Alyson Michalka, also known as Aly Michalka, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She has appeared in films such as Bandslam, Cow Belles and Easy A.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1425528/ Michalka was also part of the pop music duo Aly & AJ with her younger sister Amanda Michalka.http://www.etonline.com/music/101798_Meet_Aly_and_AJ_the_Busiest_Sisters_in_Showbiz/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ETTopStories+(Entertainment+Tonight:+Breaking+News)

On the CW TV series HellCats, Michalka plays Marti Perkins.http://www.cwtv.com/shows/hellcats/cast Her character is a law student who takes up cheerleading so that she can pay her college tuition.http://www.cwtv.com/shows/hellcats/cast The comedic drama was released on September 8, 2010.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596356/ It also stars fellow ex-Disney star Ashley Tisdale, Gail O'Grady and Sharon Leal.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1596356/

Alyson Renae Michalka was born on March 25, 1989 to Mark and Carrie Michalka.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1425528/bio She was born in Torrance, California.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1425528/bio However, her family spent part of her childhood in Seattle, Washington, where she started acting at the age of five.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1425528/bio Michalka has one sibling named Amanda Michalka, who is also known as AJ.http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1425528/bio

She began her acting career as a Disney star on the comedy TV show Phil of the Future.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340281/ On the program, she played Keely Teslow, the love interest of the main character Phil Diffy. Michalka's character helped Phil, who was from the year 2121, adjust to high school life in the year 2004.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0340281/

By 2006, she went on to star in the Disney TV movie Cow Belles.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489007/ She starred in the movie, with her real life sister, as the character Taylor Callum.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489007/ In the film, she portrayed a rich teenager that tried to save her father's company and restore his sullied reputation.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0489007/

Bandslam, which was released in 2009, was Michalka's first lead role in a feature film.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976222/ She played Charlotte Banks, a teenager who encouraged other teens in her school to form a band and compete in a band competition.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976222/ The movie also starred Vanessa Hudgens and Lisa Kudrow.http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0976222/

In 2005, Michalka released her first studio album Into the Rush as part of the duo Aly & AJ.http://www.etonline.com/music/101798_Meet_Aly_and_AJ_the_Busiest_Sisters_in_Showbiz/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ETTopStories+(Entertainment+Tonight:+Breaking+News) She and her sister went on to become platinum-selling artists with the albums Into the Rush, Acoustic Hearts of Winter and Insomniatic.http://www.etonline.com/music/101798_Meet_Aly_and_AJ_the_Busiest_Sisters_in_Showbiz/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ETTopStories+(Entertainment+Tonight:+Breaking+News) Since those recordings, the Michalka sisters have changed their band name to 78violet.http://www.etonline.com/music/101798_Meet_Aly_and_AJ_the_Busiest_Sisters_in_Showbiz/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ETTopStories+(Entertainment+Tonight:+Breaking+News) Michalka stated that the name represented evolution: "Our sound is changing, and the changes that are happening are natural, and it's been a slow progression".http://www.etonline.com/music/101798_Meet_Aly_and_AJ_the_Busiest_Sisters_in_Showbiz/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+ETTopStories+(Entertainment+Tonight:+Breaking+News)

• 2004-2006: Phil of the Future

• 2005: Now You See It...

• 2005: Disney 411

• 2006: Haversham Hall

• 2006: Cow Belles

• 2006: Disney 365

• 2007: Super Sweet 16: The Movie

• 2009: Bandslam

• 2010: Easy A

• 2010: Hellcats

"When it comes to cheerleading, it’s totally new to me. That’s something I was excited to take on as a challenge. But, when it comes to my dance background, I was on a competitive hip-hop squad when I was a teenager, so I definitely can relate to that aspect and the fact that it is a big commitment to take on as a squad. To be really committed to your fellow dancers, I understand that." - Alyson Michalka http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/818884/Alyson-Michalka-dishes-Hellcats

"People can relate to it a lot. These are tough times for everyone right now in our country. There’s a lot to do with the constant struggle we have as people and life in general, the ups and downs we go through. I feel that people know what it’s like to balance your life and juggle your personal life with your career, with your school studies -- whatever it may be. I love that our show is realistic in that sense." - Alyson Michalka http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/818884/Alyson-Michalka-dishes-Hellcats