Elina Pähklimägi was born in the town of Ambla in Järva County and grew up in the nearby village of Ussimäe.
She garnered her first small television roles on the Eesti Televisioon (ETV) series' Ohtlik lend and Õnne 13 and the Kanal 2 crime series Kelgukoerad in 2006 and 2007 while stile studying at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Her first starring role in a feature film was in the Liina Paakspuu-directed drama Soovide puu in 2008.
[3] This was followed by the role of Liis in the Andres Maimik and Rain Tolk-directed comedy film Kormoranid ehk Nahkpükse ei pesta in 2011.
In 2017, she had a starring role as Elen in the Andrejs Ekis-directed comedy Svingerid, opposite Jan Uuspõld, Ago Anderson, and Elina Reinold, and appeared in the Sulev Keedus-directed historical drama Mehetapja/Süütu/Vari.