You remember the silver spandex. Honestly, if you grew up with a Disney Channel subscription in the late 90s, the "Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century" cast basically defined your vision of the future. It wasn't just a movie; it was a cultural reset for the pre-teen demographic. We all wanted to live on a space station, use "zetus lapetus" as a legitimate exclamation of shock, and somehow convince our parents that neon pink hair streaks were a school-appropriate look.
But here is the thing.
Looking back at the Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century cast, it’s wild to see how many of these actors actually shaped the landscape of modern television and film. This wasn't just a group of kids in a low-budget DCOM. We are talking about a cast that includes an Emmy winner, a future Ravenclaw, and a guy who played one of the most iconic rock stars in fictional history.
Kirsten Storms: From Space Station 9 to Port Charles
Kirsten Storms was the heartbeat of the film as Zenon Kar. She had this frenetic energy that made you believe she could actually hack into a space station's mainframe while wearing platforms. After the Zenon trilogy wrapped up, Storms didn't just fade away into the "where are they now" abyss. She pivoted hard into the world of soap operas.
First, she took on the role of Belle Black on Days of Our Lives. Then, she moved over to General Hospital to play Maxie Jones. She’s been in that role for nearly two decades now. It’s a career longevity that most Hollywood actors would kill for. Think about that for a second. The girl who taught us how to dance to "Supernova Girl" is now a daytime television institution. She has faced real-life health battles, including brain surgery in 2021, and has been incredibly open with her fans about her recovery. It makes her Zenon-era spunk feel a lot more grounded in real-world resilience.
Raven-Symoné: The Sidekick Who Became a Titan
Nebula Wade was the best friend we all wanted. Raven-Symoné played her with a level of charisma that, looking back, clearly signaled she was going to be a star. At the time, she was already "that kid from The Cosby Show," but Zenon helped transition her into the Disney powerhouse she eventually became.
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It's actually kind of funny. Nebula was the grounded one. While Zenon was losing her mind over Earth gravity, Nebula was just trying to keep things chill. Raven went on to lead That's So Raven, which was a massive ratings juggernaut for Disney. She’s been a talk show host on The View, a Broadway star in Sister Act, and even returned to the Disney fold for Raven’s Home. Out of the entire Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century cast, she’s arguably the most famous, proving that sometimes the "best friend" role is just a stepping stone to an empire.
The Mystery of Proto Zoa: Phillip Rhys
"Zoom, zoom, zoom! Make my heart go boom, boom!"
If those lyrics don't immediately trigger a core memory, did you even watch the movie? Phillip Rhys played Proto Zoa, the spikey-haired, leather-clad rock star of the future. He was the ultimate crush for 1999. But after the frosted tips were brushed out, Rhys took a very different path.
He didn't stick to teen fluff. Not at all. He appeared in high-stakes dramas like 24 (playing Reza Naiyeer) and the gritty plastic surgery drama Nip/Tuck. He also transitioned into directing. It’s a fascinating pivot. You go from being the intergalactic version of a boy band member to working on intense, critically acclaimed television. He’s also done extensive work in the UK, showing a range that "Supernova Girl" didn't exactly require.
Why Gregory Smith Disappeared from the Sequels
Remember Greg? The cute Earth boy who helped Zenon navigate the complexities of wind, rain, and dirt? Gregory Smith played him in the first film. He was the quintessential 90s heartthrob. But when the sequels came around, Greg was gone.
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Why? Because Smith’s career was blowing up in a more "serious" direction. He went on to star in Everwood, a show that still has a massive cult following for its emotional depth and writing. Later, he became a mainstay on Rookie Blue. Most importantly, he transitioned into a prolific director, helming episodes of Arrow, The Flash, and Riverdale. While he wasn't in the later Zenon movies, his presence in the first one gave the movie its grounded, romantic heart.
The Supporting Players: Shadia Simmons and Lauren Maltby
We can't ignore the rest of the crew. Shadia Simmons, who played the "new" Nebula in the second movie (there was a weird casting shuffle there), became a staple of Canadian television and Disney's Life with Derek. She eventually stepped away from acting to focus on education, which is a common and honestly respectable path for many child stars who want a "normal" life.
Then there’s Lauren Maltby as Margie. She was the "mean girl" of the space station, but like all good Disney villains of that era, she had a redemption arc. Maltby appeared in all three films, providing a consistent foil for Zenon's optimism. After the franchise ended, she left the industry entirely and reportedly became a clinical psychologist. There is something poetic about the girl who played a high-strung perfectionist on a space station growing up to help people manage their real-life stress.
The Weirdness of the Tech (And Why the Cast Sold It)
Looking at the Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century cast now, you realize they were working with some truly bizarre props. This was 1999's idea of 2049. They had "zap pads" that were basically chunky iPads, and video calls that actually looked pretty similar to what we use on Zoom today.
The actors had to sell the idea that a handheld device was revolutionary. Honestly, they did a great job. When Kirsten Storms looks at her little screen with wonder, she isn't just acting—she's reflecting the genuine techno-optimism of the turn of the millennium. We really thought the future was going to be shiny and colorful. Nobody predicted the future would actually be "minimalist beige" and "doom-scrolling."
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The Legacy of the 21st Century
The film dealt with some surprisingly heavy themes for a kids' movie. Corporate greed? Check. Environmental destruction of Earth? Check. The isolation of living in a gated community (even if that community is in orbit)? Absolutely.
The cast made these themes digestible. They didn't play it like a dark sci-fi thriller; they played it with the earnestness of teenagers just trying to survive high school. That’s why it stuck. You didn't care about the physics of the space station. You cared if Zenon was going to get grounded or if she’d get to see the concert.
What You Can Do Now
If you are feeling nostalgic, there are a few ways to engage with the legacy of the Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century cast without just re-watching the movie for the 50th time:
- Check out the "General Hospital" archives. If you want to see Kirsten Storms’ range, watch her work as Maxie Jones. She’s handled everything from kidnapping plots to intense medical dramas.
- Follow Phillip Rhys’ directorial work. He has a unique eye, and seeing the man behind Proto Zoa direct intense television is a great "worlds colliding" moment.
- Revisit "Everwood." If you missed Gregory Smith's transition into adult acting, Everwood is one of the best family dramas of the early 2000s. It holds up remarkably well.
- Listen to Raven-Symoné’s recent interviews. She’s incredibly candid about the pressures of being a child star at Disney and gives a lot of behind-the-scenes context to that era of filmmaking.
The future didn't turn out exactly the way Zenon predicted. We don't have disk-shaped houses or silver suits as daily wear. But the actors who brought that world to life are still very much a part of our cultural fabric. They moved from the stars back down to Earth, and they’re doing just fine.
The evolution of the Zenon cast reflects the broader shift in how we view "teen" stars. They aren't just faces on a screen; they are professionals who built long-term careers in a notoriously difficult industry. Whether it’s in a soap opera, a director’s chair, or a psychology practice, the "Girl of the 21st Century" left a legacy that is much more grounded than her orbital home suggested.
Next Steps for the Nostalgic Fan:
Start by looking up the latest projects of the supporting cast on IMDb to see the vast array of independent films and voice-over work they've contributed to. Many of the smaller roles were filled by seasoned Canadian character actors who have appeared in nearly every major production filmed in Toronto or Vancouver over the last twenty years. Following their filmographies is a great way to discover high-quality "hidden gem" series you might have otherwise overlooked.