Former Child Actor Carly Schroeder Is Surprising Fans With Her New Career Path

In 2001, viewers were introduced to “Lizzie McGuire,” a show about a timid and clumsy young woman who was trying to fit in.

The role was played by actress Hilary Duff, who went on to do bigger and better things, like the TV show, “Younger.” But child actor Carly Schroeder, who played recurring character Melina Bianco on the show, left fans speechless when they discovered what she was up to now.

Although she had been in show business since she was three years old, Schroeder never forgot about the most important things in life; family, stability and the pursuit of happiness.

And after leaving the world of Hollywood behind, she found a new career path that left some of her old fans absolutely stunned!

Her Parents Never Intended For Her to Be a Star

When Carly Schroeder was born in 1990, her parents, Paul and Kelli, never intended to put their daughter in show business.

But it became clear that destiny had other plans when Schroeder went to her cousin’s audition and mesmerized a casting director in 1993.

Her Mom Gave Her Permission to Model

Her mom, Kelli, had been apprehensive about the idea at first. But then she figured that showbiz could help Schroeder pay for college later in life. So, she gave her daughter the thumbs up to start modeling for companies like Chuck E.

Cheese and Sears. And then later her mother realized, she had opened Pandora’s box.

She Jumped Into Acting

By the time she was five, Schroeder was doing television commercials. Two years after that, she nabbed the role of Serena Baldwin on the “General Hospital” spin-off series “Port Charles.” And the industry was so impressed, they nominated her for two Young Artist Awards in 1999 and 2000 as well as a YoungStar Award in 1999.

But this was only the beginning.

She Became a Brady

While working on “Port Charles,” Schroeder found other film and television opportunities as well.

In 2000, she played actress Susan Olsen, who played Cindy Brady in the 1970’s series “The Brady Bunch.” But her role was for a TV movie called “Growing Up Brady,” which dealt with what happened with the stars of the popular sitcom off-camera.

And yet, there was plenty of drama in Schroeder’s next role, too.