Rowan Blanchard, born on October 14, 2001, is an American actress who gained recognition for her roles in various films and television series. She was featured on Time’s list of Most Influential Teens in 2015, highlighting her impact and influence at a young age. Blanchard’s acting career took off when she played Rebecca Wilson in the movie Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011). However, it was her breakthrough role as Riley Matthews in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World (2014–2017) that brought her widespread acclaim and earned her Young Artist Award nominations.

Blanchard continued to make her mark in the entertainment industry, portraying Jackie Geary in the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs (2017–2018) and Alexandra Cavill in the TNT series Snowpiercer (2020–2022). She demonstrated her versatility as an actress by taking on different roles across various genres.

Born in Los Angeles, California, Blanchard is the daughter of Elizabeth and Mark Blanchard-Boulbol, who work as yoga instructors. Her diverse heritage includes Armenian, Syrian, Lebanese, Moroccan, English, Danish, and Swedish ancestry. Blanchard’s name was inspired by a character from Anne Rice’s novel The Witching Hour. She has two younger siblings named Carmen and Shane.

Blanchard’s acting journey began at the age of five, with her debut as Mona’s daughter in The Back-up Plan. She later appeared in the Disney Junior Original Series Dance-a-Lot Robot as Caitlin. In 2011, she secured roles in Spy Kids: All the Time in the World and Little in Common.

In 2013, Blanchard landed the lead role of Riley Matthews in the Disney Channel series Girl Meets World, where she also contributed to the show’s theme song alongside co-star Sabrina Carpenter. This role allowed her to build a dedicated fan base and cemented her status as a rising star. Blanchard was an active member of the Disney Channel Circle of Stars.

Blanchard’s career continued to thrive with notable projects like the Disney Channel Original Movie Invisible Sister (2015) and the feature film adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time (2018). She also had a recurring role on the ABC series The Goldbergs from 2017 to 2018.

Outside of her acting pursuits, Blanchard has been open about her personal experiences. In 2014, she revealed on Instagram that she had struggled with depression and embraced the intensity of her emotions as part of her journey. She also identified herself as queer, expressing her openness to liking any gender.

Blanchard is known for her activism on issues such as feminism, human rights, and gun violence. She has used platforms like Twitter and Tumblr to voice her opinions and has participated in events like the UN Women and US National Committee’s annual conference as part of the feminist campaign #TeamHeForShe.

In April 2018, Blanchard expressed criticism of Israel and its military on her social media, advocating for the Palestinian side during the 2018–2019 Gaza border protests. She has spoken out against what she perceives as the mistreatment of Palestinians and the situation in Gaza.

In April 2022, Blanchard starred alongside Auli'i Cravalho in the Hulu movie Crush, adding another project to her growing portfolio.

Rowan Blanchard’s talent, activism, and willingness to speak out on important social issues have made her a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, with a dedicated following that appreciates her multifaceted contributions.

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