Who could forget Chelsea from That's So Raven? The Disney show followed Raven, a teenageer
with psychic powers, and her friends Chelsea and Eddie. The character of Chelsea was played
to perfection by Anneliese van der Pol, who remained Raven's trusted and loyal sidekick
throughout the show's run.
Landing the role of Chelsea from That's So Raven was a game-changer for Anneliese van
der Pol. She's credited the role as her big break, and it came after many years of training.
She revealed to The Global Town Hall that she had been taking performing arts classes
since she was just 6 years old.
Van der Pol's journey to landing the role of Chelsea was intense. She told Media Mikes
that she went to a big casting call and three more auditions. She even had her hair dyed
for the role, but still didn't land the part until the original actress was fired, paving
the way for Van der Pol to take over. She said:
"The best part probably was really her innocence and her positivity. My character [was] so
nice and gullible. It was very refreshing to play such an airhead who had such a thirst
for life."
While Chelsea may have been the role that brought Anneliese van der Pol fame, it wasn't
her only prominent early role.
That's So Raven wrapped in 2007, and, that same year, she starred in the movie Bratz
as mean girl Avery. The character was a major change from the sweet and lovable Chelsea,
and the role showed off Van der Pol's dynamic range.
Although based off of the popular Bratz doll franchise, the beloved toys didn't translate
well on the big screen.
The film has a 10% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 46% audience score as of this
video. Unfortunately for the cast and crew, critics largely disliked the film. Ty Burr
for The Boston Globe wrote:
"I could actually feel my brain stem shrivel up as I watched it."
"You don't sound deaf"
"well you don't look ignorant, but I guess you can't judge a book, right?"
Bratz was nominated for several Razzies, as noted by the Intelligencer, including worst
supporting actor and worst actress.
Van der Pol admitted to Media Mikes that she wasn't the biggest fan of the Twilight franchise
before landing a role in its 2010 comedic spoof, Vampires Suck.
The actress revealed that she hadn't even seen a single Twilight film before going in
for her first audition. The audition process was a quick one, and Van der Pol, quote, "just
didn't have time to see the movies."
Van der Pol auditioned for the lead role of Becca, but was then asked to read for the
character's friend, Jennifer, who is based on Anna Kendrick's character in the Twilight
movies, Jessica. Van der Pol channeled Kendrick's Up in the Air performance in her audition,
quote, "but more over-the-top."
The actress clearly impressed because she landed the Vampires Suck role. She described
her character as, quote, "the all-around b----- y girl that is jealous of the lead character."
Van der Pol may have landed the role, but it didn't turn her into a big Twilight fan,
even though she eventually watched the movies while filming Vampires Suck. She told Media
Mikes:
"Not really into the vampire craze, let alone chick-flick led story like that. Not my thing."
Van der Pol may have gotten her big break on That's So Raven, but the Disney Channel
show didn't translate to ongoing success on screen for the actress. Van der Pol has only
had a small number of film and television roles added to her resume after That's So
Raven wrapped. Since the show was one of her earlier roles, that means she only had just
a few film and television roles, total. Her IMDb profile shows just over two dozen roles
over the course of her career.
Her first credit after That's So Raven was 2008's Hannah Montana: One in a Million, in
which she reprised the role of Chelsea. She also had a few guest roles on television shows,
including The Battery's Down, Shake It Up, and uncool.
Van der Pol has also appeared in the films Extremely Decent and 5 Weddings. She even
appeared in a documentary, 2014's Stage Door Divas.
Van der Pol once told E! News, she maintains a, quote, "nice Jewish household."
One of her roles after That's So Raven helped her get in touch with her Jewish heritage
as well as share it with others. The actress starred in 11 episodes of Shalom Sesame from
2010 to 2011. The show was an update of a 1986 show in the style of Sesame Street geared
towards Jewish American children in order to teach them about Jewish culture. Van der
Pol told the Associated Press:
"I think it's really important to educate children in a fun way and a not too confusing
way,"
Notably, Van der Pol traveled to Israel for the first time to film the show, but she wasn't
the only familiar face to appear on the series. Shalom Sesame featured several other well-known
performers like Jake Gyllenhaal, Ben Stiller, Christina Applegate, and Will & Grace star
Debra Messing.
While Van der Pol hasn't had a huge number of TV and film roles since That's So Raven
wrapped, she hasn't been without work. The actress has been landing plenty of roles,
but they have largely been on the stage rather than on the screen.
Her credits include the musical Vanities in 2008, which was scheduled for a Broadway run
the following year but, according to Playbill, was postponed due to financial difficulties.
Other credits include the Arizona Theatre Company's productions of Emma and The Importance
of Being Earnest in 2012 and 2013. She also appeared in the Scottsdale Musical Theater
Company's staging of Annie in 2018.
Theater has always been Van der Pol's first love, and the actress has been acting on stage
for a long time. She told the East Valley Tribune
"Nothing is like the live audience aspect, I always feel a bit more challenged, if I'm
being perfectly honest in the theater than I ever do in television."
Anneliese van der Pol's biggest stage role was on Broadway as Belle in Beauty and the
Beast. According to Playbill, she played Belle from the beginning of April to the end of
July in 2007. It was the perfect way for Van der Pol to move away from That's So Raven
after the show wrapped.
Belle was a big contrast from her That's So Raven character. While Chelsea is a rather
naïve character, Belle is a bookworm yearning for adventure.
Van der Pol was thrilled to make her Broadway debut in such an iconic role, especially as
she landed the lead without having to work her way up from the chorus. The actress told
Media Mikes that Belle was a dream role for her. She said:
"The songs are beautiful and they wrote some new ones also. [...] It was just amazing,
everyone was so nice. I also loved living in New York."
Because many of Anneliese van der Pol's roles haven't been televised, it would be easy for
fans to come to the conclusion that she largely retired from acting. It's an understandable
assumption, especially because Van der Pol doesn't seem to be super into social media.
While she has the profiles, she doesn't keep them very up to date or share very much beyond
the occasional - often work-related - photo or status update. Her Instagram feed features
plenty of photos of her with her castmates, while her Twitter account and Facebook page
only seem to be updated sporadically.
She also maintains a Cameo profile, where she boasts five stars with over 260 reviews.
In a connected world where it seems celebs are always posting selfies on social media
and giving us glimpses into their personal lives, it seems like the actress is determined
to keep her personal life private, and it's kind of refreshing.
In 2017, Anneliese van der Pol returned to Disney Channel in the That's So Raven spin-off,
Raven's Home. She reprised her role as Chelsea, playing her as a divorced woman who moves
in with her best friend, Raven, who has also gone through a divorce.
Van der Pol was excited for the show and not just because it was an opportunity to reunite
with Raven-Symoné. The actress told Bustle that she was excited for the show's empowering
feminist message. She said:
"I think it is very rare that you see two mothers on a show, leading a half-hour sitcom
with children, and that's it. You don't have a guy, you know, coming in saving the day
with all the funny lines."
The material might sound heavier than what fans who grew up with That's So Raven remember,
but Van der Pol insisted that the heart of the show remains the same. She told TV Line
that their characters hadn't, quote, "changed very much, except that they're adults and
mothers."
Chelsea and Raven were on-screen best friends in That's So Raven, and, in real life, Raven-Symoné
and Anneliese van der Pol are also quite close. The pair are still BFFs, and knowing that
their on-screen chemistry wasn't faked in the slightest somehow makes That's So Raven
even more delightful.
Their friendship was at the heart of both Disney Channel shows That's So Raven and Raven's
Home, and it was built upon their mutual respect for each other. Annalise told Today in 2019
that:
"Raven and I have always really respected each other's talent, and that goes a long
way, and if somebody can make you better in your job, and you can make them better, I
mean, you better stick together."
Van der Pol continued to rave about her pal, calling her a, quote, "genius."
Their friendship is definitely a two-way street. Raven-Symoné once captioned an Instagram
photo of the duo with, quote, "The ying to my yang."
Anneliese van der Pol is one of those actors who doesn't seem to age very much. She was
in her early 20s when she starred in That's So Raven, very convincingly portraying a high
school student and making her one of several Disney Channel stars who were older than we
realized.
By the time she landed her role on Raven's Home, she was already in her 30s. Even though
years passed between the two shows, Van der Pol barely looked any older.
The That's So Raven star works hard to stay healthy and to maintain her physique. She
revealed to The Global Town Hall that she's something of a fitness fanatic and said:
"I go to a circuit training gym that involves a weight training and cardiovascular workout.
[...] the results are worth it."
She also eats a pretty healthy diet, consisting of "salmon, chicken, artichokes, whole wheat
toast, hard boiled eggs, cottage cheese."
She does indulge on occasion, though, saying she particularly loves Mexican food — and
margaritas.
Anneliese van der Pol has certainly proven that she has what it takes to be a major star.
While she is definitely successful, she isn't quite as well known as her That's So Raven
co-star Raven-Symoné.
Van der Pol doesn't seem bitter about this, but she does hope to branch out and maybe
even have her own shot at helming a sitcom some day.
In 2017, the performer told Naluda Magazine that she would like to see herself:
"I see myself leading an adult sitcom with another broadway show under my belt. Or something
like that. One can hope."
One thing is for sure: No matter what the future holds for Van der Pol and where her
career takes her, she loves performing and is going to keep doing it.
Anneliese van der Pol isn't just thriving in her acting career — she's also been helping
other young actors learn the ins and outs of show business through Actors Giving Back.
Actors from the ages of 7 to 22 are eligible for the program and are coached by professional
actors, many of whom, like Van der Pol, are Disney alums.
Van der Pol was listed as a celebrity acting coach on the website for Actors Giving Back,
which was founded by Wizards of Waverly Place star David DeLuise. Other coaches who starred
on Disney included Wizards of Waverly Place actors Bill Chott and Jennifer Stone, Kickin'
It star Dylan Riley Snyder, and Bunk'd actor Nathan Arenas.
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