Sunday May 31, 2009
Going the extra mile
By SHEELA CHANDRAN
Miley Cyrus has always been single-minded in her will to excel as a performer.
IN the blink of her sparkling blue eyes, Miley Ray Cyrus has become one of Tinseltown’s hottest commodities. Since snagging the title role of Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana TV series, the bubbly brunette has attained a wealth and popularity far beyond any girl’s wildest dreams. Last year, Forbes magazine ranked her No.35 on The Celebrity 100 list with a bulging bank balance of US$25mil (RM88mil) while Time magazine named her among the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
At sweet 16, the American teenager has two albums under her belt and even a wax figure of herself at Madame Tussauds in New York City.
Born Destiny Hope Cyrus in Nashville, Tennessee, to actor-country singer Billy Ray Cyrus (Achy Breaky Heart, remember?) and Leticia Finley-Cyrus, the lass earned the nickname “Miley” as a smiley baby.
Miley Cyrus in a barnstorming number, one of 13 songs she performs in the movie. With the advantage of growing up in a showbiz family, it was no surprise that Miley developed a penchant for acting. To boost her skills she took classes at the Armstrong Acting Studio in Toronto, Canada, where her family had uprooted to after Billy Ray was offered the lead role on the Canadian TV series, Doc. Miley got her first taste of acting from a bit part on the show.
“When other kids were building snowmen and ice-skating, Miley would be taking lessons on acting or going to an audition. She had it in her mind that she was going to make it to the top and become exceptional at her craft,” said Billy Ray on E! channel’s special, Miley Cyrus, aired on TV recently.
Miley’s dedication helped her land a part in Tim Burton’s 2003 fantasy movie, Big Fish. A year later, there was an opening for the lead role of an ordinary girl-cum-pop star in the TV series Hannah Montana. Though Miley was considered too young for the part when she first auditioned, the gal pressed ahead nevertheless. Two years later, she nailed the role and kick-started her ascent to stardom.
“The script was something I was very interested in, because it was a lot like my real life. Sometimes I want to be Billy Ray Cyrus’ daughter and have that attention, and then sometimes I want to just be normal. If you feel like something is right and you know that’s what your heart wants, you’ve just got to keep going for it,” Miley once said.
In 2006, Hannah Montana the series went on air and became a huge sensation amongst tweens and teens; Miley portrays schoolgirl Miley Stewart who – unbeknownst to the public – turns into famous pop singer Hannah Montana by night.
Hannah Montana, which won Choice TV Show: Comedy at the Teen Choice Awards in 2007, is into its third season in the United States. The latest season is also currently showing on Disney Channel (Astro Channel 615; Saturdays and Sundays, 5pm).
It has grown to become a global brand name for the channel with multi-million-dollar earnings through a mountain of merchandise including DVDs, books, make-up, computer games, soundtracks and a clothes line (for which Miley sometimes designs).
At the same time, Miley followed in her father’s footsteps and ventured into singing. While dad is a country singer, Miley veered towards pop catering to children and tweens.
In 2006, Walt Disney Records released the first Hannah Montana soundtrack which included eight songs that Miley performed as her TV alter ego, the superstar Hannah Montana. The album debuted at No.1 on the US Billboard Top 200 album charts.
The next year, she took things a step further by releasing her first album, a double-disc called Hannah Montana 2: Meet Miley Cyrus. The first disc comprised the second Hannah Montana soundtrack, while the second served as Miley’s debut album. The young star co-wrote eight tracks on the triple-platinum outing.
In 2008, the Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds concert movie captured Miley performing both as herself and Hannah Montana in 54 cities across the United States.
Daddy’s girl: On or off screen, Miley is famously close to her dad and co-star Billy Ray Cyrus. Here, father and daughter in a tender moment in a scene from Hannah Montana: The Movie. Last year, Miley released her second album, Breakout, in which she co-wrote eight of the 13 tracks. “Songwriting is what I really want to do with my life forever. I just hope this record showcases that, more than anything, I’m a writer,” she reportedly said.
As an actress, Miley has done pretty well too.
In April, Hannah Montana: The Movie was released in the United States. (The drama comedy film is finally making its appearance in Malaysia this week when the school holidays begin.)
Prior to the teen flick, Miley had a brief cameo in another sensational teenybopper Disney production, High School Musical 2, guest-starred on Disney Channel’s The Emperor’s New School, and did a voiceover for the little star Penny in the Walt Disney animated feature Bolt that also featured John Travolta.
Despite living a fairy-tale life as a celebrity, Miley leads an average teen life away from the limelight. She loves hanging out with friends, attending slumber parties, helping out with house chores and going on dates (she famously dated singer-songwriter Nick Jonas of Jonas Brothers for two years).
In March this year, Miley released her autobiography, Miles to Go, which talks about her relationship with her dad, thoughts on the media and the milestones in her life.
“Miles to Go shows that I still have so much to learn and I’ve definitely got a long road ahead of me. I’ve still got many turns and different things I have to deal with. And it just mostly kind of shows where I am in my life right now and where I’ve been and where I hope to go,” Miley had said about the book.
The youngster who is one of the world’s highest-earning teenage stars also does her bit for charity. In 2008, she joined fellow singers Carrie Underwood and Rihanna in performing the song Just Stand Up! for the Stand Up to Cancer campaign. Last September, she participated in the City of Hope Benefit Concert for cancer research and training programmes, and supports the Libby Ross Foundation, which promotes early detection of breast cancer.
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