Andrea Bowen began her life as a professional performer on Broadway in New York at the age of six, playing young Cosette in “Les Misérables,” becoming the youngest Cosette in the show’s 16-year run. She went on to originate the role of Marta Von Trapp in the original cast of the Broadway revival of “The Sound of Music,” with Richard Chamberlain, and the role of Adele in the Broadway musical production of “Jane Eyre.” While performing on Broadway, she also began to guest star on many New York-based TV shows, such as “Law & Order” and “Third Watch.” She also appeared in the films “New York Crossing” and “Highball.”

Prior to being cast in “Desperate Housewives,” Andrea played the role of Zooey Glass in the ABC primetime series “That Was Then.” She also played 12-year-old genius Riley Ellis in a recurring role on Fox’s “Boston Public.” She has essayed a wide variety of roles in her numerous guest star appearances, including an ill-tempered and foul mouthed foster child on “One Tree Hill,” and a shy, suicidal teenager on “Nip/Tuck.“

Andrea has also found success as a voiceover artist, lending her vocal talents to many projects, including the film “Ice Age” and two recently completed animated pilots for the Cartoon Network, “Party Wagon” and “Ben-10.”

As a recording artist, she can be heard on the original cast albums of “Jane Eyre, The Musical” and “The Sound of Music, ’98 Broadway Revival,” as well as “Night of the Hunter,” “Broadway Kids Sing America” and the Sugar Beats discs “Car Tunes” and “Christmas Album”.

Andrea is the youngest of six siblings, each of whom has found considerable success as a performer on Broadway and in film and television. She currently lives with her mom and dad in the Los Angeles area. In addition to acting, she is an accomplished singer and dancer who also enjoys swimming and horseback riding. She loves to read and was recently named Student of the Year for academic achievement at her 8th Grade culmination.