Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace
META DESCRIPTION: Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace both played Sabrina Spellman on Netflix. Explore their real connection, ages, education, career timelines, and 2026 projects.
If you’ve ever looked at Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace and thought they could be sisters, you’re not alone. The resemblance is so strong that Netflix cast Grace to play a younger version of Shipka’s character in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Fans still ask if the two are related.
They aren’t. But Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace share more than a look. Both started acting as small children, both grew up on screen, and both became leading young stars with careers that stretch from prestige TV to horror and big franchises. This article explores their real connection, their careers, and where each one stands in 2026.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Kiernan Shipka | McKenna Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Born | November 10, 1999, Chicago, Illinois | June 25, 2006, Grapevine, Texas |
| Age in 2026 | 26, turning 27 in November | 20 |
| Education | Homeschooled while working; took classes alongside acting | Homeschooled while working |
| Breakout role | Sally Draper in Mad Men | Mary Adler in Gifted |
| Shared role | Sabrina Spellman | Young Sabrina Spellman |
| Other talent | Dance, fashion | Singing and songwriting |
The Sabrina Connection
The clearest link between Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace is Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Shipka played Sabrina Spellman, the half-witch, half-mortal teen, across four seasons from 2018 to 2020.
For the show’s 2018 holiday special, A Midwinter’s Tale, the producers needed a young Sabrina for flashback scenes. They picked Grace. Fans soon noticed how much the two looked alike, and the casting became one of the show’s most talked-about moments. Grace has said she was thrilled to play a younger version of a character she admired.
Kiernan Shipka: Growing Up on Mad Men
Early Life and Education
Kiernan Brennan Shipka was born in Chicago and moved to Los Angeles with her family as a young child. She started acting at age six. Because she worked on set from such a young age, she was homeschooled and studied on set while filming.
Career Timeline
- 2007: Landed the role of Sally Draper, Don Draper’s daughter, on AMC’s Mad Men at age seven.
- 2007 to 2015: Grew up on Mad Men across seven seasons, earning praise for her performance as Sally matured.
- 2014: Starred in the TV movie Flowers in the Attic.
- 2017: Played Joan Crawford’s daughter in the FX series Feud: Bette and Joan.
- 2018 to 2020: Starred as Sabrina Spellman in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on Netflix.
- 2022: Reprised Sabrina in a guest arc on Riverdale.
- 2024: Appeared in a run of buzzy films: Twisters, Longlegs, and Speak No Evil.
- 2025: Starred in Lena Dunham’s Netflix series Too Much.
Shipka Today
Shipka has moved into adult roles across genres, from horror to romantic comedy. She’s also known for her fashion sense and has worked with major designers. Mad Men fans love watching the child they saw grow up on screen become a leading actor.
McKenna Grace: The Busiest Young Actor in Hollywood
Early Life and Education
McKenna Grace Crandell was born in Grapevine, Texas, and began acting in commercials as a young child before her family moved to Los Angeles. Like Shipka, she was homeschooled to fit around her filming schedule.
Career Timeline
- Mid-2010s: Played Faith Newman on the soap The Young and the Restless.
- 2017: Broke out as a math prodigy in Gifted, opposite Chris Evans. She also played young Tonya Harding in I, Tonya.
- 2018: Played young Theo in The Haunting of Hill House and young Sabrina in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
- 2019: Starred in Annabelle Comes Home.
- 2021: Led Ghostbusters: Afterlife as Phoebe Spengler.
- 2021 to 2023: Played Esther Keyes in The Handmaid’s Tale.
- 2024: Returned as Phoebe in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire.
- 2025: Starred in the Colleen Hoover adaptation Regretting You.
- 2026: Appears in Scream 7 and was cast as Maysilee Donner in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, set for release on November 20, 2026.
Grace’s Music
Grace also writes and records music. She has released several singles and an EP, often writing about growing up and mental health. Her music has built a loyal following of its own.
Child Stars Who Made It
Many child actors struggle as they grow up. Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace have both handled the shift to adult roles well.
| Child Star Path | Kiernan Shipka | McKenna Grace |
|---|---|---|
| Started acting | Age 6 | Under age 8 |
| First big role | Mad Men at 7 | Gifted at 10 |
| Known for playing | A troubled daughter growing up | Younger versions of famous characters |
| Genre range | Drama, horror, comedy | Drama, horror, sci-fi, franchise films |
| Adult transition | Lead roles in Sabrina and indie films | Lead roles in Ghostbusters and Hunger Games |
Grace has played young versions of many famous characters, including Tonya Harding, Captain Marvel, and Sabrina. Her ability to match other actors’ mannerisms has made her a go-to for these roles.
How They Handled Growing Up on Screen
Growing up in front of the camera isn’t easy. Both actors have spoken about the support of their families, who kept them grounded and helped them balance work with school. Shipka has said her parents made sure acting never felt like pressure. Grace has talked about leaning on her mom and her music to cope with the ups and downs of the industry. That support helps explain why both have stayed steady while many child stars struggle.
Why Fans Compare Them
Searches for Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace often come from the Sabrina casting and the question of whether they’re related. Beyond that, fans see them as two of the most successful former child stars of their generation. Both have avoided the scandals that sometimes follow young fame, and both keep choosing interesting, varied roles.
They also share a love of horror. Shipka appeared in Longlegs and Speak No Evil, while Grace has starred in Annabelle Comes Home and the Scream franchise.
Are Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace Related?
No. Despite the striking resemblance, the two aren’t related. Shipka was born in Chicago to a family in real estate, while Grace was born in Texas. Their likeness comes down to similar features, coloring, and expressions, which is why Netflix chose Grace to play the younger version of Shipka’s Sabrina.
The question still pops up online all the time. Fan accounts post side-by-side photos, and the two have joked about the comparisons on social media. The playful mix-ups have helped keep both stars in the conversation.
What Makes Each One Stand Out
Shipka stands out for her poise and her long career in prestige TV. Growing up on Mad Men, she worked alongside Jon Hamm and Elisabeth Moss and learned from some of TV’s best writers. That training shows in her calm, layered performances today.
Grace stands out for her range and her emotional depth at a young age. Directors often praise her ability to cry on cue and match other actors’ styles. She has also built a music career, which gives her a creative outlet beyond acting.
Fans of Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace often say the two feel like big sister and little sister on screen, even if they’re not family in real life.
Fast Facts
- Shipka is a trained dancer and has performed in competitions.
- Grace started acting in commercials before she was in grade school.
- Both have played characters tied to the supernatural, from witches to ghosts.
Final Thoughts
Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace aren’t related, but their careers run on parallel tracks. Both started as young children, both grew up on screen, and both shared the role of Sabrina Spellman. Today, Shipka leads adult projects across genres, while Grace joins major franchises like Scream and The Hunger Games.
In 2026, fans can catch Grace in Sunrise on the Reaping this November, while Shipka continues building a varied career. Two Sabrinas, two bright futures.
Key Takeaways
- Kiernan Shipka was born November 10, 1999, in Chicago. McKenna Grace was born June 25, 2006, in Grapevine, Texas.
- Kiernan Shipka and McKenna Grace aren’t related, but Grace played young Sabrina in the 2018 holiday special of Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, where Shipka played the lead.
- Both were homeschooled to fit their acting careers and started working as young children.
- Shipka grew up playing Sally Draper on Mad Men and later starred in Twisters, Longlegs, and Speak No Evil.
- Grace broke out in Gifted, led Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and starred in The Handmaid’s Tale.
- Grace appears in Scream 7 and plays Maysilee Donner in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, out November 20, 2026.
- Both have made the move from child star to adult roles with success and varied choices.
