Mandy Moore
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Biography
Music career
On December 7, 1999, fifteen-year old Moore released her debut album So Real on Sony's Epic Records, reaching a peak of #31 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. At the time when she burst out onto the music scene, Moore was considered only as the latest installment in a quickly-growing line of heavily-marketed 'teen queens' that included Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Jessica Simpson. As the last (and youngest) of the four to reach mainstream radio, her success didn't quite match that of her peers. Still, So Real managed to be certified platinum in the US by early 2000, while her debut single, the gold-selling "Candy" just missed the top 40 of the US Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, peaking at #41. A follow-up single entitled "Walk Me Home" was later released, though it failed to achieve much success.
Moore released a re-worked version of her debut album entitled I Wanna Be With You on May 9, 2000, only six months after So Real hit stores. The album included several new songs, along with tracks from So Real, as well as a couple of remixed songs. I Wanna Be With You reached a peak of #21 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified gold in the US for selling over 500,000 copies. The title track was featured as the lead single, reaching a peak of #24 on the Hot 100 and becoming Moore's biggest hit to date. The song was also featured in the movie Center Stage.
After the endevours of her first two albums, Moore confessed that the music style and dance routines that had so heavily affected her success were 'not hers', and that she no longer felt comfortable performing them. So, in an attempt to become more artistically 'in control' of her music and image, Moore released the self-titled Mandy Moore on June 19, 2001. Critics hailed the album as an "attempt to stake her own space", and remarked that it was one of the most real and fulfilling pop albums on the market at the time. However, this critical success unfortunately did not lead to commercial success, as the LP debuted at a disappointing #35 on the Billboard 200. It has since went on to be certified gold in the US. The lead single, "In My Pocket", was tinged with a unique Middle-Eastern sound, along with a stunning, colorful video . It failed to make a dent in the charts, however, missing the Billboard Hot 100 completely. The follow-up single, "Crush", suffered the same fate, although it received considerable airtime on MTV. The final single, "Cry", was released in early 2002 and tied-in with Moore's movie A Walk to Remember. It also failed to perform well on the charts. The album sold well in Eastern Asia, however, and the songs "17" and "Saturate Me" were both released as singles overseas.
On October 21, 2003, Moore released her fourth album, Coverage. The record consisted entirely of cover songs from the 1970s and '80s that Moore was influenced by as a child, as well as songs she recently discovered. The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200 (her highest ranking to date), though the only released single entitled "Have A Little Faith In Me" failed to perform well on the charts. A video was made for the song "Drop The Pilot", though it was not released as a single in the US.
In early 2004, after Moore was dropped from Sony's Epic Records, she signed with Warner Brothers Records. However, before she was done with Sony, they released the album Best Of on November 16, 2004, which included all of Moore's biggest hits from the past five years. However, due to absolutely no promotion, the album peaked at an abysmal #148 on the Billboard 200.
It has been reported that Moore has been working on a new album since August 2004, and that recording will finally begin in April 2005.
Film career
In 2001, Moore ventured into Hollywood when she appeared in a small part as the mean, blonde, popular cheerleader Lana Thomas opposite Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews in the film The Princess Diaries. In the movie, Moore performs with friends Anna and Fontana. The song "Stupid Cupid" can also be found on the movie's soundtrack. Up until this point, her acting had only included the straight-to-video children's movie Magic Al and the Mind Factory and a voiceover role in Dr. Dolittle 2.
In 2002, Moore portrayed Jamie Sullivan, as her first starring role, opposite Shane West in A Walk to Remember. The movie, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks, revolves around the developing romance between social outcast and devout Christian, Jamie, and West as bad boy Landon Carter. The movie was considered a moderate success, bringing in $41 million and cementing Moore's status as a genuine actress. The soundtrack featured four songs by Moore ("Cry", "Someday We'll Know", "It's Gonna Be Love" and "Only Hope"). Awards also began rolling in for Moore, as she took home Breakthrough Female Performance at that Summer's MTV Movie Awards, as well as Choice Female Breakout Performance and Choice Chemistry (with Shane West) at the Teen Choice Awards.
In 2003, Moore starred as Halley Martin in How to Deal. Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Alexandra Holden, and Trent Ford also starred. Halley is a troubled teen who decides to abandon love after witnessing her parents' (Janney and Gallagher as Lydia and Len) divorce, her best friend's (Holden as Scarlett) unexpected incident, and her sister's rocky engagement. Macon (Ford) comes along and restores Halley's faith in finding happiness when in love. The movie failed to draw in the teenage crowds in the US, and grossed a total of just $14 million.
Later in 2003, Moore appeared on Punk'd, after being tricked by Ashton Kutcher for destroying someone else's home.
Moore's next attempt at a box-office hit was 2004's Chasing Liberty, which only grossed a disappointing $12 million. Later that summer, she co-starred in a supporting role in the low-budget, religious satire Saved! as Hilary Faye, the popular "good girl" at a Christian school. Although the film never received wide-release, it was critically successful and she received many positive reviews for her role.
In 2005, Moore lent her voice to the movie Racing Stripes. Upcoming films include Romance & Cigarettes, which is slated for an August 2005 release, as well as Safety Glass and Personal Shopping.
Trivia
- Her favorite actress is Bette Midler.
- Her favorite movie is Beaches.
- Her favorite artists are Elton John, Madonna and Bette Midler.
- Her favorite ice cream flavor is vanilla with Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.
- In March 2002, Moore was featured in Elton John's video for "Original Sin". She was criticized for wearing a bikinitop and hot pants in the video.
- She recorded Elton's song "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" for Coverage.
- In 2003, Moore frequently appeared in episodes of the MTV reality show The Osbournes as she became friends of short duration with Jack Osbourne. Jack accompanied her to a tattoo shop where Moore got a tattoo on her toe.
- She hosted a short-lived MTV talk show.
- Early in her career, it was reported in British newspapers that she was a relative of the British actor Ian Lavender, who played Private Pike in the sitcom Dad's Army.
- Moore was a Neutrogena spokesperson, appearing in commercials as well as print ads for the product.
- In 2005, Moore designed a few tee-shirts with Mblem for charity.
- Models for coach handbags in Japan.
- Models for clothing brand Penshoppe in the Philippines.
Vocal Profile
Discography
Albums
- 1999: So Real #31 US, US Certification: Platinum
- 2000: I Wanna Be With You #21 US, US Certification: Gold
- 2001: Mandy Moore #35 US, US Certification: Gold
- 2003: Coverage #14 US
- 2004: Best Of #148 US
Singles
- So Real
- 1999: "Candy"; #41 US, US Certification: Gold; #6 UK, #2 AU, AU Certification: Platinum (2000 release)
- 2000: "So Real" #21 AU
- 2000: "Walk Me Home"
- I Wanna Be With You
- 2000: "I Wanna Be With You"; #24 US, #21 UK, #13 AU
- Mandy Moore
- 2001: "In My Pocket"; #11 AU
- 2001: "Crush"; #25 AU
- 2002: "Cry"
- Coverage
- 2003: "Have A Little Faith In Me" # 35 US
Filmography
- 2001: Magic Al and the Mind Factory
- 2001: Dr. Dolittle 2 (voice)
- 2001: The Princess Diaries
- 2002: A Walk to Remember
- 2002: Kingdom Hearts (voice)
- 2002: Try Seventeen (a.k.a. All I Want)
- 2003: How to Deal
- 2004: Chasing Liberty
- 2004: Saved!
- 2005: Racing Stripes (voice)
- 2005: Romance & Cigarettes (completed, currently unreleased)
- 2005: Safety Glass (pre-production)
- 2006: Personal Shopping (pre-production)
External links
- Template:Imdb name
- Mandy Moore's Official Message Board (http://mandymoore.infopop.cc/eve)
- Mandy's Yahoo Group (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Mandy-Moore-Central)
- Quotes from Mandy Moore (http://www.quote-fox.com/QuoteFox/plBrowse.php/?browse_cmd=browse_source&author_name=Mandy+Moore)
Streaming Video
- Video: Have a little faith in me (http://channels.netscape.com/ns/music/videos/sessions.jsp?cts=1&src=http://demand1.stream.aol.com/ramgen/aol/us/aolmusic/artists/sony/mandymoore/mandymoore_ilp_faith_nb.smil)
- collection of Video clips (http://www.eonline.com/Facts/People/Multimedia/0,1041,69947,00.html?celfact4)
- Video Clips (http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/moore_mandy/videos.jhtml)
Film interviews:
- Interview on "How to Deal" (Mandy Moore Learns 'How To Deal'), with Video (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/07/18/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main564010.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories)
- "Saved!" (http://www.hollywood.com/movies/mm/nav/1/id/1753413)
- "How To Deal" (http://www.hollywood.com/movies/mm/nav/1/id/1721803)
- "A Walk to Remember" (http://www.hollywood.com/movies/mm/nav/1/id/1100080)
- "Chasing Liberty" (http://www.hollywood.com/movies/mm/nav/1/id/1738442)de:Mandy Moore