Carly Schroeder, born on October 18, 1990, in Valparaiso, Indiana, is an American actress and U.S. Army officer. She began her career as a child model and actress, appearing in commercials and print work for various companies.

Her first significant role came in 1997 when she was cast as Serena Baldwin on the soap opera spin-off "Port Charles," a role that earned her two Young Artist Award nominations. Her younger brother, Hunter Schroeder, is also an actor and currently serves in the U.S. Marine Corps.

In 2001, Carly Schroeder gained more recognition for her role as Melina Bianco on the Disney Channel's "Lizzie McGuire," where she appeared in twelve episodes and the movie adaptation. Her performance in the 2004 film "Mean Creek" won critical acclaim, and the movie received several awards, including the Humanitas Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.

Carly Schroeder starred in the 2007 film "Gracie," inspired by the real-life story of Elisabeth and Andrew Shue, which further showcased her acting talent.

She has been involved in animal rights activism, environmentalism, and nutritional advocacy. In 2019, she made a significant career shift by joining the United States Army, where she currently serves as an Infantry Officer with the rank of First Lieutenant.

Carly Schroeder graduated from California Lutheran University in 2013 and continued her education in nutrition and holistic care.

Throughout her career, she has received several awards and nominations, including the Best Actress award at the 2016 Studio City Film Festival for her role in "Prep School".