Phillip Rhys Chaudhary Reflects on Proto Zoa’s Legacy and Life After Zenon
Phillip Rhys Chaudhary, best known for his role as the intergalactic rockstar Proto Zoa in Disney Channel’s Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century and its sequel, has finally opened up about the lasting impact of the role and how it shaped his career.
Alright, let’s be honest—you probably didn’t wake up today thinking about *Zenon*, but here we are. And since you’re clearly in need of a refresher (or a crash course), I suppose I can help. After all, it’s not every day that a platinum-blonde space rocker becomes a cult icon. But that’s exactly what happened to Phillip Rhys Chaudhary, and now he’s giving us the full behind-the-scenes scoop.
For those of you who lived under a pop culture-free rock in the late ’90s and early 2000s, *Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century* was a Disney Channel Original Movie that became a generational touchstone. Chaudhary’s character, Proto Zoa, was the swoon-worthy frontman of the fictional band Microbe. And while the role may not have launched him into A-list stardom, it certainly earned him a permanent spot in the hearts of a very specific—and very passionate—fanbase.
In a recent interview with E! News, Chaudhary admitted that while he once tried to distance himself from the role, he now embraces its legacy. “I think at some point I was like, ‘You know what, I just can’t just be about [Zenon],’” he confessed. And honestly, who can blame him? The guy went on to appear in *24*, which scored him a SAG nomination, and worked behind the camera as a director. He’s had a solid career. But as he put it, “There’s something about this one that hit the zeitgeist with a certain group of folks.”
It’s not like Proto Zoa was originally written to be the rock god we all remember. Chaudhary revealed that the character was initially more subdued—think Sting in *The Police*—but he had other plans. Drawing inspiration from Oasis and a previous rock role, he brought a wilder, spikier, and infinitely cooler version of Proto Zoa to life. And it worked. The production team loved it, and the rest is history.
Of course, becoming a space-rocker wasn’t without its challenges. He had to show up at 3:30 a.m. for hair and makeup, and his dance moves were… let’s say, minimal. “They said to the rest of the band, ‘You guys do all of the chassé and the jeté,’” he joked. “‘Phil, you just go left foot, right foot that way, left foot, right that way, and just shake your hips or something.’ So we did that, and it worked out.”
And yes, he still loves “Supernova Girl.” “I had to learn the words the night before, but it was catchy immediately,” he said. “I said, ‘There’s something here, definitely.’”
Though some of his more “serious” actor friends didn’t quite get the *Zenon* appeal, Chaudhary always believed in the project. After seeing the first movie screen to a live audience on the Disney lot, he was convinced it was going to be a hit. “I think I’m pretty good in it,” he said with a laugh. And he wasn’t wrong.
So, what’s next for the former space rocker? Well, you’ll just have to keep reading to find out.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! News
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