Actor Spotlights are features examining the careers and impacts of talented performers working in film and television. The latest edition looks at Miranda Cosgrove, who’s known for multiple roles across her career.
Be sure to check out our previous Actor Spotlight features on stars such as Jensen Ackles, Jack Quaid and more.
Without a doubt, Miranda Cosgrove is an iconic name to a certain generation. It’s hard to believe she’s graced our screens for 20 years. 20! The big 2-0.
A teen star of the 2000s/2010s, 2012’s Guinness World Records named Cosgrove as that year’s highest-paid child star.
I personally grew up in that generation. So, it’s been fun as a fan seeing Cosgrove – and her peers – further develop their careers after early success.
Still booked and busy to this day, the talented actress continues adding to her impressive credits.
Image courtesy of Lisa Rose/Nickelodeon/Paramount+
Now 31 years old, she’s perhaps also well-known nowadays for various online memes. Fans might also have an idea what her favourite cuss word is…
In an interview with People, Cosgrove’s iCarly co-star Nathan Kress said of their dynamic: “We’re very much people who just grew up together and know enough about each other and trust each other enough to value each other’s opinion.
Meanwhile, Drake & Josh (and later iCarly) co-star Josh Peck told E! News: “I feel like her older brother. “I feel protective of her. I’m like, ‘Who are you dating and is he nice to you?’
“But more so just like to watch her be such a boss and this incredibly professional sort of leader of this show. I mean, it’s her and yet she’s still as lovely and as cool as she’s always been.”
Away from acting, Cosgrove has also pursued music, having released one studio album, Sparks Fly (2010). Her further discography includes two extended plays, four singles, and eight promotional singles
She has also served as host of CBS series Mission Unstoppable since 2019. The educational series aims particularly to highlight the role of women in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Early Career
Cosgrove’s initial breakthrough role was in 2003’s School of Rock. She played class goody-two shoes “Summer Hathaway”, the band’s manager.
Written by Mike White, the impressive cast also featured Jack Black, Joan Cusack and Sarah Silverman.
However, Cosgrove’s sassy lines and one-on-one scene time with Black helped her emerge as a standout among the younger ensemble.
It’s an experience that Cosgrove remembers fondly two decades on, as she shared to People last year.
“[Jack Black has] always beenunbelievably nice. And I can honestly say one of the main reasons I love acting, and why I probably tried to keep doing it for so long, is because of what a great experience he made doing School of Rock.”
Going back even further, Cosgrove’s first-ever TV appearance occurred in 2001. She guest-starred as “young Lana Lang” in the pilot episode of Smallville.
Nickelodeon Era
If I had to guess, many of Cosgrove’s fans likely come from her days working with Nickelodeon. Her major projects for the channel included Drake & Josh (2004-2007), as well as later iCarly (2007 to 2012).
On the former, she played “Megan Parker”, devious younger sister to the title characters.
In 2023, Cosgrove reflected on her Drake & Josh experience while appearing on Josh Peck’s Good Guys podcast.
Explaining the excitement surrounding her audition, Cosgrove revealed: “I watched The Amanda Show constantly when I was little. Usually, when I auditioned for things, I didn’t know what it was. Or, any of the people in it.
“When I found out I was auditioning for Drake & Josh, I was so excited. I came in for one of the final auditions and remember I got to do the scenes with [Peck].”
The sitcom ran from 2004 to 2007, although the cast reunited in 2008 for a TV movie titled Merry Christmas, Drake & Josh.
Later, Miranda Cosgrove received her own Nickelodeon show titled iCarly. She portrayed the title character, Carly Shay.
A Seattle teen, Carly starts her own web show with her friends, Sam and Freddir. In some way, the series foreshadowed the future rise of YouTubers and content creators becoming worldwide stars.
Joined by co-stars Jennette McCurdy, Nathan Kress and Jerry Trainor, the series was hugely successful.
Some of its famous co-stars included Michelle Obama, One Direction, Jimmy Fallon, Jim Parsons and Jack Black, in a School of Rock reunion.
Image courtesy of Lisa Rose/Nickelodeon/Paramount+
She later reprised the role of Carly in a Paramount+ revival series from 2021 to 2023. Aimed at the original show’s audience, fans were delighted by Carly and Freddie finally getting together as adults.
Although this series has since ended, Cosgrove has shared hopes for a movie to wrap up the story.
Other Roles
After the original iCarly ended, the actress took film parts in The Intruders, 3022, North Hollywood and Drugstore June, to name a few.
One of the actress’ early theatrical releases included Yours, Mine and Ours (2005) as “Joni North”. This movie was a remake of a 1968 film of the same name. It starred Dennis Quaid and Rene Russo, as well as Cosgrove’s Drake & Josh co-star, Drake Bell.
On another fun note, fellow castmate Haley Ramm later guest-starred in iCarly as Missy Robinson.
One unusual tidbit is Cosgrove may have lent her voice to Lilo and Stitch: The Series – but isn’t 100% sure, so who knows?
She also had a brief foray into network TV comedy with NBC’s Crowded, starring Patrick Warburton and Carrie Preston. Mia Serafino, who played Cosgrove’s sister, later recurred as her romantic rival “Pearl” on the iCarly revival.
Despicable Me
In 2010, Miranda Cosgrove debuted in her biggest film role — Margo in the Despicable Me franchise. Margo is the oldest of three orphaned sisters adopted by supervillain Felonious Gru (Steve Carell).
Most people probably know the franchise for its breakout characters – the popular yellow Minions.
Overall, Despicable Me is funny and heartwarming with Gru reforming his ways and becoming a loving father to the girls.
As of writing, Cosgrove has voiced Margo in four films. She’s one of the few actors to star in all the main Despicable Me movies.
Although some of her other co-stars include Kristin Wiig, Julie Andrews and Will Ferrell, animation makes for interesting co-star dynamics.
Rather than assemble the actors, each cast member typically records their lines by themselves.
“The first time I went in, I actually was just in a little sound booth by myself. In some of the bigger scenes, they would play Steve Carell’s voice [as his character] Gru inside the sound booth so I would have that energy and get to answer back and do my lines with him even though he wasn’t really there.
“I also got to see pictures of all the characters and pictures of different scenes so I could imagine the world even though I was alone in this little booth.”
One of Cosgrove’s most recent projects is Mother of the Bride, a romantic comedy released on Netflix.
Playing the role of “Emma”, the cast also featured Brooke Shields, Benjamin Bratt, Rachael Harris and Chad Michael Murray.
The film, directed by Mark Waters, included shooting scenes in Phuket, Thailand.
Although unmarried in her personal life, Cosgrove previously revealed that filming a wedding scene for the movie “fully prepared” her for a potential future wedding day.
She told UPI: “We did the wedding scene 50 times, so I keep telling everyone I’m ready if I ever get married now. I know exactly what to do. I’m fully prepared.”
Image courtesy of Lisa Rose/Nickelodeon/Paramount+
What’s next?
Cosgrove has an undisclosed role in upcoming Kinda Pregnant, starring Amy Schumer. The all-star cast also includes Jillian Bell, Damon Wayans, Jr and Will Forte to name a few.
With producers including Schumer and Adam Sandler, the movie will be released on Netflix.
Whatever Miranda Cosgrove ultimately does next with her career, she’ll undoubtedly have her loyal fans supporting her all the way.
A lifelong TV and Film buff, Conor founded Courageous Nerd in 2019. He has conducted hundreds of interviews for the site, as well as written comprehensive feature articles on a variety of topics. You can find him on X: @conorrcn.
A lifelong TV and Film buff, Conor founded Courageous Nerd in 2019. He has conducted hundreds of interviews for the site, as well as written comprehensive feature articles on a variety of topics. You can find him on X: @conorrcn.
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