You’ve probably seen 13 Going on 30 at least a dozen times. It’s the ultimate comfort movie. Jennifer Garner doing the "Thriller" dance, the Razzles, the 80s nostalgia—it’s basically perfect. But there’s a massive detail hiding in plain sight that most people totally blink and miss.
Before she was winning an Oscar for Room or flying through space as Captain Marvel, Brie Larson in 13 Going on 30 was just a teenager in a blue top trying to look cool.
Honestly, it’s wild to look back at now. She wasn’t a lead. She didn't even have a character name. In the credits, she’s literally just "Six Chick #3."
Why Brie Larson in 13 Going on 30 is the Ultimate "Before They Were Famous" Moment
In 2004, Brie Larson was only about 14 or 15 years old. She was part of the "Six Chicks," the clique of popular middle-school girls who basically made young Jenna Rink’s life a living hell.
Think about that for a second.
The woman we now know as a powerhouse of emotional depth and superhero strength started out playing a nameless, bubblegum-popping mean girl. She’s right there in the background of the 1987 flashback scenes. Specifically, you can spot her during the infamous basement party where Jenna gets locked in the closet.
She’s usually standing to the right.
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The Marvel Connection Nobody Saw Coming
What makes this even crazier is the weird "future-proofing" the casting directors did without knowing it. 13 Going on 30 is practically a Marvel recruitment film.
- Mark Ruffalo (Matt Flamhaff) became the Hulk.
- Brie Larson (Six Chick) became Captain Marvel.
- Judy Greer (Lucy/Tom-Tom) ended up in Ant-Man.
- Andy Serkis (Richard) played Ulysses Klaue in Black Panther.
Even Mark Ruffalo had no clue. During the Avengers: Endgame premiere in 2019, an interviewer showed him a photo of Brie Larson in 13 Going on 30. His reaction was pure gold. He was genuinely shocked, shouting, "She was a mean girl! Oh my god!" It’s kind of hilarious that they worked together on one of the biggest blockbusters of all time before he realized they’d shared a movie set fifteen years earlier.
A Career Pivot in the Making
You might think a tiny role like that wouldn't matter much. Just a paycheck for a teen actor, right? Not exactly.
Brie has actually mentioned in interviews that her time on that set was a massive turning point. Not because of the script, but because of what was happening behind the camera. She spent her downtime watching the crew. She became fascinated by the technical side of things—how the lights were set, how the director moved the actors.
She credits this experience as one of the reasons she eventually wanted to direct. It’s sort of poetic. A movie about wanting to grow up actually helped her figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up.
The "Six Chick" Legacy
Larson wasn’t the only "Six Chick" who went on to do big things. Ashley Benson, who everyone knows from Pretty Little Liars, was also in that group.
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It’s a testament to the casting team. They didn't just pick random kids; they picked a group of girls who clearly had "it." Even without lines, Brie had that specific, slightly judgmental "cool girl" stare down to a science.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cameo
There’s a common misconception that she had a bigger role that got cut.
That’s not really the case. She was always meant to be background texture. In the 80s scenes, the Six Chicks function as a monolith—a single entity of teenage intimidation. If you watch closely during the scene where Jenna presents her "Dream House" project, you can see Brie’s character looking unimpressed.
It’s subtle, but the talent is there.
The "Yearbook" Theory
There’s a fun theory floating around Reddit and movie forums. In the "future" 2004 timeline, Jenna looks through old yearbooks. If you look at the photos of the Six Chicks, some fans claim the producers digitally swapped some of the girls' faces or changed the lineup to make the "Six Chicks" count stay accurate after Jenna (theoretically) tried to join.
Whether it’s a production error or a deep-lore Easter egg, it just adds to the mystery of Brie's early career.
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Why This Matters for Fans Today
Seeing a star like Brie Larson in 13 Going on 30 is a great reminder that "overnight success" is almost always a lie.
She spent years doing minor roles, Disney Channel movies like Right on Track, and guest spots on sitcoms before she ever got her big break. It makes her Oscar win feel a lot more earned. She was the girl in the blue top in the background long before she was the face on the poster.
If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity, go back and re-watch the opening 15 minutes of the movie.
Here is your "Brie Spotting" checklist:
- The Birthday Party: Look for the girl with the side-swept hair and the blue shirt.
- The Closet Scene: She's one of the girls laughing as they ditch Jenna.
- The School Hallway: Keep an eye on the group surrounding young Lucy (Tom-Tom).
Turning Trivia into Action
Next time you’re at a trivia night or just hanging out with friends, drop the "Six Chick" bomb. Most people know about Mark Ruffalo, but almost nobody realizes Captain Marvel was part of the original mean girl clique.
What to do next:
- Re-watch the first 20 minutes: Focus purely on the background of the 1987 scenes.
- Check out "United States of Tara": If you want to see Brie's next big "teen" evolution after her cameo days, this is the show that really put her on the map.
- Look for the "Thriller" scene: While Brie isn't in the adult dance sequence (obviously), it’s still the best part of the movie.
The trajectory from "nameless bully" to "most powerful being in the galaxy" is a pretty decent career arc. It just goes to show—never underestimate the girl in the background.