If you grew up anywhere near a television in the late 2000s, you know the room. The third-floor attic with the neon lights, the random props, and that iconic "5, 4, 3, 2..." countdown. It was the birthplace of the most famous fictional web show in history. But beyond the Spaghetti Tacos and the Butter Socks, one question still pops up for those catching reruns or the Paramount+ revival: who played Carly on iCarly?
The answer is, and always has been, Miranda Cosgrove.
It’s easy to forget just how massive she was. At one point, she was literally the highest-paid child actress on the planet. But the story of how she became Carly Shay—and what she’s been doing since the "random dancing" stopped—is actually way more interesting than just a name on a casting sheet.
The Girl Who Became Carly Shay
Miranda Cosgrove didn't just walk onto the set of iCarly as a stranger to Nickelodeon. Most of us first saw her as Megan Parker on Drake & Josh. You remember Megan. She was the devious, prank-pulling younger sister who basically made life a living nightmare for her brothers. She was the villain we all secretly loved.
When Drake & Josh wrapped up in 2007, the network knew they had a star on their hands. Dan Schneider, the creator of the show, specifically wanted to build a series around Miranda.
But it almost didn't happen the way we know it.
The original idea for the show was actually called Starstruck. Miranda was supposed to play a normal girl who suddenly gets cast in her favorite TV show. Kind of a meta-commentary on fame. During a meeting in his den, Schneider realized it would be much cooler if she just made her own show. Something she could control.
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They looked for URLs. They tried "iSam," but it was taken. They tried "iJosie." Finally, they landed on iCarly. And the rest, honestly, is internet history.
Why Miranda Was the Only Choice
Who played Carly on iCarly mattered because the character needed a very specific balance. Carly wasn't the "wild" one—that was Sam Puckett (played by Jennette McCurdy). She wasn't the "tech geek"—that was Freddie Benson (Nathan Kress). Carly was the glue. She was the "straight man" in a world of absolute chaos.
Miranda brought this weirdly grounded energy to a show that featured a brother (Jerry Trainor as Spencer) who constantly set things on fire and a neighbor who liked to take his shirt off for no reason (Gibby!).
By 2010, the Guinness World Records officially listed Miranda as the highest-paid child actress. She was making roughly $180,000 per episode. That’s nearly $200k for 22 minutes of television. It’s wild to think about now, but at the peak of the show, iCarly was pulling in over 11 million viewers for special episodes.
The Gap Years: USC and Psychology
Most child stars go one of two ways: they either stay in the spotlight until they burn out, or they disappear into a "where are they now" listicle. Miranda did something different.
She went to college.
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In 2012, after the original series ended with that emotional finale where Carly moves to Italy with her dad, Miranda packed her bags for the University of Southern California (USC). She didn't major in acting. She initially started in film but eventually switched to Psychology.
She’s spoken about this in interviews, saying she wanted to see what else was out there. She grew up on sets. She was homeschooled from the sixth grade onward because her schedule was so packed. College was her first chance to just be a person.
She still worked, of course. She’s the voice of Margo in the Despicable Me franchise, which is basically a license to print money at this point. But she wasn't chasing the paparazzi. She was living in her parents' guest house, doing her own laundry, and trying to pass exams.
The 2021 Revival and Grown-Up Carly
For years, fans begged for a reboot. In 2021, Paramount+ finally made it happen. But this wasn't the same "iCarly" from 2007.
When people ask who played Carly on iCarly in the new version, the answer is still Miranda, but she took on a much bigger role behind the scenes. She became an executive producer.
The revival was unique because it didn't try to pretend the characters were still kids. Carly was now a woman in her late 20s dealing with bad dates, career failures, and the complexities of being an "influencer" in an age where everyone is an influencer.
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The show ran for three seasons before being abruptly canceled in 2023, leaving fans on a massive cliffhanger involving Carly’s mother. It was a gut punch for the "Creddie" (Carly and Freddie) shippers who had waited over a decade to see them finally get together.
Where is Miranda Cosgrove in 2026?
As of 2026, Miranda is still very much a fixture in Hollywood, though she picks her projects carefully. She’s transitioned into more adult roles, like her turn in the rom-com Mother of the Bride and the indie film Drugstore June.
She also hosts Mission Unstoppable on CBS, a show that highlights women in STEM. It’s a far cry from "Baby Spencer" or "The Cowboy with the Mustache and the Idiot Farm Girl," but it fits her perfectly. She’s smart, she’s stayed out of the typical "child star" scandals, and she seems genuinely happy.
Little Known Facts About the Carly Casting
- The School of Rock Connection: Before she was Carly or Megan, Miranda played Summer Hathaway in School of Rock. She had to take a "bad singing" lesson for the role because she was actually a decent singer in real life.
- The Theme Song: That’s her singing. "Leave It All To Me" features her Drake & Josh co-star Drake Bell.
- The Discovery: She was discovered at the age of three while singing and dancing at a restaurant called Taste of L.A. An agent just walked up to her parents and handed them a card.
What to Do Next
If you’re looking to dive back into the world of Carly Shay, here is the best way to do it:
- Watch the Original "iPilot": It’s amazing to see how much of the DNA of the show was there from the very first minute.
- Check out "iGoodbye": The original series finale. It still holds up as one of the most emotional endings to a kid’s show ever.
- Stream the Revival: Even though it’s canceled, the three seasons on Paramount+ are worth it for the nostalgia alone—just be prepared for that cliffhanger ending.
- Follow Miranda on Socials: She’s surprisingly active and often shares behind-the-scenes photos from her various projects.
Miranda Cosgrove managed to survive the "teen idol" machine with her sanity and her career intact. Whether you know her as the mischievous Megan or the internet-pioneering Carly, there's no denying she defined a generation of Nickelodeon TV.