Monique Coleman
Coleman in February 2011
Born	Adrienne Monique Coleman (1980-11-13) November 13, 1980 (age 43) Orangeburg, South Carolina, U.S.
Alma mater	DePaul University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1995–present
Spouse	Walter Jordan ​ ​ (m. 2012; div. 2022)​

Adrienne Monique Coleman (born November 13, 1980)^[1] is an American actress and dancer. She is best known for her role as Taylor McKessie in the High School Musical movies.

Early life and education

Adrienne Monique Coleman was born in Orangeburg, South Carolina.^[2] She started her acting career in theater and television at a young age in Columbia, South Carolina. She trained at the Workshop Theater School of Dramatic Arts where she performed in over 15 plays.^{[citation needed]}

Coleman went to Heathwood Hall Episcopal School. She later attended The Theater School at DePaul University in Chicago, earning her BFA in Acting in 2002.^{[citation needed]}

Career

Coleman's first lead role was in the independent film Mother of the River (1995) directed by Zeinabu irene Davis.^[3] Two years later, Coleman appeared as Young Donna in The Family Channel movie The Ditchdigger's Daughter,^[4] for which she was nominated for a Young Artists Award of Hollywood. During her sophomore year of high school, Coleman wrote, directed, produced, and starred in a one-person play entitled "Voices from Within." In Chicago, Coleman appeared in stage productions of Noises Off, Polaroid Stories, The Real Thing, and The Colored Museum.^[5]

In 2005, Coleman acted alongside James Earl Jones in the Hallmark TV Movie The Reading Room.^[6] She received a 2006 CAMIE Award for the role and represented the film at the NAACP Image Awards.^[7]

Disney Channel

In 2006, Coleman starred in High School Musical, in which she portrayed Taylor McKessie, the best friend of the new girl at school, Gabriella Montez (Vanessa Hudgens). She had previously worked with Disney Channel as a recurring guest star in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. Coleman also took part in the first Disney Channel Games in 2006.^{[citation needed]} Coleman was also the host of 3 Minute Game Show: High School Musical Edition on Disney Channel. She recorded a song called "Christmas Vacation" for the holiday album entitled A Disney Channel Holiday. In 2007, she appeared in High School Musical 2. In 2008, she again repeated her role as Taylor McKessie in High School Musical 3.^{[citation needed]}

Coleman has had several other guest appearances on television, including Boston Public, Gilmore Girls, Malcolm in the Middle, Strong Medicine, 10-8: Officers on Duty, Married to the Kellys, and Veronica Mars.

Dancing with the Stars

Coleman competed in the Fall 2006 third edition of the reality dance competition show Dancing with the Stars. She was paired with professional partner Louis van Amstel. The pair appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show before they were eliminated from the competition on November 1, 2006. Coleman and van Amstel finished fourth in the competition. She was the final female contestant in that season's competition.^[8][9]

UN Youth Champion

At a ceremony at UN headquarters in New York, Coleman was presented with a letter of recognition of her new role by Assistant Secretary-General Jomo Kwame Sundaram of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. In presenting the letter, Mr. Sundaram said Coleman will work "to raise awareness about the challenges young people face and will highlight the positive contribution they make to their communities." Coleman said receiving the designation of Youth Champion was "beyond an honor" and she would use her new position to promote global efforts to achieve the anti-poverty Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).^{[citation needed]}

Philanthropy

In 2010, Coleman worked with dosomething.org^[10] to produce a video tutorial for the series "Do Something U." Targeting young activists in need of guidance and inspiration, Coleman's video focused on teaching youth the best way to utilize social media to spread word of ideas and actions.^[11]

Personal life

Coleman married Walter Jordan in February 2012.^[12][13] The couple divorced in February 2022.^[14]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music

• High School Musical, Start of Something New (Concert) Featuring Corbin Bleu, Monique Coleman, Lucas Grabeel, Ashley Tisdale, Vanessa Hudgens & Drew Seeley (2006)
• Disney Channel Holiday's Christmas Vacation (2007)^[15]
• Pop It Rock It 2: It's On, What Time Is It (2007)^[16]

Awards

• 19th Annual Young Artist Awards (1996–1997)^[17]

Best Performance in a TV MOVIE or FEATURE FILM: Young Ensemble – "Ditchdigger's Daughter"

Best Family TV MOVIE/ PILOT/MINI-SERIES (CABLE) – The Ditchdigger's Daughters, Family Channel

• Character and Morality in Entertainment Awards (CAMIE) 2006 – The Reading Room^[18]
• Teen Choice Awards 2006 Award for Choice TV Show: Comedy/Musical – High School Musical
• American Music Award 2007 for High School Musical 2
• Teen Choice Awards 2009 Award for Choice Movie: Music/Dance – High School Musical
• Daytime Emmy Awards 2019 : Outstanding Host ( Nominated)