Introduction to Acting

Hannelius’s interest in acting emerged during childhood. She began her journey in local theater productions, landing early roles such as Madeline in Madeline’s Rescue and Jenny in Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing, both performed in 2002. Recognizing her talent and enthusiasm, her parents supported her ambitions by relocating the family to Los Angeles in 2008 to advance her acting career. One of her earliest on-screen appearances was in a commercial for the Aquarium of the Pacific, which marked the beginning of her professional journey.

Television Career and Breakthrough Roles

Genevieve Hannelius made her official television debut in 2009, portraying Courtney Patterson in the series Surviving Suburbia. She quickly gained recognition through recurring roles, including Dakota Condor in Sonny with a Chance (2009) and Jo Keener in Good Luck Charlie (2010). Her most prominent role came in 2012 when she starred as Avery Jennings in Disney Channel’s Dog with a Blog, a performance that solidified her status as a leading teen actress.

Over the years, she built a solid television portfolio with appearances in several well-known series. Her roles include Tiffany in Hannah Montana (2009), Brianna Boone in Rita Rocks (2009), Emily Pearson in Den Brother (2010), Ms. Dempsey in I’m in the Band (2011), Maddy Tinnelli in Love Bites (2011), Mackenzie "Mad Mac" in Jessie (2014), and Missy Waller in the critically acclaimed miniseries Roots (2016).