NOUGHTIES telly fans won’t believe their eyes as one star from the era has appeared to age backwards.
Keiko Agena, 50, is best known for playing Lane Kim in the Gilmore Girls and she looks almost identical to when the show launched.
But although Lane was a teenager in the hit US comedy-drama series, which can now be streamed on ITVX, Keiko was actually 27 when she landed the part.
In a recent Instagram video, Keiko ditched her make-up during an early morning stroll along the beach while on holiday.
She captioned the video: “I got up early to watch the sunrise. I’m the only one on the beach. Leaving Puerto Rico today. Peaceful. #NoMakeup #NoFilter Wasn’t planning to film myself…”
One fan commented: “Gorgeous!! And the beach ain’t too shabby, either.”
Another added: “Beautiful, talented and you have the best hair ever! Getting better every year.”
Keiko, who was born in Honolulu in Hawaii, was 24 when the Gilmore Girls hit screens in 2000.
Her Korean-American teenage character, Lane Kim, was the best friend of lead character Rory Gilmore.
Fans watched Lane as she battled with her strict Korean-Christian and vegan parents, as she didn’t share their beliefs.
The school girl had a passion for rock-and-roll music instead, which she kept a secret, but as the Gilmore Girls progressed, she managed to convince her parents to let her lead a more conventional life.
The character of Lane was only 16 when the show launched, but Keiko was actually eleven years older when it hit screens.
During the Gilmore Girls’ seven year run, Keiko even ran off to Las Vegas and got married to her husband Shinichiro ‘Shin’ Kawasaki.
A few months later, she told Pop Gurls: “We got married in a helicopter over Las Vegas. We didn’t tell anybody – we just snuck out there. Then called people about two days later.”
Keiko is still acting and is due to appear in a short movie called Really Good Driver. She has also starred in a string of US telly shows since the Gilmore Girls ended.
During the pandemic, Keiko reunited – virtually – with her Gilmore Girls co-star Adam Brody to encourage fans to vote in the 2020 Presidential Election in America.
Adam – who is married to Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester – played Lane’s love interest Dave Rygalski in the Gilmore Girls and fans were thrilled to see them on-screen together.
Commenting on their Instagram Live, one of Keiko’s followers wrote: “LANE AND DAVE OMG I AM CRYING LOVE U.”
Another added: “This melts my heart Dave was literally the best boyfriend Lane had.”
And someone else simply added: “This makes my heart happy.”
