Katherine McNamara: Variety's Power of Youth

Universal City, California - Seventeen year old Actress Katherine McNamara looked gorgeous wearing a pink dress to Variety's Power of Youth presented by Hasbro and GenerationOn at Universal Studios Backlot on July 27, 2013 in Universal City, California.

Katherine McNamara is an accomplished actress, singer, dancer, songwriter, and an avid student. Although now more focused on film and television, McNamara began her career on Broadway at the age of 13 as 'Fredrika Armfeldt' in A Little Night Music, starring opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury. She was fortunate to continue as 'Fredrika' with the second ALNM Broadway cast of Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch as well. Her other theater roles include 'Esther Jane' in the pre-Broadway world premiere of A Christmas Story, the Musical! as well as To Kill a Mockingbird, The Crucible, Inherit the Wind, Annie, The Secret Garden, and Galileo. She has also been cast in a number of Equity readings, including PAN, which was created by the In the Heights creative team.

McNamara's love for acting stretches beyond the stage, with credits in television and film productions. Katherine will make her big screen debut this year in the Warner Brothers Picture "New Year's Eve," where she portrays 'Lily.' In addition, Katherine will star as 'Becky Thatcher' in the re-make of "Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn" alongside Joel Courtney and Jake T. Austin which will be released late 2012 or early 2013. Television credits include "Glee," "Law and Order: SVU," "Drop Dead Diva," "30 Rock," "Late Night with David Letterman," "Good Morning America," and PBS's "Sondheim! The Birthday Concert."

Kat can be seen this summer in the bullying film "Contest" with Kenton Duty. McNamara starred in Disney Channel's "Girl vs. Monster" and has a recurring roles on "Jessie" as Bryn Breitbart and on "Kickin' It" as the mean girl from Swathmore Academy, Claire. She filmed the new Disney pilot Madison High where she portrays 'Cherri O'Keefe', resident fashionista and creator of Madison High's popular gossip blog.

McNamara balances acting with her dedication to education. At the age of 14, she graduated with honors from high school, and at 17, graduated with honors from Drexel University's Le Bow School of Business online program with her Bachelor's degree in Business. Kat plans to continue her education and is currently looking at MBA programs.

Kat is also a member of the Actors Equity Young Performers Committee, SAG-AFTRA's Young Performers Committee, a reader for the Blank Theater's New Play Development Reading Committee, an ambassador for Stomp Out Bullying and The Lollipop Theater Network, a Girl Scout, and a volunteer for the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.

Katherine has a passion for all forms of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, waltz and hula. She also plays the guitar and piano and enjoys singing and songwriting. Katherine plans to share her passion for music with the world this year and is recording a few original pop songs. She resides in Los Angeles, California and her hometown is Kansas City, Missouri.

Photos Credit: Getty Images