Maia Mitchell Biography
Born: August 18, 1993
Date of Birth: August 18, 1993
Maia Mitchell was born and raised in Lismore, New South Wales, Australia as the eldest of two children. At age 12, she made her acting debut as part of the cast of the Australian children’s TV series, Mortified. The show only lasted for two seasons. She moved on playing a guest starring role in the TV show K9, before landing another regular role in the teen drama, Trapped. It follows a group of youths who struggle to survive at a remote scientific research station. Maia also starred in its sequel, Castaway.
Maia’s most productive year to date was 2013. While still living in Australia, she heard about a new ABC Family series The Fosters, produced by showbiz mogul Jennifer Lopez. The groundbreaking drama is about a multi-ethnic family raised by lesbian parents. Maia was drawn to her foster care teen character’s background and struggles, so she moved to Los Angeles to audition for the part that she would eventually win. She also guest starred on Disney Channel’s TV series Jessie, playing Shaylee Michaels, a famous Australian actress.
That same year, Maia was also cast in a starring role in the Disney Channel TV movie, Teen Beach Movie, which has been compared to the channel’s past musical success, High School Musical. Maia played Mack, a tomboy surfer. Her co-star in the film was Disney Channel star Ross Lynch (Austin & Ally), who played her love interest. The musical wasn’t completely new territory for Maia, who writes music and plays the guitar as a hobby.
In addition to a TV movie and TV show, Maia also had a small role in John Huddles’ 2013 independent film, The Philosophers with Glee’s Jacob Artist and Harry Potter alumni Freddie Stroma and Bonnie Wright. The sci-fi flick follows a group of 20 graduating senior students in Jakarta, who are given the challenge to decide which ten of them will be sheltered in an underground haven during an apocalypse.
Due to the success of Teen Beach Movie (it was the most-watched Disney Channel TV movie of all time after High School Musical 2), a second one was ordered and the entire cast, including Maia, reprised their roles for Teen Beach 2, which was released on DVD and on Disney Channel on June 26, 2015.
Filmography:
Teen Beach 2 (2015)
The Philosophers (2013)
Teen Beach Movie (2013)