The 2004 flick follows a teenage Jenna Rink, as she wakes up one morning in the body of her 30-year-old self. Over the course of the movie, Jenna realizes that her adult life is suffering from the mistakes that she made in her younger years, principally in terms of the way that she treated her best friend Mattie. In the end, she returns to her teenage life and makes things right. Jenna and Mattie get married and live happily ever after.
The story stars Jennifer Garner as 30-year-old Jenna, but who is the younger actress? On Wednesday, March 24th, the Young Jenna Rink revealed her identity. This is what she’s up to now.
Who Is ‘Jenna Rink’?
The woman who played the young Jenna in 13 Going On 30 is Christa B. Allen, and she is finally turning thirty years-old. The actress revealed her identity in a series of viral TikToks, where she confirms that she indeed participated in the film.
In one video, Christa re-enacts stills from the old romcom, contrasting her current image with moments in the movie. In another, she engages in cos-play of her old role by wearing 1980s attire, a high ponytail and huge braces.
The videos were particularly appealing to fans who recognized her character; one of her clips even racked up 4 million views.
Her most recent reel mentions the way that fans of the movie interact with her these days. “People be like: Weren’t you the 13-year-old in 13 Going On 30,” she writes. Christa then confirms, “Yup. And I’m almost 30.”
Christa’s Last Two Decades
Over the course of the last twenty years or so, Jenna has continued to work as an actress. She has played Daphne in the Disney Channel hit Wizards Of Waverly Place. More recently, she played a recurring role in the popular drama Revenge, in which she interpreted the wealthy young Charlotte Grayson.
However, Christa’s Instagram isn’t afraid to discuss the more difficult realities of acting. In one post, she explains that “unless you’re Brad Pitt,” acting jobs don’t just manifest. Instead, she is engaged in a constant process of auditions.
We wish Christa the best as she pursues her acting endeavors!