Where did they go?: The Six Chicks

As if I don’t have enough happening on TMP already, I’ve decided to possibly start up another series on the blog. This one will focus on the lesser-known cast members who make non-leading appearances in some of my favorite films, seeing what they’ve done since appearing in those favorite films. I’m using this post to test the waters, so let me know if you’d like to see more of ’em!

This series will include films of all eras, as the idea occurred to me while watching 13 Going on 30 (2004) and once again realizing that Ashley Benson of Pretty Little Liars fame has a small role as a “Six Chick.” Which brings me to the topic of today’s post…

Where are all of 13 Going on 30‘s “six chicks” now?

The leader of the pack: Alexandra Kyle as “Tom-Tom”
In movieland, Tom-Tom goes on to be a scheming magazine editor who works alongside 30-year-old Jenna Rink and inevitably stabs her in the back. In the real world, Alexandra Kyle, who played the young version of Tom-Tom, has gone on to appear in six additional roles after her appearance in 13 Going on 30.  Two of these appearances have been in films (DisCONNECTED and Funky Monkey), three have been in guest-starring TV roles (Without a Trace, Days of Our Lives and Justified) and one has been a television movie (A Thin Line). She’s got a total of 13 acting jobs under her belt according to IMDb and has also worked as a screener for America’s Funniest Home Videos.

The blog series inspiration: Ashley Benson as an unnamed six chick
If Tom-Tom was the queen bee of the six chicks, my sister and I have come to the conclusion that Ashley Benson’s nameless character was probably her right-hand lady, until Jenna joined the gang. Benson seems to have a bit of knack for such cliquey roles, and is now most well-known as Hanna Marin, one of four friends being terrorized via text message by an anonymous foe on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars. (Don’t knock it ’til you watch it. PLL is a completely nutty show packed with more questions than answers and I fall a little bit above its target age group, but it keeps me hooked and contains a surprisingly large amount of classic film references!) Benson has 22 acting gigs listed on IMDb, including Harmony Korine’s polarizing film Spring Breakers, a guest spot on “How I Met Your Mother,” a prominent role on the short-lived ABC series Eastwick and a recurring role on Days of Our Lives. She seems to be doing very well for herself, and with a big role on a TV show that’s so enormously popular, I’m sure her star will only continue to rise.

And the other nameless Six Chicks…

Brittany Curran has a lot going on: two projects currently filming, including a new television series called Twisted, and two films in post-production. Curran has 32 credits on IMDb and her work seems to be pretty varied, from children’s programming to guest spots on crime shows to straight-to-DVD cornballers. Apparently she’s a singer, too!

Brie Larson also seems to be doing quite well, with three projects currently in the works and 41 credits total on IMDb. She had a recurring role on United States of Tara and will appear in Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s Don Jon. She also starred alongside Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum in the tv-to-film remake 21 Jump Street. Also a singer, Larson was once signed with Universal Music but moved to a smaller label in 2010. She has released one album.
**UPDATE, JANUARY 2016: The past few years since I published this post have been amazing for Brie! Since I’ve noticed quite a bit of traffic coming to the site from people looking for her, here’s what she’s been up to: A break out role in 2013’s Short Term 12; Roles in The Spectacular Now, The Gambler, Digging for Fire, and Trainwreck; and, finally, a Golden Globe-winning performance in the 2015 film Room. Brie is making a name for herself as one of Hollywood’s brightest 20-something actresses and has proven herself to be incredibly talented!
**UPDATE, FEBRUARY 2016: Brie has now won an Oscar for her performance in Room. Well-deserved! Congratulations, Brie!

Megan Lusk is the most anonymous of all of the anonymous “Six Chicks.” Of her four film and television credits, two are one-time roles on television series. I was unable to find any information on what she’s doing now, so I can only assume she decided to drop out of Hollywood in favor of a different career.

Julia Roth appeared in four films after 13 Going on 30, all minor roles, one of which was uncredited. Her most recent acting credit is from 2008’s Drillbit Taylor, but she seems to be working overseas now. She’s got a few assistant directing, writing and other crew credits to her name.

And finally, the girl who would have left Matty in the dust and became a “Six Chick” in high school, had her birthday premonition/fantasy of 30-year-old life not occurred…

Christa B. Allen as young Jenna Rink
“Young Jenna” seems to have been Christa B. Allen’s first role. She went on to play the teenage version of Jennifer Garner for a second time in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. She has amassed a total of 21 acting credits, the most exciting of which is a prominent role on the television drama Revenge, as the troubled daughter of the family that is being revenge-d. Her character seemed to me to be gaining more screen time in the tail end of season two, so I’m sure we’ll only see more of her in the future as the show enters its third season. Also included in her filmography are a number of smaller television roles and a couple of indie films.