julia lester

Julia Lester, a Los Angeles native born on January 28, 2000, began her professional acting career at the age of five. Her early theatrical experiences included roles such as Little Cosette in a regional production of “Les Misérables” in 2009 and Dorothy Gale in “The Wizard of Oz” in 2012. These formative years laid the groundwork for her eventual transition into prominent television roles, showcasing her consistent engagement in the performing arts from a young age.

Lester gained widespread recognition for her role as Ashlyn Caswell in the Disney+ series “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” which premiered in 2019 and concluded in 2023, spanning 38 episodes. Concurrently with her television success, she made a significant impact on Broadway. In 2022, she performed as Little Red Ridinghood in the Broadway revival of “Into the Woods,” a performance that earned her a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Her stage career continued with roles in “The Secret Garden” at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles (2023) and “I Can Get It for You Wholesale” Off-Broadway at the Classic Stage Company (2023).

Beyond her major roles, Lester has built a diverse filmography, including appearances in television series such as “Mom” (2017), where she played Emily in three episodes, and “Prince of Peoria” (2018-2019) as Suzie. She has also contributed voice work to animated series like “Spirit Riding Free” (2017) and “Hailey’s On It!” (2023-2024). Her career demonstrates a consistent trajectory of growth and a commitment to both acting and musical performance, leading to her current work on upcoming projects like the TV series “The Four Seasons” (2025) and the Off-Broadway play “All Nighter” (2025), for which she has also received a Lucille Lortel Awards nomination for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play.