Julia Lester | |
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![]() Lester at the Opening Night of the 2022 Broadway revival of Into the Woods | |
Born | January 28, 2000 |
Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
Years active | 2009–present |
Known for | High School Musical: The Musical: The Series , Into the Woods |
Partner | Ilana Wolpert (2022–present) |
Father | Loren Lester |
Relatives | Peter Mark Richman (maternal grandfather) Lucas Richman (uncle) |
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.
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]
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]
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 |
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 |
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] |
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical | Into the Woods | Nominated |
Outer Critics Circle Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Nominated | ||
Tony Awards | Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Nominated | ||
2025 | Lucille Lortel Awards | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Play | All Nighter | Nominated |
Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Featured Performance in a Play | Nominated |