Jennette Michelle Faye McCurdy[1] (born June 26, 1992)[1] is an American film and television actress and country singer-songwriter. She is best known for her current role as Sam Puckett in the Nickelodeon show iCarly. She has also appeared in a number of other television series, including Zoey 101, Malcolm in the Middle, Will & Grace, Strong Medicine, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, True Jackson, VP and Judging Amy.Contents [hide] 1 Life and career 1.1 Acting 1.2 Music 2 Philanthropy 3 Discography 3.1 Studio albums 3.2 Singles 3.3 Music videos 4 Filmography 5 References 6 External links
Life and career
McCurdy was born in Garden Grove, California,[1] and has three older brothers, three dogs, and two turtles. She gained interest in acting after watching Harrison Ford in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope right after her mother recovered from breast cancer.[2] Acting
She started her acting career in 2000 at the age of eight on MADtv.[3] Since then she appeared in several television series, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Malcolm in the Middle, Lincoln Heights, Will & Grace, Zoey 101, True Jackson, VP, Law and Order SVU, Medium, Judging Amy, The Inside, Karen Sisco, Over There and Close to Home. In 2003, she had the chance to act with her inspiration, Harrison Ford in the movie Hollywood Homicide. In 2005, she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Television Series - Guest Starring Young Actress for her performance in Strong Medicine as Hailey Campos. She has also appeared in several commercials such as one for Sprint and another commercial for crossing the road safely.
Since 2007, she has a starring role in the Nickelodeon TV series iCarly opposite Miranda Cosgrove, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor, as one of Carly Shay's best friends Sam Puckett. In 2008 she was nominated for a Young Artist Award for her work on iCarly, and for her performance as Dory Sorenson in the TV movie The Last Day of Summer. She was nominated for a 2009 Teen Choice Award, in the Favorite TV Sidekick category for her work on iCarly. She also was cast to the role of Bertha in Fred: The Movie, a movie based on a YouTube series about Fred Figglehorn. Music
McCurdy at the 62nd Annual Mother Goose Parade in San Diego County, California in November 2008
In June 2008, she announced on her official web site that she was working on her debut album. The first single, "So Close" was released on March 10, 2009. The second single, "Homeless Heart", a cover of a song from Amanda Stott, was released on May 19.[4] The song was released in honor of McCurdy's recently deceased friend Cody Waters, who died at the age of 9 from brain cancer, and 20% of the proceeds were donated to the Cody Waters Foundation.[5] She met Cody Waters through St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[6] After the single "So Close" was released in March 2009, McCurdy announced that her debut album would be released on June 30, 2009. By the time June ended, no album had been released and on July 6, 2009, McCurdy announced she had signed a deal with Capitol Records Nashville.[7]
On April 16, 2010, samples of select songs from McCurdy's upcoming debut country album were released to the public. Those songs were "Not That Far Away", "Never Let Me Down", "Break Your Heart", "Better", "Stronger", and "Put Your Arms Around Someone". The songs were released early in order for fans to vote for which one they believed should be McCurdy's first single.[8] "Not That Far Away" won, and was released to country radio on May 24, 2010 and iTunes on June 1.[9] Philanthropy
In addition to supporting the Cody Waters Foundation, McCurdy was active in campaigns such as stopping child soldiers (she is in the Invisible Children Inc.[10] group) and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. McCurdy did a PSA for Safe Kids USA which is aired on Nickelodeon and TeenNick.
McCurdy currently serves as a StarPower Ambassador for Starlight Children’s Foundation, encouraging other young people to commit their time, energy and resources to help other kids and working with Starlight to brighten the lives of seriously ill children.[11] Discography Studio albumsYear Album details 2010 The Story of My Life To be released Label: Capitol Nashville
SinglesYear Single Peak position Album US Country 2010 "Not That Far Away"A 58[12] The Story of My Life
A Current single. Music videosYear Song Director 2010 "Not That Far Away" Roman White
FilmographyFilm Year Film Role Notes 2001 Shadow Fury Anna Markov 2002 My Daughter's Tears Mary Fields 2003 Hollywood Homicide Van Family Daughter Taylor Simmons Amanda Simmons 2004 Breaking Dawn The Little Girl Tiger Cruise Kiley Dolan TV movie 2005 See Anthony Run Lucy Short Film 2006 Against Type Meredith TV movie 2007 The Last Day of Summer Dory Sorenson 2008 Proving Ground: From the Adventures of Captain Redlocks Aria Krait iCarly: iGo to Japan Sam Puckett TV movie 2009 Minor Details Mia Maxwell iCarly: iDate a Bad Boy Sam Puckett TV Movie iCarly: iFight Shelby Marx Sam Puckett TV Movie iCarly: iQuit iCarly Sam Puckett TV Movie 2010 Fred: The Movie Bertha TV Movie Best Player Prodigy Television Year Title Role Notes 2000 MADtv Cassidy Gifford 2002 C.S.I. Jackie Trent Episode: "Cats in the Cradle" 2003 Malcolm in the Middle Daisy (Female Dewey) Episodes: "If Boys Were Girls" 2004 Karen Sisco Josie Boyle Episode: "No One's Girl" Strong Medicine Hailey Campos Episode: "Selective Breeding" 2005 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Holly Purcell Episode: "Contagious" Medium Sara Crewson Episode: "Coded" Judging Amy Amber Reid Episode: "My Name is Amy Gray" Malcolm in the Middle Penelope Episode: "Buseys Take a Hostage" The Inside Madison St. Clair Episode: "Everything Nice" Over There Lynne Episode: "Situation Normal" Zoey 101 Trisha Kirby Episode: "Bad Girl" 2006 Will & Grace Lisa Episode: "Von Trapped" Close to Home Stacy Johnson Episode: "Escape" 2007 Lincoln Heights Beckie Episode: "Betrayal" Episode: "Tricks and Treats" Episode: "House Arrest" 2007-present iCarly Sam Puckett 66 episodes; 2007 - present 2009 Sam and Melanie Puckett "iTwins" (Season 2, Episode 19) 2008-2010 True Jackson, VP Pinky Turzo Episode: "Amanda Hires a Pink" Episode: "True Drama" 2008-2010 Kids' Choice Awards Herself (2009, 2010) Winner - Favorite TV Show (shared with the cast of iCarly)