AJ Michalka | |
---|---|
Michalka in 2007
|
|
Born |
Amanda Joy Michalka April 10, 1991 Torrance, California, U.S. |
Occupation |
|
Years active | 2002–present |
Relatives | Alyson Michalka (sister) |
Musical career | |
Also known as | Amanda Michalka |
Genres | |
Instruments |
|
Labels |
|
Associated acts | Aly & AJ |
Amanda Joy "AJ" Michalka (born April 10, 1991), often credited as simply AJ, is an American actress, singer-songwriter, and musician. She was a model prior to becoming an actress, and is best known as one-half of the duo Aly and AJ (formerly 78Violet) with her sister Aly Michalka. AJ recorded the theme song and accompanying music video for the film Secretariat, entitled "It's Who You Are." She also issued a single and video called "All I've Ever Needed" from her 2013 film Grace Unplugged. She has also had a successful acting career, and after two seasons in a recurring role as Lainey Lewis on the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs, she has been promoted to a regular role on the series for the third season onward.
Michalka was born in Torrance, California. Her father, Mark, owns a contracting company, and her mother, Carrie, is a musician and performed with JC Band, a Christian band. Michalka has been playing the piano since she was six and started playing the guitar in her early teens. 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. Michalka was in a number of musical productions at her school in Milwaukee as a young adult.
She plays a variety of instruments such as acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, and bongos. She was a model for catalogs. In March 2006, she made her Disney Channel debut in the Disney Channel Original Movie Cow Belles, as "Courtney Callum," along with sister Aly, as "Taylor Callum." She has also made appearances on shows such as Oliver Beene, Six Feet Under, The Guardian, and General Hospital. She has also appeared with her sister, Aly, in the MTV film, Super Sweet 16: The Movie.