| Birth date | January 28, 2000 (age 26) |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 2009–present |
| Known for | High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Into the Woods |
| Father | Loren Lester |
| Relatives | Peter Mark Richman (maternal grandfather) Lucas Richman (uncle) |
| Partner | Ilana Wolpert (2022–present) |
Julia 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]
She attended Calabasas High School.[5]
Personal life
Lester is queer[6] and has been dating screenwriter Ilana Wolpert since 2022.[7]
Her character on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series also came out as queer in the third season.[6]
Acting credits
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 |
| 2025 | The Four Seasons | Lila | 4 episodes |
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Les Misérables | Little Cosette | Regional | [9] |
| 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 | |
| St. James Theatre, Broadway | [13] | |||
| 2023 | The Secret Garden | Martha Sowerby | Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles | [14] |
| I Can Get It for You Wholesale | Miss Marmelstein | Classic Stage Company, Off-Broadway | [15] | |
| 2025 | All Nighter | Wilma | The Newman Mills Theater, Off-Broadway | [16] |
| Queens | Inna | Manhattan Theatre Club, Off-Broadway |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Into the Woods | |
| Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | |||
| Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | |||
| 2025 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play | All Nighter | |
| Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play |
References
- ^ Tran, Fonticha (January 28, 2020). "High School Musical: The Series' SURPRISE Birthday Party For Julia Lester (Ashlyn)". Exclusive Hollywood. Archived September 28, 2020 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Ben-Moche, Erin (December 11, 2020). "HSM Series' Julia Lester, Larry Saperstein Perform Classics for Disney+ Holiday Special". Jewish Journal. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ "Family Links". Peter Mark Richman. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
- ^ Dallman, Gianna (December 1, 2016). "Julia Lester dominates the stage in Carrie: The Musical". CHS Courier. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
- ^ Rude, Mey (September 1, 2022). "This HSMTMTS Character Had a Big Sexuality Revelation This Week". Out. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
- ^ Wickes, Hanna (November 8, 2022). "Meet the GF: Who Is Ilana Wolpert? Meet 'HSMTMTS' Star Julia Lester's Girlfriend: Age, Job, More". J-14
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com
- ^ "Instagram". www.instagram.com
- ^ "Standing Room Only and Graceful Productions Present Staged Reading of New Musical CALVIN BERGER". BroadwayWorld. July 26, 2018. Retrieved February 23, 2020.
- ^ "I Know Things Now", September 29, 2022, retrieved 2023-11-19
- ^ "'The Secret Garden' Hold On I Ahmanson Theatre", March 6, 2023, retrieved 2023-11-19
- ^ "Julia Lester Performs "Miss Marmelstein" from I Can Get It for You Wholesale", November 15, 2023, retrieved 2023-11-19
- ^ "Julia Lester, Kathryn Gallagher, Alyah Chanelle Scott, More Star in All Nighter Off-Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved May 5, 2025.