Andrea Bowen

Juggling razor-sharp vocal, dancing, and dramatic abilities, multi-talented Hollywood actress Andrea Bowen first launched herself into the spotlight as a Broadway performer at the astonishingly tender age of six, when she auditioned for and won the part of Cosette in Les Miserables -- the youngest ingenue to fill those shoes in the production's then-16-year run. The youngest of six children in her family, all of whom are accomplished stage and screen performers, it was no surprise that Bowen chose that career path as well. She followed up her work in Les Miserables with a role in the revival run of The Sound of Music, playing Marta von Trapp opposite Richard Chamberlain, and portrayed Adele in the acclaimed Broadway musical adaptation of Jane Eyre.

Bowen doubled up on her theatrical activity and schooling by tackling films and television on the side (concurrently), with a series of guest turns on such Manhattan-produced series as Law & Order, Third Watch, and Boston Public (as child prodigy Riley Ellis). Bowen's portrayal of young Julie Mayer on the darkly comic 2004 series Desperate Housewives, however, drew her largest fan base. In addition to her on-camera appearances, Andrea also gained some recognition and attention for her extensive voice-over work on animated programs, such as the direct-to-video sequel Bambi II (2006). - Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide