Most of the television series and movies we see on the screen use adult actors to play teenagers. The question is why? Why aren't they using teen actors to play teen roles? Well, there are several reasons for this.
First, it is difficult to find teen actors with the experience and skills necessary to act in major productions. Second, it is difficult to work with teenage actors due to the legal and employment restrictions that exist in the entertainment industry. And third, it's easier to work with adult actors who can work longer hours and can play teenage characters more convincingly.
Over the years, we have seen many television series that have used adult actors to play teenagers. Some of the most popular shows that have used this approach are "Beverly Hills 90210," "Glee," "Pretty Little Liars," and "Riverdale."
But what were these actors really like when they were the age of the characters they played? Here is a list of some celebrities who acted as teenagers and what they were really like at that age.
Luke Perry - Dylan McKay in "Beverly Hills 90210"
Actual age: 24 years
Character age: 16 years old
Luke Perry was one of the most popular actors of the 90s thanks to his role in "Beverly Hills 90210". But actually, Perry was 24 when he started playing Dylan McKay, a 16-year-old character.
Sarah Michelle Gellar - Buffy Summers in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"
Actual age: 20 years
Character age: 16 years old
Sarah Michelle Gellar played Buffy Summers in the television series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Although Buffy's character was 16 years old, Gellar was 20 when she began playing the role.
Cole Sprouse - Jughead Jones in "Riverdale"
Actual age: 24 years
Character age: 16 years old
Cole Sprouse rose to fame on the Disney Channel series "Zack & Cody: Twins in Action." But now, he is known for his role as Jughead Jones in "Riverdale." Although Jughead is 16 years old on the series, Sprouse was 24 when he began playing the role.
Lucy Hale - Aria Montgomery in "Pretty Little Liars"
Actual age: 21 years old
Character age: 16 years old
Lucy Hale played Aria Montgomery in the television series "Pretty Little Liars." Although Aria was 16 years old on the series, Hale was 21 when she began playing the role.
Chad Michael Murray - Lucas Scott in "One Tree Hill"
Actual age: 23 years
Character age: 16 years old
Chad Michael Murray rose to fame on the television series "One Tree Hill" playing Lucas Scott. Although Lucas was 16 years old on the series, Murray was 23 years old when he began playing the role.
Ian Somerhalder - Damon Salvatore in "The Vampire Diaries"
Actual age: 31 years
Character age: 17 years old
Ian Somerhalder played Damon Salvatore in the popular television series "The Vampire Diaries." Although Damon was 17 years old on the series, Somerhalder was 31 when he began playing the role.
Ben McKenzie - Ryan Atwood in "The O.C."
Actual age: 24 years
Character age: 16 years old
Ben McKenzie rose to fame on the television series "The O.C." playing Ryan Atwood. Although Ryan was 16 on the series, McKenzie was 24 when he began playing the role.
Rachel McAdams - Regina George in "Mean Girls"
Actual age: 26 years
Character age: 16 years old
Rachel McAdams played Regina George in the popular movie "Mean Girls." Although Regina was 16 in the film, McAdams was 26 when she began playing the role.
Olivia Newton-John - Sandy Olsson in "Grease"
Actual age: 29 years
Character age: 18 years old
Olivia Newton-John played Sandy Olsson in the musical movie "Grease." Although Sandy was 18 in the film, Newton-John was 29 when she began playing the role.
Ncuti Gatwa - Eric Effiong in "Sex Education"
Actual age: 27 years
Character age: 16 years old
Ncuti Gatwa plays Eric Effiong in the TV series "Sex Education". Although Eric is 16 years old in the series, Gatwa was 27 years old when he began playing the role.
Audrey Hepburn - Holly Golightly in "Breakfast at Tiffany's"
Actual age: 32 years
Character age: 19 years old
Audrey Hepburn played Holly Golightly in the movie "Breakfast at Tiffany's." Although Holly was 19 in the film, Hepburn was 32 when the film was released in the United States.
Stacey Dash - Dionne Davenport in "Clueless"
Actual age: 28 years
Character age: 16 years old
Stacey Dash played Dionne Davenport in the movie "Clueless." Although Dionne was 16 in the film, Dash was 28 when she began playing the role.
Troian Bellisario - Spencer Hastings in "Pretty Little Liars"
Actual age: 24 years
Character age: 16 years old
Troian Bellisario played Spencer Hastings in the television series "Pretty Little Liars." Although Spencer was 16 on the series, Bellisario was 24 when he began playing the role.
Andrew Garfield - Peter Parker/Spider-Man in "The Amazing Spider-Man"
Actual age: 29 years
Character age: 17 years old
Andrew Garfield played Peter Parker/Spider-Man in the movie "The Amazing Spider-Man." Although Peter was 17 in the film, Garfield was 29 when he began playing the role.
Leonardo DiCaprio - Frank Abagnale Jr. in "Catch Me If You Can"
Actual age: 28 years
Character age: 16 years old
Leonardo DiCaprio played Frank Abagnale Jr. in the movie "Catch Me If You Can." Although Frank was 16 in the film, DiCaprio was 28 when he began playing the film's title character.
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