Nostalgia has a strong pull, and for many fans who grew up watching Disney Channel, Jennifer Stone is a big part of that.
Stone is best known for playing Harper Finkle in Wizards of Waverly Place, the loyal and offbeat best friend of Selena Gomez’s Alex Russo.
Harper became a fan favorite thanks to her eccentric personality, unforgettable fashion choices, and signature bright red hair.
Years after the series aired, Stone and Gomez still appear to be close, with Stone attending the Rare Beauty founder’s wedding to Benny Blanco last year.
Although the Texas native has appeared in several other film and television projects beyond Wizards, much of her life today is focused on a very different profession.
These days, she works as an ER nurse, while still continuing to act from time to time.
On July 23, Stone gave followers a glimpse into just how packed her routine can be.
In an Instagram clip where she appeared visibly stressed, the 33-year-old ran through the long list of responsibilities currently on her plate, describing it as everything her brain is “trying to balance.”
Stone has been working at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center since 2020. The Burbank, California hospital holds special meaning for her, as it is where her path into nursing first began.
“It had been a big milestone for me to get this particular job in the ER at Providence just because that was where I started my nursing journey as a volunteer.
“Plus, I’m so honored to be learning from and working with these nurses, and helping in any way that I can, especially during this time.”
She began pursuing nursing at 20, around the same period she learned she had type 1 diabetes.
Since then, she has continued managing both careers at once, something she has said she feels fortunate to be able to do.
“I consider myself lucky that I’ve found two things in my life that I’m really passionate about. I can do my left and right brain,” she shared.
“I’ve had a few times where I’ve teared up and really gotten emotional hearing from people being like, ‘I wanted to go to school, but I also love something in the arts. I never thought that I could do both, but seeing that you can do it makes me feel like I can.’
“Those are things that mean a lot to me because I have worked really hard to be able to balance both.”
That balancing act has only become more interesting in 2026. In April, it was announced that Stone would reprise her role as Harper Finkle in the final season of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, marking a return to the Disney universe nearly two decades after she first became a breakout favorite on the original show.
The move means Stone is once again splitting her time between the hospital and Hollywood, proving that her life far from the spotlight is not a full goodbye to acting, but a very different kind of double life.