Mandy Moore has evolved considerably throughout her two-decade long career after starting off as a bubblegum pop singer in the ’90s.
Moore released five records by the age of 23 after making a splash with “Candy” in 1999. She then pivoted into her acting career. Moore’s first onscreen appearance was in 2001’s The Princess Diaries , and the following year she played the lead role in A Walk to Remember.
“[It’s] bananas,” Moore exclusively told Us Weekly in January 2018 about the latter film’s longevity. “It’s crazy. It feels like another lifetime ago. But I’m so happy to celebrate it and so happy that people still — it’s relevant and still means something to people. That means a lot.”
After successfully navigating the rom-com world, Moore once again changed course and became a TV icon for her role as Rebecca Pearson in This Is Us.. The series, which ended in 2022, earned Moore her first Emmy nomination.
Moore has also become a proud wife and mother and continued to make her career uniquely her own.
Scroll down to see how Moore has evolved over the years:
Meet Mandy
Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Moore broke into the entertainment industry in 1999 when she signed with Epic Records and started her music career. She came up in the industry during height of bubblegum pop and boy bands.
Sweet Single
In 1999, the star released her first single, “Candy,” which she still performs. It peaked at No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. That same year she dropped her first record, So Real. It eventually earned a certified platinum rating, selling roughly 950,000 copies.
Moore Music
Six months after her first album was released, Moore dropped her second record, I Wanna Be With You. It was made up of a few remixed songs from her debut album as well as new tracks.
Movie Makeover
In 2001, the “Fifteen” singer not only voiced her first animated character in Dr. Dolittle 2, but she also starred in her first major film, The Princess Diaries. She played the mean girl, Lana, who goes to school with Mia Thermpolis (Anne Hathaway) and famously got ice cream dropped on her by the geek turned princess.
Leading Lady
Moore didn’t waste any time from her first feature film to her second. In 2002, the New Hampshire native was the lead in A Walk to Remember, where she portrayed Jamie, a teenage girl who is dying, but falls in love with the bad boy, Landon (West) before passing.
Rom-Com Rise
Following her success in A Walk to Remember, the actress landed rom-com role after rom-com role throughout the ‘00s. She was in Because I Said So, License to Wed and Chasing Liberty to name a few.
An Ode to Herself
In 2009, the musician released her sixth studio album, Amanda Leigh, which is Moore’s real name. It was the last record she put out before focusing on her acting career full-time … until a decade later.
Disney Princess Treatment
Moore became a Disney princess in 2010 when she voiced Rapunzel in the animated film Tangled. Her character later made a cameo in 2013’s Frozen and is now part of the iconic magical world of Disney’s animated lineup.
Taking the Oscars’ Stage
In 2011, Tangled’s “I See the Light” was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The actress and her costar Zachary Levi took the Oscars stage to perform their hit track, marking another big feet for the actress.
This Is Mandy
Meet the Pearsons! In 2016, the actress first appeared as the matriarch of the Pearson family, Rebecca. She has portrayed the character as a young girl falling in love with Jack (Milo Ventimiglia), a mom raising her children through all of their phases of life, and an aging grandmother. “I never feel great about auditions. But for some reason, I felt especially good after reading with Milo,” she told Us in 2017 about the show’s audition. “I walked out and went, ‘I feel like that’s meant to be.’”
Animated Success
Following the success of Disney’s Tangled, Moore reprised her role as Rapunzel for Tangled: The Series, which began in 2017. She is currently voicing the beloved character.
Blushing Bride
On November 18, 2018, the Saved! actress tied the knot in an intimate ceremony at her L.A. home wearing a pink gown. Days before saying, “I do,” to Taylor Goldsmith, Moore told Us exclusively that she was ready to get married “because I’m with my person. I’m with the right person.”
Stars Align
In March 2019, the Chasing Liberty actress was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.“Your energy is irresistible and your heart is second to none,” West said about his A Walk to Remember costar at the event. “I always knew you were incredibly talented and I always knew you were going to go on to do big things and amazing things, and you have … I couldn’t be more proud of you. I couldn’t be more happy for you.”
“Stars have always sort of been our thing,” Moore wrote alongside two photos with her former costar, referring to his character, Landon, building her character, Jamie, a telescope in the film. “Thankful to @theshanewest for his kind words on this very special day, one which I will never forget. It was a walk (of fame) to remember.🌟”
The Comeback
After a decade away from the music business — with a few musical moments in her acting roles — Moore announced her return to singing. She released her first single in 10 years with “When I Was Watching” in September 2019. “I never had a plan B. I was always like, ‘I’m going to be an actor and a musician and that’s that,’” she told Us in November 2017 about her career path.
Emmy Nominee
After her season 3 performance on the NBC drama, Moore was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for This Is Us at the 2019 Emmys. It was her first nomination from the TV-specific awards show.
Silver Landings
Eleven years after Amanda Leigh dropped, the actress released her seventh studio album, Silver Landings, on March 6, 2020. “I’m so so excited to share with you all that I’ve been working on for so long with such an incredible group of people,” she wrote via Instagram on February 13, 2020, before the album’s release.
Back to the Future
In April 2020, Moore threw it back to 2002 amid the coronavirus pandemic by sharing her updated rendition of “Only Hope,” a song she sang in A Walk to Remember. Her husband, Taylor Goldsmith, accompanied her on the guitar during the Instagram Live session.
Mom-to-Be
Moore announced in September 2020 that she and Goldsmith were expecting their first child. “Baby Boy Goldsmith coming early 2021,” she captioned her Instagram post at the time. She continued to film This Is Us while pregnant, with creator Dan Fogelman declaring her a “legend” for shooting a difficult scene at 38 weeks.
This Is Gus
Moore and Goldsmith became parents in February 2021. “Gus is here,” she raved via Instagram after her son’s birth. “Our sweet boy, August Harrison Goldsmith. He was punctual and arrived right on his due date, much to the delight of his parents. We were prepared to fall in love in all sorts of brand new ways, but it goes beyond anything we could have ever imagined.” She returned to work on This Is Us one month later.
Directorial Debut
An even longer resume! Moore made her directorial debut with This Is Us season 6, episode 9. “I’ve always known we have the BEST CREW in the biz but this process has already given me a deeper understanding and appreciation of just how exceptional every single member of our crew is at their jobs,” she shared via Instagram at the time.
Proud Mom
Moore and Goldsmith celebrated Gus’ first birthday with an outdoor party in February 2022. “Being your mom is a gift beyond my comprehension, a love so fierce and mighty that I know I will never touch the depths of,” she wrote in a letter to her little one via Instagram. “Happy Birthday to our ever joyful and curious boy!!! You turned on all the lights, Goosey.”
Getting Musical, Again
Two years after Silver Landings, Moore released her single, “In Real Life,” the first track from her new album of the same title, which dropped in May 2022. She also announced the In Real Life Tour, which took place that June and July.
“It’s here! In Real Life was a direct response to digging for some creative catharsis during quarantine AND getting ready to become a mother,” she shared via Instagram at the time. “It’s meant to touch on the cliches this next chapter brings — everything makes sense in a new and profound way. I hope you enjoy this sample of what’s to come on the full record and I can’t WAIT to bring all of this music and more on the road this summer! Come rock out with us!! Xoxo, M.”
Ozzie Makes 4!
Moore and Goldsmith expanded their family in October 2022 with the birth of their second son, Oscar Bennett, whom they call Ozzie.
“I honestly can’t remember a moment before this beautiful beaming ball of pure love was in our lives,” Moore wrote via Instagram in October 2022 in celebration of Ozzie’s first birthday. “I’m elated for all of the adventures and milestones ahead. We love you to the moon, Oz. Squeezing these babies extra tight these days.”
There’s a New Doc in Town
The actress headed back to TV in 2023 playing Benita Alexander on season 2 of Peacock’s Dr. Death.
This Is 40
Moore rang in her 40th birthday in April 2024 surrounded by family and friends. “Elated to step into this next decade with purpose, intention and gratitude for all that it has in store,” she gushed via social media. “As one who doesn’t LOVE parties, this birthday called for some sort of celebration and @taylordawesgoldsmith really heeded the call with a night of music (I insisted he play a few) along with our beloved favorite @themikeviola.”
Family of 5
Moore gave birth to her and Goldsmith’s third baby, daughter Louise “Lou” Everett, in September 2024. “She is our absolute dream girl and her big brothers are already as obsessed with her as we are,” she captioned a pic of herself and Goldsmith admiring their newborn in the hospital via Instagram. “Endlessly grateful for our family of 5 (and our very own big three) and soaking in every moment of this special time 💓💓💓.”
