Mandy has done plenty throughout her years in Hollywood – not only did she star in 2001’s “The Princess Diaries” (wielding pom poms in the film as Lana Thomas), but she also put on a hit song at the tender age of fifteen: “Candy.” She’s starred in “A Walk to Remember” and has a starring role on the show “This is Us.”
But Mandy got her start as a star cheering on the local Pop Warner football team, which undoubtedly helped her get the acting and active skills that have ended up taking her far in life. What started off as an innocent cheerleader role turned into an amazing actress who has not yet said her last word.
Renee Zellweger
Zellweger is a cool cucumber now, but just like most of us, she was once a high school student trying to find her way through life. While she was at Katy High School in Katy, Texas, Zellweger showed off her athleticism and ability to manipulate the crowd as part of the cheer squad.
In fact, Renee has kept up with the flips and dips, once appearing on the "Jimmy Fallon Show" to show off her physical abilities. After appearing in "Bridget Jones's Diary," Zellweger went on to dominate the box office every time she showed her face (and we are still amazed by the British accent she pulls off).
Calista Flockhart
The star of the hit TV series "Ally McBeal" and Calista Flockhart was used to being in the spotlight from an early age. Back when she was a young teenager attending Shawnee High School in New Jersey, she used to hold pom poms and cheer like nobody's business. Then, in the '80s, she attended the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where she met fellow actress Jane Krakowski. Little did she know what was awaiting her just around the corner.
The two future famous actresses would start off in "Ally McBeal" and then go their separate ways to have amazingly successful careers.
Amy Poehler
Before she started appearing on shows such as "Saturday Night Live," "30 Rock", and "Parks and Recreation," Poehler was part of the Burlington High School cheerleading team, wielding pom poms and pumping up the crowd during football games, pep rallies, and much more.
Poehler attended high school from 1986 to 1989 and then went on to Boston College to get a degree in communications. After that, she made her way to the Windy City, where she worked on her comedic skills and made herself into the TV and film actress we know today. These days she is considered one of the best female comedians the industry has.
Danielle Brooks
Danielle Brooks starred in "Orange is the New Black," but before she did that, and before graduating, she was part of the cheerleading team at her school. She ended up quitting because she was uncomfortable or nervous about the skirt that was part of the uniform, but she used it as a growing opportunity.
In a letter to herself, the actress shared online, she wrote: “You really quit cheerleading because of how you felt you looked when you were wearing a skirt? OK! Never ever quit anything again because you're scared of what others might think of you – unless you become an exotic dancer, the only exception. But even then, only quit because you want to.”