Early life
Olstead was born in Kingwood, Texas, to Christopher Eric Olstead and Rebecca Lynn Jeffries. Olstead is of Norwegian ancestry. As a child actress, she made films and commercials from age eight onwards. She also attended Centre Stage theatrical school and is mentioned on their website's alumni.
From 2002 to 2006, she appeared in the TV sitcom Still Standing as middle sister Lauren Miller. Olstead was presented the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Series (Comedy) - Supporting Young Actress for Still Standing in 2002. She also had a small part in the 2004 film 13 Going on 30. She is currently (2011) co-starring in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, about fifteen year old Amy Juergens's struggle through her unexpected pregnancy and how it affects her peers. Olstead plays the character of Madison Cooperstein, who is one of Amy's best friends.
Music Career
In 2004, Olstead released an eponymous album of jazz songs and pop standards for Warner Bros. Records to good reviews: since her previous releases had had limited distribution, this album was considered her true debut. She subsequently performed in Berlin during the Live 8 concert on July 2, 2005.
Olstead also recorded with trumpeter Chris Botti on his 2005 album To Love Again: The Duets and appeared on the 2006 DVD Chris Botti Live with Orchestra and Special Guests. Her singing style is influenced by such great jazz vocalists as Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan. Reportedly, her musical talent was discovered by composer David Foster, who produced her 2004 album. She later also performed with Foster on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
A follow-up album entitled Skylark, also produced by Foster, was originally announced for release in 2005, but it was subsequently pushed back several times, with release dates in the summer of 2006 and early 2007 being mentioned on online retailers such as Amazon.com. It was then scheduled for a June 2008 release, but was delayed once again. It was finally released on January 27, 2009, nearly four years after it was originally announced.
Discography
Stone Country (2000)
Unleashed (2000)
By Request (2002)
Renee Olstead (2004)
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (soundtrack) (2004)
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (soundtrack) (2008)
Skylark (2009)
A Tribute to Billie Holliday (various artists) (2009)
Filmography
1995 Streets of Laredo Marci Fant TV miniseries
1995 Deadly Family Secrets Emily Pick TV movie
1996 Ceftin Wiz Kids Katie TV movie
1996 Santa, NASA & the Man in the Moon Renee Olstead TV movie
1996 Cadillac Ranch Young Mary Katherine
1997 Out There Megan Tollman TV movie
1997 The Usher Little Girl Short film
1998 Touched by an Angel Bits Episode: "Doodlebugs"
1998 Reunited Ami Beck 5 episodes
1999 The Insider Deborah Wigand
1999 Chicken Soup for the Soul Lauren Episode: "Where's My Kiss, Then?"
1999 End of Days Amy
1999 Providence Little Girl Episode: "Home for the Holidays"
2000 Geppetto Featured TV movie
2000 Space Cowboys Little Girl
2002 My Guide to Becoming a Rock Star Selma Episode: "Fame"
2002 She Spies Amy Divornak Episode: "Poster Girl"
2002–2006 Still Standing Lauren Miller 86 episodes
2003 Scorched Girl Scout
2003 Fillmore! Lucille (voice) Episode: "South of Friendship, North of Honor"
2004 13 Going On 30 Becky
2007 Super Sweet 16: The Movie Sky Storm
2007 Point of Entry Melinda TV movie
2008–present The Secret Life of the American Teenager Madison Cooperstein 61+ episodes
2011 Bling Ring April TV movie
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