Generations of fans know Mandy Moore. But if you first knew her around 2000, you might be wondering, “What’s she up to these days?” Of course, Moore has enjoyed two distinct eras of musical success, as well as a prolific career as an actress.
Amanda Leigh Moore, born in 1984, was raised in the Orlando, Florida region. Inspired by witnessing a young girl perform the national anthem at an Orlando Magic basketball game, she was motivated to pursue a similar path.
“I didn’t know you could do that!” she told Entertainment Weekly in 2020. “So I begged my mom to record me singing a cappella with my little pitch pipe. My mom then hand-delivered it [to the arena], and I think she brought cookies.”
Moore began performing at sporting events at 13 and was reportedly discovered by a FedEx driver who recommended her to Epic Records. Signed at 15, she released her first hit, “Candy,” in 1999.
Moore had a busy schedule, releasing three albums within 18 months. Although her initial singles such as “Candy” and “I Want to Be With You” didn’t achieve massive success, they performed respectably.
This moderate level of success shielded her from the pitfalls of intense fame that ensnared some of her contemporaries like Britney Spears during that era.
From ‘A Walk to Remember’ to ‘This is Us’
However, many fans know Mandy Moore for her acting career. Moore’s first major role was in 2001’s The Princess Diaries where she played the popular mean girl, Lana.
Her career-defining moment, however, arrived in 2002 when she starred as Jamie, a teenager battling cancer, in the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ novel, A Walk to Remember, opposite Shane West.
Moore subsequently graced the screen in movies such as How to Deal, Chasing Liberty, Saved!, and Because I Said So. She also made a notable guest appearance on the medical drama series Grey’s Anatomy. In 2016, her diverse roles led to her being cast as Milo Ventimiglia’s wife, Rebecca, in the critically acclaimed series This is Us.
The TV series garnered significant acclaim, cultivating a devoted fan base. Moore’s performance earned her multiple nominations at prestigious awards ceremonies. These include the People’s Choice Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Golden Globes.
Mandy Moore Returns to Music
Since her debut in 1999, Mandy Moore consistently released albums. However, she took a hiatus after 2009’s Amanda Leigh, only returning with Silver Landings in 2020.
In a 2019 interview with the New York Times, she accused her former husband Ryan Adams of controlling behavior that negatively impacted her career. Adams has refuted these claims.
Moore released her latest album, In Real Life, in May 2022. She subsequently embarked on a brief tour with her singer-songwriter husband, Taylor Goldsmith, whom she wed in 2018.
However, part of the tour was canceled after Moore announced her pregnancy with her second child.
At the time, she also emphasized her decision to prioritize her health and family. Goldsmith, the frontman of the folk-rock ensemble Dawes, along with Moore, embraced parenthood with the arrival of their sons Gus in 2021 and Ozzie in 2022.