Keiko Agena as
Lane Kim:
Birthday: October 3
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Actress Bio:
Keiko (pronounced Kay-ko) Agena stars in Gilmore Girls as Rory's
(Alexis Bledel) brainy and somewhat eccentric best friend, Lane Kim. For her
performance in Gilmore Girls, Agena recently garnered the Ammy Award for
Best Female Actor in a Television Production. The Ammy Awards honor Asians and
Asian-American achievement in film and television.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Agena began her acting career in the theatre there and continued at the performing arts school now known as Mid-Pacific School of the Arts. As a student, she was one of only four actors nationwide chosen as Presidential Scholar in the Arts and was able to meet President Bush.
Soon after graduation, Agena relocated to Los Angeles and has been working steadily in theater, television and film ever since. Her very first professional audition resulted in a guest spot on the television series Renegade. Before landing her role on Gilmore Girls, Agena was no stranger to television. She guest-starred as the mother of a deaf boy on ER and a student reporter on Sister, Sister, as well as appearing on Beverly Hills, 90210. She also appeared on the Kids' WB! series The Nightmare Room and had a recurring role on The WB drama Felicity, as a college student who inspired Felicity (Keri Russell) to stage a demonstration at the student health center. Additionally, she appeared in the made-for-television movie Terror in the Shadows, as well as the independent feature Hundred Percent. Other films include the romantic lead in Red Thread. Recently, Agena took on the challenging role of a young woman struggling with anorexia nervosa in Lifetime's Strong Medicine.
On the big screen, Agena can be seen later this year in the film Beauty Shop with Mo-Nique Imes-Jackson. Agena also starred in the independent feature film Hundred Percent, an Asian-American drama featuring the interwoven stories of three couples.
Offscreen, she was a member of the Meisner-based ITC ensemble, the TPA ensemble and "hereandnow," an Asian-American acting company that tours all over the country with a show comprised entirely of original pieces. She continues to study improv with former "hereandnow" member Jason Fong.
When not working on her career, Agena relishes her newfound love of drumming, which she began for her role on Gilmore Girls. She also enjoyed renovating her home, practicing yoga and riding her motorcycle. She spends a great deal of time eating with friends, and addictively plays the card game "Pounce" and the computer game "Civilizations."
She currently resides in Los Angeles, California with her two cats, Seth and Ben.
Besides Gilmore Girls Keiko was a wardrobe assistant in the 2003 movie Man Who Invented The Moon and she appeared in the following movies and TV shows: Hair Show, Law & Order: Justice Is Served, The Perfect Party, Western Avenue, Red Thread, Cats and Mice, Tomato and Eggs, Hundred Percent, Terror in the Shadows, Kim Possible, The Nightmare Room, Strong Medicine, Felicity, Beverly Hills, 90210, ER, Sister, Sister, and Renegade.
Character Bio:
Lane is Rory's best friend, an Asian American girl who just wants to be an
average teenager. Unfortunately her parents have a more traditional picture of
who she should be.