Alyson Renae Michalka (born March 25, 1989), often credited as Aly, is an American actress, singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. She is perhaps best known for her roles as Keely Teslow in the Disney Channel Original Series, Phil of the Future, Charlotte Barnes in the feature film Bandslam, and as Taylor Callum in the Disney Channel Original Movie Cow Belles. She is also known as one-half of the musical duo 78violet (formerly Aly & AJ) with her sister Amanda Michalka.
Michalka was born in Torrance, California and grew up in Seattle, Washington and Southern California with her sister Amanda Michalka. Her mother, Carrie, is a musician and performed with JC Band, a Christian band.[2] Michalka has been playing the piano since she was five and started playing the guitar at the age of thirteen. She started acting when she was five years old, mostly in church play productions. She was raised as a Christian and continues to practice the faith.[3][4] She does not believe in evolution.[5]
Michalka's acting debut came when she was cast in the role of Keely Teslow on the Disney Channel Original Series, Phil of the Future. She has also starred in the Disney Channel Original Movies Now You See It..., in which she plays Allyson Miller, an ambitious television producer, and Cow Belles, in which she appears opposite her sister. She announced via her MySpace that she had booked a leading role in the Walden Media film Bandslam, about a group of misfits who form a rock band. She co-starred with Vanessa Hudgens and the movie was released in August 2009. Her sister Amanda is featured in the Peter Jackson film The Lovely Bones.[6]
Michalka and her sister comprise the musical duo 78violet, and released their first album, Into the Rush, on August 16, 2005. The next year, they brought out a holiday album in September, covering 9 tracks, along with two originals, titled Acoustic Hearts of Winter. In July 2007, their album, Insomniatic, hit stores, featuring the American top 20 hit single, "Potential Breakup Song". The two were working on a new album, to be released in the early 2010.[7] However, they left their label so the release date has been postponed.
