Category: Entertainment | Title: How Old Were Anna and Maya in Pen15 | Tag: Pen15 | Meta Description: Facts about the ages of Anna and Maya in Pen15, the Hulu series that starred real middle schoolers...
How Old Were Anna and Maya in Pen15
Anna Konkle and Maya Erskine were both 13 years old in the storyline of Pen15, which is set in 2000. The actors were born in 1987 and 1987 respectively, making them adults portraying seventh graders. The show premiered on Hulu on February 8, 2019, and ran for two seasons. Pen15 was created by Maya Erskine, Anna Konkle, and Sam Zvibleman. The series used the contrast between the actors' real ages and their characters' ages as a central comedic and dramatic device. Learn more about the show's premise on the Hulu official page for Pen15 Hulu Pen15 series page.
The core concept of Pen15 relied on the fact that only the actors playing the seventh graders were actually that age. Anna and Maya were the only seventh graders in a group of adults, which emphasized the awkwardness of middle school. The show was widely praised for its accurate and cringe-inducing portrayal of early 2000s adolescence. Critics noted that the casting choice made the emotional stakes of the characters' experiences feel more authentic. The series was produced by Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment and The Lonely Island's Comedy Bang Bang Productions.
Anna Konkle's Age in Pen15
Anna Konkle was born on April 7, 1987, which means she was 12 turning 13 when the show's events took place in the year 2000. In the series, her character Anna Katsuragi is a seventh grader navigating the complexities of early adolescence. Konkle was 31 years old when the first season of Pen15 premiered in 2019. Her performance as Anna was central to the show's exploration of friendship, identity, and insecurity. Anna Konkle's background includes training at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she met Maya Erskine.
Anna's character arc in Pen15 focused heavily on her struggles with popularity and her relationship with her best friend Maya. The show depicted Anna's experiences with first crushes, academic pressure, and family dynamics in a grounded, often painful way. Konkle's portrayal was noted for its emotional depth and physical comedy, which captured the intensity of middle school social hierarchies. The character's journey from seventh grade to eighth grade was a key narrative thread across the two seasons. Anna's storylines often mirrored the real-world anxieties of early teenage girls trying to find their place.
Maya Erskine's Age in Pen15
Maya Erskine was born on May 7, 1987, making her 12 turning 13 during the events of Pen15 set in the year 2000. In the series, her character Maya Ishii-Peters is a Japanese American seventh grader dealing with cultural expectations and personal growth. Erskine was 31 years old when the show debuted on Hulu in 2019. She co-created the series and starred as one of the only real seventh graders among the adult cast. Maya Erskine is also known for her work on the series Hacks and her independent film projects.
Maya's character in Pen15 often served as the more confident and outspoken counterpart to Anna, though she still faced significant middle school challenges. The show explored Maya's relationship with her Japanese American heritage and the expectations placed on her by her family. Erskine's performance balanced humor with vulnerability, capturing the confusion and self-discovery of early adolescence. The dynamic between Maya and Anna was the emotional anchor of the series, driving many of its most memorable moments. Maya Erskine's creative partnership with Anna Konkle began at NYU