Actress Who Played Younger Version Of Jennifer Garner In '13 Going On 30' Turned 30

Nov 17, 2021 by apost team

To this day, the 2004 romantic comedy “13 Going on 30” is still recognized as one of the best in the genre, and it’s easy to see why. With a fun and twisting plotline that teeters on the line of fantasy carried out by some of the world’s most established actors in the industry, there’s no shortage of love and lightheartedness the film has to offer.

Jennifer Garner played the main character of Jenna Rink, a teenager who wishes that she could be “30, flirty and thriving” on her 13th birthday. The best friend turned love interest is played by Mark Ruffalo, with other standout actors including Judy Greer and Andy Serkis.

While the adult actors carried out the plot beautifully, no one could forget about the younger stars who helped make the film so iconic. Since appearing in the movie, these young actors have since grown up to become quite successful in the industry themselves, specifically actresses Ashley Benson and Brie Larson, who played the parts of members of the Six Chicks in “13 Going on 30.”

Another notable actress from the film is Christa B. Allen, who played the 13-year-old version of Jenna Rink. Allen was almost 13 at the time the film was released, making her the perfect star to play the iconic role. On Nov. 11, 2021, the actress had a blast celebrating her 30th birthday, and people from all over the world were quick to send her best wishes and congratulations, including none other than one of her previous co-stars.

Since jump-starting her career by appearing in the classic rom-com “13 Going on 30,” Allen has showcased her talents as an actress in several movies and television series. She has had a few minor roles on several Disney TV series, including “Cory in the House,” “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “The Suite Life on Deck.” She’s also had some larger roles in other series, including “Revenge” and “Baby Daddy.” She is also set to voice the character of Jessica Jewel in the upcoming television series “Adults Only.”

Despite her long and impressive resume, fans can’t forget how the star first got her start by starring as the younger version of Jenna Rink, with the adult version being played by one of America’s most beloved actresses, Garner. One of the most memorable moments from the movie is the scene where Garner wears a gorgeous brightly colored dress and, alongside Ruffalo, dances to “Thriller” by Michael Jackson.

Not only is the scene recognized as one of the best moments from the movie, but the dress has gone on to become a staple in fashion history. To this day, people still gush over how beautiful it was, with some lucky ones even finding similar knock-offs. 

During the 21st season of “The Voice,” coach and pop star Ariana Grande wore the Versace designed dress. Although Allen never got to wear the colorful dress from the “Thriller” scene in the movie, she made sure to live out her wildest dreams during the summer of 2021 when she found the dress online.

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According to Business Insider, Allen celebrated her 30th birthday in style while posting a series of videos on her TikTok account titled “Vienna,” showing off just how much she looked like her famous co-star who played the same role as her. If they were to remake “13 Going on 30,” it’s clear that Allen could now play the part of Jenna since she looks quite similar to how Garner looked at the time of filming.

In her TikTok series, Allen pays homage to the film where she got her start while also mocking it a bit. She even references the iconic line: “30, flirty and thriving.” As if she wasn’t having enough fun celebrating her milestone birthday, Allen got the best birthday present she could have ever asked for: a sweet message from Garner herself.

Not only did the stitched TikTok show just how similar Allen and Garner looked, but it highlighted just how much Garner truly hasn’t aged since playing her iconic role. Taking on the role of Jenna, Garner delivered a heartwarming message to Allen as they both celebrated their 30th birthdays. In her message, Garner said, “Happy 30th birthday to you and happy 30th birthday to me. It’s just I guess I wished on a dollhouse, and I didn’t really age, it’s crazy.”

Garner didn’t stop there with the birthday messages to Allen and the homage to “13 Going on 30.” According to Business Insider, the actress also posted a video of Allen in the “Thriller” dress on her Instagram stories on Nov. 11, 2021, with the caption: “Look who’s 30! The OG Jenna Rink! Happy birthday, @christaallen."

What do you think about the way Christa B. Allen celebrated her 30th birthday? Were you surprised to see Jennifer Garner’s messages to her? Let us know, and be sure to pass this along to any “13 Going on 30” fan you know!