansas, the actress, 37, spoke about how the Walt Disney Company stopped her from going for a role in Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino.
“The character had an intended sexual assault scene, so Disney nixed it,” Song explained, per Variety, of the role in the movie, which follows a Korean War veteran who clashes with but then later forms a bond with his Hmong neighbors.
Though the mother of two said she was “very upset” that Disney wouldn’t allow her to pursue the role around the same time that she was starring in the Disney Channel’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, Song added, however, “I was like, ‘Okay, I guess it didn’t work out.’ ”
The Walt Disney Company did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
It’S A Laugh Productions/Walt Disney Tv/Kobal/Shutterstock
After working as a child model, Song made her screen debut in 1995’s Thunder Alley. She then worked on a selection of television shows, before she landed her first Disney role in 2000, starring in The Ultimate Christmas Present.
Song continued to work with Disney, earning a recurring role in Phil of the Future and starring in films such as 2002’s Get a Clue and Like Mike, plus 2004’s Stuck in the Suburbs. She also starred as London Tipton in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and its spinoff series, The Suite Life on Deck, from 2005 to 2011, and also played the titular character in Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior (2006).
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
Song then transitioned into a more mainstream role in 2010, starring in The Social Network opposite Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake. The actress later took on roles in various series, including Scandal, New Girl, Dads, Pure Genius and Station 19.
More recently, Song portrayed parts in Dollface and Blue Eye Samurai, and she has earned critical and audience recognition over the past year for her roles in the film The Last Showgirl and the series Running Point.
Robin L Marshall/Getty
According to Song, when she went for her role in The Social Network, there were concerns about her taking on the part, similar to ones she faced tied to Gran Torino.
Variety reported that the actress went directly to Gary Marsh, who was serving as the president and COO for Disney’s branded television at the time, to plead her case.
The PEOPLE App is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more!
“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,’ ” she said, per the outlet.
“And I was so fortunate, they were so supportive,” continued Song, referring to the Walt Disney Company. “They allowed me to do this film that truly changed my life.”
The Social Network follows the founding of Facebook. Song stars in it as the fictional character Christy Lee.
