Years active: 1996 - present (28 years in the business)
About Janel Parrish
Janel Parrish Long (born October 30, 1988) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Mona Vanderwaal on the Freeform mystery drama series Pretty Little Liars and spin-off Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. She is also known for portraying Young Cosette in the Broadway production of Les Misérables (1996), and Jade in the teen comedy film Bratz (2007). In 2014, Parrish participated in the 19th season of Dancing with the Stars, taking third place. She also appeared in the 2018 Netflix film To All the Boys I've Loved Before.
Parrish was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Joanne (née Mew), who is of Han Chinese descent, and Mark Phillip Parrish, who is of European descent. She has one sister, Melissa Nohelani, who is eight years older and served in the U.S. Army. Her parents are former bodybuilders, and her mother worked for a Honolulu health club.
At age six, Parrish saw a production of The Phantom of the Opera at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center and fell in love with the idea of performing. She began playing the piano, and within a year was also studying acting, singing, tap and jazz dance. She entered several talent contests, and became well known to local Oahu residents. At age 14, she appeared in the 2003 remake of Star Search, performing the song "On My Own" from Les Misérables. She attended Moanalua Elementary School, and Moanalua High School for her freshman year. Parrish lived in Kaneohe, Hawaii until the age of 14, when she and her family moved to Burbank, Los Angeles so she could pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Parrish was then homeschooled in order to accommodate her work schedule.
