Brenda Song, best known for her role as London Tipton on Disney Channel's The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, is embracing both her flourishing career and family life with fiancé Macaulay Culkin. Throughout her career, Brenda has maintained her focus on family, often speaking to the media about the importance of her personal life, especially when it concerns her two children, Dakota and Carson.
Recently, during an interview with Bustle, Song elaborated on her decision to keep her children out of the limelight. Despite their exposure during significant milestones, such as when Culkin received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she emphasizes the need for the couple to prioritize their family’s privacy. “That was such a special moment. We couldn’t have them miss it,” Song stated, recalling the event fondly. The exposure to the paparazzi, she reflected, was overwhelming for her children: “Dak was so scared of all the cameras. That’s one of the reasons why we sort of keep them away [from the spotlight],” she said, adding how hard it was for her son to comprehend their family’s celebrity status.
Song’s children are still young and did not fully grasp the situation. Song recounted how her son, bewildered by the attention, asked, “Why is the man taking pictures of you, mama?” She added, “You could take pictures of me all day. I don’t care. But when it’s your kids, it’s different. They didn’t ask for this life.” This sentiment highlights Song's commitment to nurturing their emotional well-being by keeping them away from the public eye.
At the core of her life philosophy, Song asserts, is the belief “to be the best parent, the best partner, I have to be the best me.” Recognizing her career is part of her identity, she aims to balance her professional engagements with family life. “A huge part of [being my best self] is work. I have to be able to honor it,” she explained.
Brenda's path to fame began when she was just a child star, grinding through numerous roles from the '90s. Her breakout role as London Tipton on The Suite Life of Zack & Cody garnered her significant recognition and popularity. Reflecting on her career evolution, she expressed pride for her contemporaries from the Disney era. “It’s so incredible. Seeing my contemporaries growing up, it’s like the most beautiful thing,” she told People. Brenda is particularly inspired seeing fellow stars like Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus flourishing. “To see them transition from children to young adults to adulthood is absolutely beautiful,” she remarked. "They’re finally getting the flowers they deserve. They’re also such talented women,” she added.
Meanwhile, Brenda is experiencing her own success with her new Netflix series Running Point, which premiered on February 27, 2025, and quickly ascended to the top of the charts. Co-starring alongside Kate Hudson, Song plays Ali Lee, the chief of staff for the Los Angeles Waves basketball team. Commenting on the project, she noted, “It was the first opportunity for Kate Hudson to lead on television,” praising the exciting shift for both of them as they embrace this new chapter.
Not shy to speak about personal challenges, Brenda also delves deep when discussing her family's past struggles. She reflected on her mother's battle with breast cancer and the pivotal choices she needed to make during her adolescence when she found herself torn between attending Harvard or accepting the role of London Tipton.
“I found out my mom had breast cancer and it was just — I mean, cancer is the scariest six-letter word,” Brenda recounted during her interview on Mythical Kitchen’s Last Meals. The combination of her mother’s condition and her opportunity with the Disney role represented “a crossroads” for her at age 15. “Whatever choice I make is going to change the course of my life,” she admitted, recalling her father's advice urging her to carefully weigh her options. Despite being presented with an early acceptance letter from Harvard, she felt her dream was to act. The choice, she said, was simple: “For me, it was like, hands down, this is my dream. There’s no way I can say no to this.”
The decision brought not only success but solidified her love for her family. Brenda spoke about how incredibly close-knit their family became during her mother’s illness, emphasizing how they leaned on each other during such trying times. “I don’t know how my mom did it. She was so young going through this and still my support system,” she recalled.
The influence of her experience has also motivated Brenda to give back, particularly to families affected by cancer. She often advocates for open discussions surrounding illness with young children. “I worked with families with kids who have been affected by cancer. Having open conversations with younger children was something I felt very passionate about,” she explained, demonstrating empathy drawn from her past.
Brenda Song's life reflects the balance of personal fulfillment through family and career achievements, making her story inspirational to many. Her narratives resonate with those who have watched her grow and evolve, both as an actress and as a mother. With her new project gaining traction and her family life thriving, the future looks exceptionally promising for Brenda Song.