Take a closer look at some of Hollywood's top-tier talent at the beginning of their careers.

Child Stars, Then and Now

Take a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s top-tier talent at the beginning of their careers.

Get a closer look at the most searched stars on IMDb right now.

These Stars Are on the Rise

Meredith Patterson, affectionately known as "Merie," is a multi-talented actress, singer, dancer, writer, and producer who continues to inspire audiences worldwide. Most recently, Meredith has embraced roles as a producer and podcast host. She launched The Meredith Patterson Podcast, a platform for personal growth, mental health, and cultural insight, which has garnered a dedicated following. She is also the executive producer of Merie Productions, a company committed to creating innovative and inspiring content, including the critically acclaimed The Music of Fleetwood Mac tribute concert series.

In addition to her work in production, Meredith is a gifted singer-songwriter with over 25 original compositions. She independently produced her album, MerieNYC, available on iTunes, showcasing her deeply personal artistry and storytelling.

Meredith's passion for wellness led her to earn certification in Holistic Health from The Institute for Integrative Nutrition in NYC. She founded her company, Merie, where she provides coaching to entertainment professionals, helping them achieve balance in mind, body, and spirit while navigating the demands of the industry.

Her on-screen credits include guest-starring roles in The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Boston Legal, and Made in Jersey. Meredith's film appearances include Every Little Step, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Broken Flowers, A Secret Promise, and Company Man. She made her soap opera debut on Guiding Light and played the recurring role of Francesca on ABC's All My Children.

Meredith's stage career includes her Los Angeles theater debut in The Underpants at the Geffen Playhouse, for which she received glowing reviews. She also originated the role of Judy Haynes in the world premiere of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, a production she later performed on Broadway at The Marquis Theatre.

In 2003, Meredith starred as Miss Polly Browne in Julie Andrews' directorial debut of The Boy Friend, reprising the role Andrews herself originated on Broadway 50 years prior. Her performance earned widespread acclaim and marked the beginning of a meaningful connection with Ms. Andrews. This relationship led to Meredith's role in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement as Lady Alyssa Wells, a character inspired by Garry Marshall's family and Julie Andrews' own legacy.

Meredith made her Broadway debut in 2000 in The Green Bird, directed by Julie Taymor. The following year, she joined the original cast of the Tony Award-winning revival of 42nd Street. Three months after the show opened, she was cast in the starring role of Peggy Sawyer, a role she performed to critical acclaim from August 2001 to August 2002. Her performance was preserved in The Lincoln Center Archives. Meredith later made history as the first American actress to star in an English-speaking musical in Moscow, Russia, where she performed 42nd Street as Peggy Sawyer-and became the first actress to be billed above the title for the role.

Her journey began in the arts at the age of two, excelling in classical ballet, tap, and jazz. As a young talent, she competed in prestigious dance competitions like Tremaine and Show Stoppers. Her passion for performing expanded to singing at age eight and acting at age nine, leading to her stage debut at 13 in Concord Citi Arts' production of Cinderella.

At just 17, Meredith toured the country as a teacher for The Universal Dance Association, sharing her passion and expertise with aspiring dancers. Determined to achieve her dream of performing on Broadway, she moved to New York City at 18. Her talent and dedication quickly earned her a Barrymore Award nomination at 19 and starring roles in two national tours at 20. By 21, she had signed her first Equity contract with Madison Square Garden's A Christmas Carol, choreographed by Susan Stroman.

Meredith resides in Whitefish, Montana with her husband, Dustin Brayley, and their two sons, Maxwell and William. A devoted wife, mother, and artist, Meredith continues to inspire audiences worldwide through her creativity, resilience, and dedication to her craft.

Appeared in &quot;Love Letter from New York&quot; a documentary.

(2001) Played &quot;Peggy Sawyer&quot; in &quot;42nd Street&quot;, a musical by <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0006048/?ref_=nmwrk">Al Dubin</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0912851/?ref_=nmwrk">Harry Warren</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0104200/?ref_=nmwrk">Mark Bramble</a> and <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0829661/?ref_=nmwrk">Michael Stewart</a> (Ford Center for the Performing Arts, New York City, New York, USA).

(2003) Played &quot;Polly Browne&quot; in the musical, &quot;The Boy Friend&quot;, directed by <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0000267/?ref_=nmwrk">Julie Andrews</a>, at The Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York.

Originated the role of &quot;Judy Haynes&quot; in the new musical White Christmas.

Star Wars Burger King commercial as a Hollogram (2005)

(2000) Made her Broadway debut as a &quot;Singing Apple&quot; in <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0853380/?ref_=nmwrk">Julie Taymor</a>&#39;s play, &quot;The Green Bird&quot;, in 2000.

Cast to star in New Broadway Musical Lady On A Carousel (2007/2008 Season)

(2007) Starred as &quot;Kit Baker&quot; in Face The Music at City Center Encore Series in New York City

Originated the role of Yvette Gerard in the world premiere new Broadway bound musical An American in Paris at The Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas

(November 2008) Played &quot;Judy Haynes&quot; in &quot;Irving Berlin&#39;s White Christmas&quot;, a musical by <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0000927/?ref_=nmwrk">Irving Berlin</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm2512050/?ref_=nmwrk">David Ives</a> and Paul Blake; based on the Paramount Pictures film, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0047673/?ref_=nmwrk">White Christmas (1954)</a>, written by <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0469915/?ref_=nmwrk">Norman Krasna</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0659085/?ref_=nmwrk">Norman Panama</a> and <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0291035/?ref_=nmwrk">Melvin Frank</a> (Broadway Theater, New York City, New York, USA).

(April 15 to May 31, 1998) She acted in Stephen Sondheim&#39;s musical, &quot;Follies,&quot; at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey with Kaye Ballard, Eddie Bracken, Michael Gruber, Laurence Guittard, Ingrid Ladendorf, Donna McKechnie, Ann Miller, Liliane Montevecchi, Natalie Mosco, Phyllis Newman, Tony Roberts and Donald Saddler in the cast. Robert Johanson was director. Jerry Mitchell was choreographer. Jim Coleman and Tim Helm were musical directors. Michael Anania was scenic designer. Mark Stanley was lighting designer. Gregg Barnes was costume designer.

(July 8-10, 2018) Stage: &quot;Three Stooges: Live on Stage.&quot; Role: Distressed Theater Actress, at The Regent Theater, Los Angeles, California.

(2019) Produces and Hosts the Podcast &quot;Confessions Of An Actress&quot; available on iTunes, Spotify, and all podcast platforms.

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Meredith Patterson

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