Raise Your Voice

Background:

Actress and singer Lauren C. Mayhew has appeared in the television series “Law & Order,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “CSI: Miami,” “Joan of Arcadia,” “Valley Peaks” and “American Dreams,” as well as the films “Raise Your Voice” (2004, with Hillary Duff), “Private High Musical” (2008) and “Frat Party” (2009). She also served as a ring announcer on several episodes of “Extreme Championship Wrestling” in 2009. As a singer, Mayhew toured with popular artists like Britney Spears and produced a single album with the now defunct Florida based girl group PYT. She released a debut solo album titled “Mayhew” in 2006.

Mayhew participates in The Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness, a charitable organization helping to prevent eating disorders.

Laur Laur

Childhood and Family:

Lauren Courtney Mayhew was born on November 27, 1985, in Tampa, Florida. Her father, David Mayhew, is an orthopedic surgeon and her mother, Sharon Mayhew, is a nurse. She has a younger sister named Briana (born September 30, 1988) and attended UCLA in Los Angeles. Her nickname is Laur Laur.

Private High Musical

Career:

Lauren C. Mayhew made her television acting debut at age 8 when she starred in the PBS series “The Reppies.” She became a finalist in a national Wilhelmina contest the following year, where she ended up winning a manager after a judge, Marilyn Zitner, signed her. From 1998 to 1999, Mayhew played the role of Marah Lewis on the daytime soap opera “Guiding Light.” She also played Sandy in a 1999 episode of “Safe Harbor” called “Can't Touch That.”

Mayhew took a break from acting and signed with Epic Records in the late 1990s to become a member of the girl group PYT, along with childhood friends Tracy Williams, Ashley McNelis and Lydia Bell. The group released a debut album on June 19, 2001, titled “PYT (Down with Me.” The album spawned two singles with “Same Ol Same Ol,” featuring rapper Sarai, and “PYT (Down With Me).” The group also toured with Destiny's Child, 'N Sync, 98 Degrees and Britney Spears before disbanding in 2002.

After the group broke up, Mayhew and former band member Lydia Bell formed a new group called Turning Point. She also returned to acting and played Melissa Gelson in “Girl Most Likely,” a 2002 episode of “Law & Order.” She went on to land the recurring role of Carol Henley in the first season of the NBC drama “American Dreams,” which starred Brittany Snow, before making her big screen debut in “Raise Your Voice” (2004), a teen musical drama starring Hillary Duff. Mayhew was cast as Duff's arch rival, Robin, in the film.

The actress next portrayed Sudie Miller in an episode of “Medical Investigation” called “Spiked,” Elle in the “Joan of Arcadia” episode titled “The Rise & Fall of Joan Girardi” (2005), Candice Mosti in an episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” named “4x4,” and Stephanie in “Under Suspicion,” an episode of 'CSI: Miami” (all 2005). The same year, she was also cast as Arianna in the direct to video movie “American Pie Presents Band Camp.” In 2006, she launched a solo album titled “Mayhew” via iTunes.

In 2008, Mayhew resumed her film career by starring in the comedy “Private High Musical,” alongside Dennis Haskins and Taryn Southern, who also wrote the screenplay. She then played Kelly in “Frat Party” (2009), a comedy feature directed and written by Robert Bennett, and guest starred as Stacy in “Valley Peaks” (also 2009).

Mayhew began working for the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) professional wrestling promotion as a ring announcer for its ECW brand during an October 2009 episode of “Extreme Championship Wrestling.” She would stay with the show until November 2009.

Awards:
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