Lacey Nicole Chabert (/ʃəˈbɛər/shə-BAIR; born September 30, 1982)[2] is an American actress. One of her first roles was playing Bianca Montgomery, the daughter of Erica Kane, on All My Children, from 1992 until 1993. She then gained further prominence as a child actress for her role as Claudia Salinger in the Fox television drama Party of Five (1994–2000).[3]
Chabert provided the voice of Eliza Thornberry in the Nickelodeon animated series The Wild Thornberrys (1998–2004) along with two feature films, The Wild Thornberrys Movie and Rugrats Go Wild. She was also the voice of Meg Griffin during the first season of the animated sitcom Family Guy[4] and superhero Zatanna Zatara in several parts of DC Comics-related media. She also provided the voices for Mako in the video game Star Wars: The Old Republic and Princess Elise in Sonic the Hedgehog (2006).
In film, she has appeared in Lost in Space (1998), Not Another Teen Movie (2001), and Daddy Day Care (2003), and had leading roles as Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls (2004), Meg Cummings in Dirty Deeds (2005), Dana Mathis in the horror remake Black Christmas (2006) and Penelope in the Christmas animated film All I Want for Christmas Is You (2017). Chabert has also appeared in over 30 Hallmark Channel films.[5][6]
Early life
Lacey Nicole Chabert was born on September 30, 1982 in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and raised in nearby Purvis.[7] Her father is Cajun from Louisiana.[8] She has a younger brother, Tony,[9] and an older sister, Chrissy.[10] Their oldest sister, Wendy, died of a heart attack in November 2021.[11][12][13][14] Lacey was "World's Baby Petite" in the "World's Our Little Miss Scholarship Competition" in 1985.[15] She also participated in beauty pageants as a child and was once named Miss Jr. Mississippi.[16]
Acting career
Early in her career, she appeared in television commercials for Burger King, TriaminicCough Syrup, Zest and Secret Beauties dolls.[17] In 1992 and 1993, Chabert played the role of young Cosette in Les Misérables on Broadway. She appeared on The Broadway Kids' first album The Broadway Kids Sing Broadway (1994), where she sang her own solos such as "The Girl I Mean to Be" (The Secret Garden) and "Castle on a Cloud" (Les Misérables).[17] In 1994, she landed the role of Claudia Salinger on Fox's teen and family drama series Party of Five. The show centered on the five Salinger siblings, who become orphans after their parents are killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver.[18] The show received positive reviews and ran for six seasons from September 12, 1994, to May 3, 2000.[19][20] She won both the 1997 and 1998 The Hollywood Reporter Annual YoungStar Award for Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Drama TV Series for Party of Five and had been nominated three other times for work from 1999 to 2000. The YoungStar awards honor the best film, TV, and music performances made exclusively by 6- to 18-year-olds.
Chabert made her big-screen debut in the late 1990s, starring as Penny Robinson in the space thriller Lost in Space (1998). Since then, she has been the voice of Eliza Thornberry in the Nickelodeon animated series The Wild Thornberrys and has voiced Eliza in two films, The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002) and Rugrats Go Wild (2003). She then had a supporting role in the 2001 parody film Not Another Teen Movie as Amanda Becker. She provided the voice for the title character's daughter Aleu in Balto 2: Wolf Quest (2002), and she provided the voice of Meg Griffin, uncredited, for the first season of the animated sitcom Family Guy (1999), after which Mila Kunis took over the role when Chabert became too busy with schooling and her other work.[4][21]
From 2013 to 2014, Chabert had a recurring role on the ABC Family sitcom Baby Daddy as Dr. Amy Shaw.[22] After working in several television films during this time, she opened the year 2018 with an original Hallmark movie that premiered as part of the Valentine's Day Countdown. In 2015, she starred in the successful Christmas television film A Christmas Melody alongside Mariah Carey, Brennan Elliott, Kathy Najimy and Fina Strazza. It debuted on the Hallmark Channel on December 19, 2015. The film was viewed by 3.95 million people upon its debut.[23][24] In 2017, she gave her voice to the animated film All I Want for Christmas Is You, based on the book All I Want for Christmas Is You written by Mariah Carey and Colleen Madden. The film stars the voices of Mariah Carey, Breanna Yde and Henry Winkler.[25]
In 2019, Chabert began starring in the Crossword Mysteries series on the Hallmark Movies & Mysteries channel.[26] After several Hallmark Channel actors left the channel in 2022 to go to the new Great American Family (GAF) network, Chabert voiced her allegiance to Hallmark, and she also signed a new contract allowing her to take on a larger role with the network, which will include producing some of her own movies.[27] Chabert portrayed a marketing executive Josie Wilder in Hallmark Channel's romantic drama film Sweet Carolina (2021).[citation needed] The film follows Josie, who returns home when she suddenly becomes the guardian of her niece and nephew.[citation needed] Chabert wrote the story with Jonathan Prince and Michael Reisz.[citation needed]
In November 2023, Chabert starred in a Mean Girls-themed Black Friday commercial for Walmart with her original Mean Girls co-stars Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Rajiv Surendra and Daniel Franzese.[28][29] A second commercial, titled "Gretchen's Wednesday" was entirely centered around Chabert's Mean Girls character Gretchen Wieners and her family life.[30] On November 27, 2023, it was announced that Chabert is working on Hallmark's first unscripted project called Celebrations with Lacey Chabert, set to premiere in late 2024.[31] She will also be an executive producer of the series.[31] On May 13, 2024, Variety announced that Chabert has a lead role in the Christmas film called Hot Frosty for Netflix.[32] The film follows Chabert as Cathy, a widow who brings a snowman to life after losing her husband two years ago.[33]
Business ventures
In 2016, she wrote a blog series for People magazine's website, focusing on getting ready for her baby.[34][35] Chabert wrote about discovering that she was pregnant, learning that she was having a girl, and figuring out smart ways to hide her baby bump on film sets.[36]
In September 2022, Chabert launched her own apparel line with home shoppingtelevision networkHSN called the "Lacey Chabert Collection".[37][38] In an interview with InStyle, Chabert said: "I've always dreamed of having a clothing line."[39] The line includes jackets, jogger pants, leggings, socks, "Mommy & Me" dresses, and cardigans and is priced between $15.00 and $80.00.[37][40]
Appearing in over 30 Hallmark Channel films,[42] Chabert has been referred to as the 'Queen of Hallmark Christmas Movies'.[43][44][45] Chabert stated in an E! interview that, "one of the things I love about [working with Hallmark] is you're guaranteed a happy ending [...] I think in the world we're living in today, to be a part of a project that adds a little love and light and levity into the world is something I'm very proud of."[46] In February 2022, Chabert signed an exclusive multi-film deal with Hallmark Channel's parent Crown Media Family Networks.[47]
Chabert has been featured in numerous magazine covers, such as Saturday Night, Stuff, People, Entertainment Weekly, TV Guide[48] and Maxim.[49][50] She appeared on the cover of Maxim at age 31, saying, "I got the call from Maxim and then immediately put down the cupcake and ran to the gym."[51]
Chabert married her longtime boyfriend, David Nehdar, on December 22, 2013, in Los Angeles.[53] Chabert gave birth to their daughter in September 2016.[54]
Chabert, Lacey (October 26, 2020). "Lacey Chabert: Christmas Is Close to My Heart". Guideposts.
References
^Watkins, Billy (November 8, 2018). "Purvis' Lacey Chabert on hometown love and being queen of Hallmark Christmas movies". clarionledger.com. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
^Mendoza, N.F. (October 23, 1994). "The 'sparkle' that holds Fox's 'Party of Five' together is called Lacey". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
^ abEpstein, Daniel Robert. "Interview with Seth MacFarlane, Creator of the Family Guy". UGO.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved January 4, 2009.
^Prahl, Amanda (November 5, 2021). "The 10 Actors You Always See in Hallmark Channel Movies". Popsugar.com.
^Lynne, Amanda (March 13, 2023). "How Many Hallmark Movies Has Lacey Chabert Actually Starred In?". The List. Retrieved June 12, 2022.
^Watkins, Billy (November 8, 2018). "Purvis' Lacey Chabert on hometown love and being queen of Hallmark Christmas movies". clarionledger.com. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
^"Vibe chat". Lacey Chabert.com. 1998. Archived from the original on December 16, 2006. Retrieved November 24, 2006.
^"Instagram post by Lacey Chabert". www.instagram.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^Neil, Shasha (January 14, 2023). "Lacey Chabert's 3 Siblings Ranked Oldest To Youngest". Oldest.org. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Lacey Chabert on recent death of her sister: 'I keep calling grief a journey'". TODAY.com. February 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Lacey Chabert Says Her 'Heart Aches So Deeply' 2 Months After Sister's Death: 'Incredibly Hard'". Peoplemag. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^Roy, Barsha (November 24, 2021). "How many siblings does Lacey Chabert have? 'Mean Girls' star reveals shocking death of sister Wendy". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^Lane, Liv (May 3, 2023). "Lacey Chabert Says She's Been Experiencing 'Terrible Anxiety'". Heavy.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Where Are They Now?". Ourlittlemiss.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2010. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
^Tube, Stage. "VIDEO: Lacey Chabert Talks About Being a Pageant Kid on LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
^ ab"Lacey Chabert - Other works". IMDb. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^Strout, Paige (September 12, 2023). "'Party of Five' Cast: Where Are They Now?". Us Weekly. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Party of Five". TVGuide.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Party of Five - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Lacey Chabert interview by GameSpy (October 6, 2006)". Sonic Retro.
^Hack, Richard Steven (December 19, 2012). "ABC Family Casts Lacey Chabert and Grace Phipps to Guest Star in New Episodes of Original Series 'Baby Daddy'". TVbytheNumbers. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
^Parker, E (October 7, 2015). "Mariah Carey Directs 'A Christmas Melody' Movie In Time For The Holidays". CBS Radio. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
^Tietjen, Alexa. "Mariah Carey's Upcoming Hallmark Film A Christmas Melody Was Definitely Inevitable". VH1. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
^Tenreyro, Tatiana (September 6, 2017), "Mariah Carey Shares Adorable Trailer For Animated 'All I Want For Christmas Is You' Movie", Billboard, retrieved November 29, 2019
^"Crossword Mysteries: About the Movies". Hallmark Movies and Mysteries. August 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
^Jessica Rawden (December 25, 2022). "Lacey Chabert Shares How She Feels About Hallmark After Candace Cameron Bure Called It A 'Completely Different Network'". CinemaBlend.
^"Watch Mean Girls' Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert Reunite in Grool Video". E! Online. November 1, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
^"'Mean Girls' Reunion! Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert Spotted Filming Secret Project". Peoplemag. Retrieved November 1, 2023.
^"Mean Girls Clip Reveals Who Gretchen Wieners Married". E! Online. November 9, 2023. Retrieved November 11, 2023.
^ abRice, Lynette (November 27, 2023). "Lacey Chabert To Star In New Unscripted Program For Hallmark Media". Deadline. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
^Stephan, Katcy (May 13, 2024). "Lacey Chabert to Lead Netflix Holiday Rom-Com 'Hot Frosty'". Variety. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
^Pettibone, Kat (May 13, 2024). "Lacey Chabert Shifts From Hallmark to Netflix for Holiday Rom-Com". Us Weekly. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
^"Instagram post by Lacey Chabert". www.instagram.com. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Lacey Chabert's Blog: Getting Ready for Baby". Peoplemag. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^"Pretty in Pink! Inside Lacey Chabert's 'Feminine and Romantic' Nursery". Peoplemag. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
^ ab"Lacey Chabert HSN". HSN. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
^"Lacey Chabert's First-Ever Clothing Collection Is So Fetch—and Includes Mommy & Me Looks". E! Online. September 12, 2022. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
^"Lacey Chabert's New HSN Clothing Collection Is Just as Joyful as Her Hallmark Movies". InStyle. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
^HSN. "Actress and Entrepreneur Lacey Chabert Launches First-Ever Apparel Collection Exclusively with HSN". www.prnewswire.com (Press release). Retrieved January 29, 2023.
^"Lacey Chabert Launches Apparel Line With HSN". Southern Living. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
^"The 10 Actors You Always See in Hallmark Channel Movies". November 5, 2021.
^Saurner, Lauren (December 17, 2019). "With Lori Loughlin disgraced, who's the new queen of Hallmark Christmas movies?". New York Post. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^Gelman, Vlada (December 10, 2019). "Who's the Queen of Hallmark Holiday Movies? TVLine Crunches the Numbers". TV Line. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^"Lacey Chabert – The Queen of Hallmark Movies". October 30, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^"How Lacey Chabert Went from 'Mean Girls' to Hallmark Channel Movie Queen". May 22, 2020. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
^Petski, Denise (February 21, 2022). "Lacey Chabert Signs Multi-Picture Deal With Crown Media Family Networks". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
^"Instagram post by Lacey Chabert". www.instagram.com. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
^Fontoura, Maria (January 2007). "Jessica Hundley". Maxim Magazine Online. Archived from the original on January 20, 2007. Retrieved January 23, 2007.
^"Lacey Chabert Magazine Cover Photos - List of magazine covers featuring Lacey Chabert - FamousFix". FamousFix.com. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
^"Lacey Chabert: 'Nice girl next door' covers Maxim at 31". Los Angeles Times. October 3, 2013. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
^"Lacey Chabert - Publicity listings". IMDb. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
^"Lacey Chabert Is Married". People. January 3, 2014.
^"Lacey Chabert Welcomes Daughter Julia Mimi Bella". People. September 8, 2016.
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz"Lacey Chabert (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 21, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
^Stephan, Katcy (May 13, 2024). "Lacey Chabert to Lead Netflix Holiday Rom-Com 'Hot Frosty'". Variety. Retrieved May 16, 2024.