Miranda Cosgrove Bio
Miranda Taylor Cosgrove (born May 14, 1993) is an American actress, singer, and producer. A teen idol of the 2000s and early 2010s, she gained wide recognition for playing Carly Shay on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly (2007–2012) and later executive produced its Paramount+ revival (2021–2023). She began her career in television commercials, made her film debut in School of Rock (2003), and went on to voice Margo in the Despicable Me animated film franchise starting in 2010.
Beyond acting, Cosgrove has released music including her debut studio album Sparks Fly (2010) and the extended play High Maintenance (2011). She has hosted the CBS series Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove since 2019 and continues to take on diverse projects across television, film, and streaming.
Early Life and Background
Miranda Taylor Cosgrove was born on May 14, 1993, at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in Long Beach, California. She is the daughter of Tom Cosgrove, who owns a dry-cleaning business, and Chris Cosgrove (née Casey), a homemaker. Cosgrove is an only child and was homeschooled from sixth grade onward, a decision her family made to support her early acting work. She has spoken about struggling with body image during childhood and has said that, before acting, she wanted to become a veterinarian.
At the age of three, Cosgrove was discovered by a talent agent while she was singing and dancing at a Los Angeles restaurant. The discovery led to appearances in commercials for brands including McDonald’s and Mello Yello, as well as modeling jobs for various companies. By the time she was seven, she had begun auditioning for theater and television roles, setting the stage for her professional career in entertainment.
Path to Acting
Cosgrove’s first on-screen credit came in 2001, when she provided the voice of young Lana Lang in the pilot episode of the series Smallville. Two years later, she landed her film debut in School of Rock (2003), directed by Richard Linklater, playing Summer Hathaway alongside Jack Black. The film was a box-office hit, grossing more than $130 million worldwide, and Cosgrove’s performance drew strong reviews, with Newsweek’s David Ansen calling it “spot on.”
In 2004, Cosgrove was cast as Megan Parker, the mischievous younger sister of the title characters, on the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh, starring Drake Bell and Josh Peck. She continued working in television and film throughout the mid-2000s, including roles in Here Comes Peter Cottontail: The Movie (2005), the comedy Yours, Mine & Ours (2005), and Keeping Up with the Steins (2006). She also made guest appearances on Nickelodeon series such as Zoey 101 and Unfabulous, which helped position her for her biggest opportunity yet.
Miranda Cosgrove Career
Early Career (2001–2006)
Cosgrove’s earliest professional years were a steady build of on-camera experience. After her 2001 voice role in Smallville, she booked commercial work and small television parts before her breakout film role in School of Rock in 2003. The role introduced her to a wide audience and earned her early recognition as a talented young performer.
From 2004 to 2007, she played Megan Parker on Drake & Josh, a role that became a signature part of her young career. She balanced that series with voice work in animated projects, guest spots across Nickelodeon programming, and supporting roles in theatrical films. These years laid the foundation for her transition into leading television work.
Breakthrough (2007–2012)
In 2007, Cosgrove was cast as the lead of the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly, which premiered on September 8, 2007. Created by Dan Schneider, the show was built around young people’s interest in the internet and gave Cosgrove the role of Carly Shay, a teenager who produces her own web show. The series quickly became a hit, and by the summer of 2008, iCarly ranked as the third-highest-rated series in the 9–14 demographic. The iCarly Saves TV special became the most-viewed entertainment show on cable television in June 2008.
Cosgrove also launched her music career during this period. Her debut single, the iCarly theme song “Leave It All to Me” featuring Drake Bell, was released in December 2007. In June 2008, Columbia Records released the iCarly soundtrack, which featured four songs performed by Cosgrove and debuted at number one on the Billboard Kid Albums chart. She followed with the extended play About You Now in early 2009 and released the single “Raining Sunshine” in August 2009 to promote the animated film Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. In 2010, she released her debut studio album Sparks Fly, which peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200 chart and produced the gold-certified single “Kissin U.” In 2011, she released the extended play High Maintenance and embarked on the Dancing Crazy Tour.
In 2010, Cosgrove also voiced Margo in the Universal animated feature Despicable Me, the first installment of what would become one of the highest-grossing animated film franchises. The combination of a hit Nickelodeon series, a chart-performing music career, and a major animated film role made this period the defining stretch of her career. The 2012 edition of the Guinness World Records listed her as the highest-paid child actress of 2012, recognizing her commercial impact during these years.
Notable Works and Milestones
Cosgrove’s signature work remains iCarly, the role that defined her as a teen star and later returned her to television as both star and executive producer. Her role as Margo in the Despicable Me franchise is her highest-profile film work, with the series expanding across multiple sequels and spin-offs. She has also been recognized for her humanitarian efforts, being chosen by Common Sense Media as the role model of 2011, the youngest artist honored at the time.
Miranda Cosgrove Award Nominations
Miranda Taylor Cosgrove has earned several award nominations across her career, reflecting her work across television, film, and hosting. In 2020, she received a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for her work on the CBS series Mission Unstoppable with Miranda Cosgrove, marking a significant recognition from the television industry for her hosting role.
Miranda Cosgrove Awards Won
Miranda Taylor Cosgrove has won two Young Artist Awards and three Kids’ Choice Awards, as well as various honors recognizing her public image. In 2022, she won the Favorite Female TV Star award at the Kids’ Choice Awards, and she co-hosted the ceremony that year alongside Rob Gronkowski. She was also included on Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30” list in 2022, further cementing her status as a longstanding figure in entertainment.
Miranda Cosgrove Family
Miranda Taylor Cosgrove was raised by her father, Tom Cosgrove, who owns a dry-cleaning business, and her mother, Chris Cosgrove (née Casey), a homemaker. She is an only child and was homeschooled from sixth grade onward, a structure her parents supported to accommodate her acting schedule. She is of Irish, English, French, Mexican, and Ashkenazi Jewish descent.
Personal Life
Miranda Taylor Cosgrove graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in psychology. She is an active supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and regularly visits other children’s hospitals. She has also served as a national spokesperson for the Light the Night Walk, an organization that raises awareness for blood cancer, and has supported Education Through Music as a favorite charity.