Miranda Cosgrove is one of those faces you recognize instantly, whether from childhood sitcoms or as the voice of a certain animated big sister. She broke out as Summer Hathaway in School of Rock (2003), playing the overly serious class manager who kept Jack Black’s rock band in check.
But for most people, she’s best known for iCarly, the Nickelodeon show that made her one of the highest-paid child actors of her time.
While TV made her famous, she also had a solid run in movies. She voiced Margo in Despicable Me (2010) and its sequels, playing Gru’s responsible eldest daughter.
The franchise became a global hit, introducing her to a new generation of fans. Outside of animation, she’s taken on roles like Rachel in North Hollywood (2021), a coming-of-age film about skateboarding and growing up.
Beyond acting, she’s dabbled in music, releasing an album in 2010 and a few singles along the way. Though she never became a full-time musician, her songs fit the pop-rock sound that was popular in the early 2010s.
5 of the best movies of Miranda Cosgrove
1) School of Rock (2003)
School of Rock follows Dewey Finn who gets kicked out of his band and ends up pretending to be a teacher at a fancy private school. He has no interest in actual teaching and decides to turn his class into a rock band so they can compete in a music contest. He trains them in secret while trying to avoid getting caught.
Miranda Cosgrove plays Summer Hathaway who is the smartest and most organized student in class. She has no patience for Dewey’s sloppy teaching and quickly calls him out when he doesn’t follow the rules.
She wants a role in the band but knows she isn’t good at playing instruments or singing. Dewey makes her the band’s manager which turns out to be the perfect job for her. She takes charge of rehearsals and keeps everyone in line. She is strict and always serious but she is the reason the band stays focused.
2) Despicable Me (2010)
Despicable Me is about Gru who wants to steal the moon and needs a way to break into his rival’s house. He adopts three orphan girls because he knows they can help him get inside. At first he treats them like part of his plan and does not care about them at all. Over time he starts to bond with them and things begin to change.
Miranda Cosgrove voices Margo, who is the oldest and the most responsible of the three sisters. She does not trust Gru and sees through his lies right away. She takes care of Edith and Agnes and makes sure they are safe.
She does not let anyone push them around and always speaks up when something feels wrong. She is cautious and strong but she also wants to believe they have finally found a home. She does not warm up to Gru easily but when she does it actually is meaningful.
