Julia Lester

For the American soccer player, see Julia Lester (soccer).

Not to be confused with Julia Lester Dillon.

Julia Lester
Lester at the Opening Night of the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods
Born	Julia Rose Lester (2000-01-28) January 28, 2000 (age 24) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actress, singer
Known for	High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Into the Woods
Parent	Loren Lester (father) Kelly Lester (mother)
Relatives	Peter Mark Richman (grandfather) Lucas Richman (uncle)

Julia Rose Lester (born January 28, 2000^[1]) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Ashlyn Caswell in the Disney+ series High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and for her portrayal of the role of Little Red Ridinghood in the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods, for which she was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical.

Early life and education

Lester is from Woodland Hills, CA.^[2] She is Jewish.^[3] She is the youngest daughter of actors Kelly and Loren Lester, granddaughter of actors Helen and Peter Mark Richman, and niece of conductor/composer Lucas Richman.^[4] Her sisters, Jenny and Lily, are also in show business.

She attended Calabasas High School.^[5]

Personal life

Lester identifies as queer and has been dating screenwriter Ilana Wolpert since 2022.^[6]

Her character^[7] on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series also came out as queer in the third season.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2011	The One Who Got Away	Young Cherie	Short film
2020	Annie Minerals, Teen Therapist	Annie
2021	What She Said		Associate producer
2024	Prom Dates	Hannah

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2014	Neckpee Island	Mona	Television film
2016	Bella and the Bulldogs	Gracie Crenshaw	Episode: "Bella in the Spotlight"
2017	Mom	Emily	3 episodes
2018	The Thundermans	Smith	Episode: "Revenge of the Smith"
2019	Prince of Peoria	Suzie	2 episodes
	Game Shakers	Tonya Mulligan	Episode: "Why Tonya"[8]
2019–2020	Spirit Riding Free	Bebe Schumann	Voice
2019–2023	High School Musical: The Musical: The Series	Ashlyn Caswell	Main role; Disney+ series
2023–2024	Hailey's On It!	Tina / various	Voice, 5 episodes

Stage credits

Year	Title	Role	Venue	Notes
2009	Les Misérables	Little Cosette	[9]	Regional
2010	Into the Woods	Milky White	[10]
2012	The Wizard of Oz	Dorothy Gale	Up On Stage[11]
2015	Les Misérables	Éponine Thénardier	Youth Musical Theatre[9]
2016	Carrie	Carrie White	Young Artists Ensemble
2017	Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat	Narrator / Ensemble	Kavli Theatre, Thousand Oaks
2018	Into the Woods	Little Red Ridinghood	Cupcake Theater, Los Angeles
	Next to Normal	Natalie	Hillcrest Center For The Arts, Thousand Oaks
	Calvin Berger	Bret	Hudson Backstage Theatre, Hollywood[12]
2022	Into the Woods	Little Red Ridinghood	New York City Center	Off-Broadway Encores!
			St. James Theatre[13]	Broadway Nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical
2023	The Secret Garden	Martha Sowerby	Ahmanson Theatre[14]	Pre-Broadway
	I Can Get It for You Wholesale	Miss Marmelstein	Classic Stage Company[15]	Off-Broadway

References

1. Tran, Fonticha (January 28, 2020). "High School Musical: The Series' SURPRISE Birthday Party For Julia Lester (Ashlyn)". Exclusive Hollywood. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
2. "It's the 'Start of Something New' as Production Begins on the Disney+ Original Series 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series". Disney Media Center. February 15, 2020. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
3. Ben-Moche, Erin (December 11, 2020). "HSM Series' Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special". Jewish Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
4. "Family Links". Peter Mark Richman. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
5. Dallman, Gianna (December 1, 2016). "Julia Lester dominates the stage in Carrie: The Musical". CHS Courier. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
6. Wickes, Hanna (November 8, 2022). "Meet the GF: Who Is Ilana Wolpert? Meet 'HSMTMTS' Star Julia Lester's Girlfriend: Age, Job, More". J-14.
7. "This HSMTMTS Character Had a Big Sexuality Revelation This Week". www.out.com. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
8. Blair, Caroline (November 4, 2019). "Sofia Wylie, Olivia Rodrigo & more: Meet the cast of 'High School Musical: The Musical: The Series'". Tiger Beat. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
9. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
10. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
11. "Instagram". www.instagram.com.
12. "Standing Room Only and Graceful Productions Present Staged Reading of New Musical CALVIN BERGER". BroadwayWorld. July 26, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
13. I Know Things Now, September 29, 2022, retrieved November 19, 2023
14. 'The Secret Garden' Hold On I Ahmanson Theatre, March 6, 2023, retrieved November 19, 2023
15. Julia Lester Performs "Miss Marmelstein" from I Can Get It for You Wholesale, November 15, 2023, retrieved November 19, 2023

External links

• Julia Lester at IMDb