12 Stars Who Were Surprisingly Older Than Their Teen Roles

Hollywood has never been shy about casting adults to play teenagers. Over the years, plenty of actors in their 20s (and even older) have convincingly taken on high school roles. Many viewers are surprised to learn just how old these stars really were while playing their iconic teen characters. Here are 12 actors who proved age was just a number on screen.

Lea Michele

Lea Michele became a fan favorite as Rachel Berry, the ambitious 16-year-old singer on Glee. According to Ranker, Michele was actually 23 years old when she took on the role, making her several years older than her high school character. Even so, her performance helped make Rachel one of television’s most memorable teen characters.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster

Thomas Brodie-Sangster may have looked like a teenager in The Maze Runner, but he was actually 23 years old when he first played Newt. According to Screen Rant, his character was just 16, making the age gap easy to miss thanks to his youthful appearance.

Shirley Henderson

Shirley Henderson became a fan favorite as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, bringing the ghostly Hogwarts student to life. According to Variety, she was 37 years old when she auditioned for the role of the 14-year-old ghost, a casting choice that continues to surprise fans.

Jason Earles

Jason Earles convinced audiences he was Miley Stewart’s teenage older brother, Jackson, on Hannah Montana. According to Just Jared, he was actually 28 years old when he joined the Disney Channel series, despite playing a high school student. His youthful energy and sharp comedic timing made the age difference easy to overlook.

Blake Lively

Blake Lively became a style icon as Serena van der Woodsen on Gossip Girl, playing the glamorous 16-year-old at the center of the hit teen drama. According to Screen Rant, Lively was 20 years old when the series premiered, making her 4 years older than her character.

Penn Badgley

Penn Badgley may have played high school student Dan Humphrey on Gossip Girl, but he was already 20 years old when the series premiered. According to Hidden Remote, he turned 21 during the show’s first season, making him several years older than his teenage character. His performance helped make Dan one of the defining characters of the hit teen drama.

Nina Dobrev

Nina Dobrev took on the dual roles of Elena Gilbert and Katherine Pierce in The Vampire Diaries, even though she was older than her teenage character. According to Screen Rant, Dobrev was 20 years old when filming began, three years older than 17-year-old Elena. Her standout performance helped make the supernatural drama a favorite among fans for years.

Stacey Dash

Stacey Dash became a ’90s icon with her performance as the stylish and quick-witted Dionne in Clueless. According to Your Next Shoes, she was 28 years old when the film was released in 1995, despite playing a high school student. Her memorable performance helped make Clueless one of the most beloved teen comedies of all time.

KJ Apa

KJ Apa brought a fresh take to Archie Andrews when he landed the lead role in Riverdale. According to Deadline, he was 18 years old when he was cast following a four-month worldwide talent search. His performance helped introduce the iconic teen comic book character to a new generation of viewers.

Andrew Garfield

Andrew Garfield brought Peter Parker to life in The Amazing Spider-Man, even though he was much older than the teenage superhero he portrayed. According to Screen Rant, Garfield was 27 years old while playing the 17-year-old Peter, making him the oldest actor to take on the role. His emotional performance and believable take on the character made him a fan favorite despite the age gap.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams delivered one of the most iconic teen movie performances as Regina George in Mean Girls. According to Tyla, she was 25 years old when the film was released in 2004, despite playing a high school student. Her unforgettable portrayal of the queen bee helped turn Mean Girls into a lasting pop culture classic.

Stockard Channing

Stockard Channing became a fan favorite as the sharp-tongued Rizzo in Grease. According to Hello!, she was 33 years old when she played the 17-year-old leader of the Pink Ladies, making her one of the oldest actors to portray a high school student. Her unforgettable performance helped make Rizzo one of the film’s most iconic characters.