The Untold Truth Of Christy Carlson Romano
Disney Channel fans will no doubt remember Christy Carlson Romano for her iconic roles across the network's movies and TV shows. She was Ren on Even Stevens, Cadet Captain Jennifer Stone in Cadet Kelly, and of course, the voice of Kim Possible's title character. But where has Romano been since those early 2000s hits? It turns out that Romano isn't acting as much these days, but she's happily married and a mom of two.
From launching a singing career and writing a teen novel (about a girl with Broadway dreams, naturally) to struggling with mental health issues, Romano has gone through a lot since those Disney Channel days. And while she hasn't been in as many movies and TV shows recently, you might be hearing more about her soon — Romano recently launched a podcast. Burn the Curtain will include interviews with fellow stars who've faced battles of their own, including Full House's Jodie Sweetin and Rudy Giuliani's daughter Caroline. We're intrigued!
Aside from the new podcast, here's what to know about what Romano has been up to over the past decade.
Christy Carlson Romano starred in multiple Broadway musicals
After leaving the Disney Channel, Christy Carlson Romano was the youngest person to play Belle in Beauty and the Beast on Broadway. She also played Mary Phagan in the musical Parade, and she played Lucy the Slut and Kate Monster in Avenue Q. It's certainly a diverse résumé!
"The way I look at it, when the going gets tough, the tough go to Broadway," Romano told Broadway.com in 2008. She also told the outlet that her voice work (Kim Possible, anyone?) had helped her prepare for the vocal register changes in Avenue Q. (Still, Romano also noted that she was definitely "not in Disneyland anymore" when it came to the adult themes of the irreverent musical.)
Heading to Broadway also brought Romano back to her theater-kid roots. When she was just 7, Romano acted in the musical The Will Rogers Follies at New York's Palace Theatre. So, in a way, those Broadway years were a full-circle moment for the former child star.
Christy Carlson Romano battled depression and self-harm
Life wasn't always sunny for the Disney Channel star. In a May 2019 essay for Teen Vogue, Christy Carlson Romano shared that she's struggled with depression, alcoholism, and self-harm. "While many witnessed my costar Shia LaBeouf struggle publicly, I have largely suffered in silence. I am not a victim, but I have never been perfect or pulled together as my reputation or the successes of my young adulthood might suggest," Romano wrote. "During a period of time in my life, I grappled with depression, drinking, and more, desperate to find fixes for how I felt."
Romano explained in the essay that after a grueling stint trying to prove herself on Broadway at 19, she went back to college and found that she loved studying entertainment as an observer, in addition to being in front of the camera and on stage. The actor met her husband, Brendan Rooney, in a screenwriting class and graduated from Barnard College with a degree in film studies. Rooney and Romano now have two daughters together.
Christy Carlson Romano is happily raising a family in Texas
After struggling with the effects of being a child star, Christy Carlson Romano is now happy, healthy, and mom to two beautiful daughters. "I haven't had a drink since before my first pregnancy and am going to continue to abstain from alcohol so that I can continue to make clear-headed decisions that keep me on the right path," Romano wrote in her 2019 Teen Vogue essay. "All that matters now is my amazing family."
That "amazing family" includes her husband, Brendan Rooney, and their two daughters, Isabella and Sophia. The actor's Instagram account is just as likely to feature sweet family photos as it is throwbacks to the Kim Possible and Even Stevens days.
Romano may not be in the spotlight as much these days, but it seems like she likes it that way. She's more than happy spending time with her family and posting cooking videos on her YouTube channel with fellow '90s and '00s stars. Romano is happy, healthy, and enjoying life — you can't ask for more than that.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and mental health, please contact SAMHSA's 24-hour National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).