Alyssa Milano is a television star that has featured in multiple hit programs over the course of her ongoing career, including Who’s the Boss?, Melrose Place, and Charmed. The actress got her start in the entertainment industry at a young age, when her babysitter brought the young girl to an audition for the role of Annie in a touring production. Alyssa got the role, and she became a teen idol after being cast in Who’s the Boss? As she was coming of age, Alyssa feared that she was going to be pigeonholed as a result of her role on Who’s the Boss? However, she thankfully managed to transform herself into a mature actress that still turns heads to this day. Join Facts Verse as we explore how Alyssa Milano’s transformation is turning heads after Who’s the Boss?
Alyssa Milano Was Destined for Stardom
Alyssa Milano was born in Brooklyn towards the end of 1972. Her mother was a famous fashion designer, while her father was an editor that worked with film scores. Despite the fact that both of her parents existed in very close proximity to the entertainment industry, it wasn’t as a result of either of them that Alyssa was introduced to show business herself. Instead, Alyssa’s introduction the world of performing came as a result of a babysitter who took her to an audition.
Alyssa Milano was taken to her first audition by a babysitter at the age of 7. This audition was for the role of Annie in a touring production, and the babysitter didn’t ask Alyssa’s parents for permission before taking her to it. Alyssa ended up being chosen to play the role, at which point the babysitter was forced to give the news to the young girl’s parents. Instead of being upset, Alyssa’s parents decided that they were interested in letting their daughter become a star. Alyssa’s mother accompanied her throughout the duration of the touring production, which lasted for 18 months. Upon Alyssa’s return from performing in the touring production of Annie, she had truly caught the acting bug.
After returning to New York City with her mother following the end of the touring production of Annie, Alyssa continued to perform on the stage. She also began performing on the small screen via commercials. Pretty soon, Alyssa was a legitimate star with her own agent. She made her film debut in 1984, appearing in a dramatic coming-of-age film by the name of Old Enough. The film was a critical darling, winning the First Prize at that year’s Sundance Film Festival.
Who’s the Boss? Made Alyssa a Teen Idol
The same year that Alyssa Milano made her debut on the big screen via Old Enough, she also started performing her iconic role on Who’s the Boss? Alyssa was cast in the series as the daughter of Tony Danza’s character, and the two stars loved working with each other. Alyssa and Tony’s effortless chemistry helped them play a great father/daughter pair, and the showed proved a hit with audiences.
Alyssa Milano’s role on Who’s the Boss? turned the young actress into a full-blown teen idol. Her appearance on the hit show led to her appearing in more films, including the Arnold Schwarzenegger-starring action classic Commando. Alyssa was 12 years old at the time that she appeared in the film, which was released in 1985. Another film that Alyssa starred in around the time was The Canterville Ghost, which wasn’t nearly as big of a commercial success. However, the film ended up catching on in Japan, and this oddly resulted in Alyssa being given a record deal in the country.
Alyssa Milano released several albums as a pop star in Japan during her teenage years. However, she continued being better known in the states for her acting abilities. Who’s the Boss? came to an end in 1992, at which point Alyssa was slightly nervous about her future career prospects. So many child stars before her had crashed and burned as soon as their hit projects came to an end, and Alyssa didn’t want to follow in their footsteps.
Alyssa Didn’t Want to Be Another Cautionary Tale
Not wanting to be pigeonholed in her Who’s the Boss? role, Alyssa appeared in a 1992 independent film that aimed to shed her innocent image. In the film, which was titled Where the Day Takes You, Alyssa was cast as a teenage prostitute. This was certainly a much darker role than the one that the actress had portrayed on Who’s the Boss?, and audiences were quick to remark on the young woman’s range. The film was a modest hit within the independent-film circuit, earning the Golden Space Needle Award at that year’s Seattle International Film Festival. It seemed like the remainder of the 1990s held a lot for Alyssa to look forward to!
Though Alyssa feared that she would have trouble finding work after Who’s the Boss? came to an end in 1992, she ended up getting two more iconic roles on television programs within the remainder of the decade alone. Of course, those other two television programs would be Melrose Place and Charmed. If you’re enjoying this video so far, be sure to hit the like button to show your support! Also, subscribe to the channel if you’d like to be among the first to know when more Facts Verse videos are on their way!
Alyssa Appeared in a Few Erotic B Movies
Alyssa Milano didn’t have anything to worry about after Who’s the Boss? came to an end, as she would receive several more notable television roles over the course of the 1990s. Before taking on these roles, however, Alyssa had a bit of an identity crisis that led to her appearing nude in a couple of B movies. These movies included Embrace of the Vampire and Deadly Sins. These films were released directly to video, and the promise of getting to see Alyssa Milano topless helped copies fly off the shelves. Alyssa has come to somewhat regret appearing nude in these films, though she claims that the experiences weren’t all that uncomfortable.
Thankfully, television producer Aaron Spelling saved Alyssa Milano from the world of erotic B movies. By 1996, the producer’s popular primetime soap opera Melrose Place had been on the air for several years and was in need of some fresh blood. Aaron felt that Alyssa would make a perfect addition to the show’s cast, and she was subsequently introduced to the show as the character of Jennifer Mancini. Though Alyssa’s performance as Jennifer proved a hit with audiences, the actress was only on the show for a season.
The reason that Alyssa Milano left Melrose Place behind was because she had been offered a more lucrative role on another television program. That television program would end up being Charmed, which was a supernatural drama that featured Alyssa as one of it’s three leads. On the program, Alyssa played a witch by the name of Phoebe Halliwell. The show went on to last for eight seasons, all of which featured Alyssa as the character of Phoebe. The show proved a bigger success for Alyssa than her time on Melrose Place had, revitalizing her star power a great deal.
Today, Alyssa Is Considered Television Royalty
By the time that Charmed came to an end in 2008, Alyssa Milano had achieved the status of television royalty. With three hit shows under her belt, it looked like casting Alyssa was the ticket to television success. However, Alyssa’s winning streak sadly came to an end when she filmed a failed pilot by the name of Reinventing the Wheelers. The show was intended to come on the air in 2007, but didn’t even make it past the first episode. Following this slight disappointment, Alyssa could be seen in a handful of episodes of the hit sitcom My Name is Earl.
As acting opportunities began to dry up, Alyssa Milano began to turn more and more towards activism. Alyssa has always been passionate about her beliefs, and she has flirted with activism many times since receiving her breakout role on Who’s the Boss? Alyssa’s first notable bit of activism came in the late 1980s, when she appeared on The Phil Donahue Show alongside an AIDS-stricken fan. This fan was named Ryan White, and he was a preteen that had reached out to Alyssa after being diagnosed with the illness.
On The Phil Donahue Show, Alyssa kissed Ryan White on the lips. She did this to reduce social stigma surrounding people with AIDS, as most continue to believe that kissing someone with AIDS will cause the illness to spread. Alyssa’s charitable deed helped her gain even deeper respect from her already massive base of fans. In the decades since, Alyssa has continued to exude this charitable spirit.
Alyssa’s Charitable Work and Future in Hollywood
In more recent years, Alyssa Milano has worked with organizations such as UNICEF and PETA for charitable causes. Alyssa’s work with UNICEF has seen the actress continue to work with those affected by AIDS. However, Alyssa’s work with UNICEF has focused on people from third-world countries afflicted with the illness instead of people that have been afflicted with it stateside. As far as her PETA work is concerned, Alyssa appeared in a 2007 advertisement for the organization that advocated a vegetarian lifestyle to it’s viewers. In the commercial, Alyssa wore a dress that was made out of vegetables.
Alyssa Milano has also never been afraid to speak on the matter of politics. She supported Bernie Sanders in the 2016 election before supporting Joe Biden in the 2020 election. She continued supporting Joe Biden even after numerous women came out with sexual-assault allegations against the man. This comes in spite of the fact that Alyssa has also been a vocal figure in the #metoo movement over the years.
Today, Alyssa Milano is nearly 50 years old. The actress has claimed that her and Tony Danza are preparing to work on a sequel series to Who’s the Boss? that will focus on the father/daughter relationship of their characters in the present, with Alyssa’s character as a single mother.
Alyssa Milano rose to prominence as a teen idol during the 1980s thanks to Who’s the Boss?, and those that haven’t seen the actress since will likely be very surprised to see what a beautiful and mature woman she’s blossomed into! Now it’s time to hear from you: did you know that Alyssa Milano was brought to her first audition as a child without her parents even knowing, and that the actress appeared nude in several B moves during the 1990s? As always, like this video to show your support, and subscribe and hit the notification bell if you’d like to be among the first to know when more Facts Verse videos are on their way!
