Older actors who played teenagers on-screen

Bianca Lawson in 'Pretty Little Liars' - It is obvious that the 42-year-old actress has aged incredibly well and hasn't changed much since 'Saved By The Bell: The New Class.' The eternal teenager appeared as Maya St. Germain on 'Pretty Little Liars' when she was 31, and played the role until age 34.

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Luke Perry in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' -

Teen idol Luke Perry will forever be Dylan McKay to his fans. The actor, who gained popularity due to his role in the teen series 'Beverly Hills, 90210' in the '90s, was 24 when he first appeared on the show.

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Rachel McAdams in 'Mean Girls' - Rachel McAdams was already 26 years old when she played Regina George in 'Mean Girls' (2004), a character that still haunts her to this day.

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Stacey Dash in 'Clueless' - Stacey Dash played the 15-year-old Dionne Davenport in 'Clueless' (1995) but was 28 in real life. She later starred in the TV show of the same name for five years while she was already in her 30s.

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Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Catch Me If You Can' - Hollywood's chameleon portrayed 16-year-old Frank Abagnale in 'Catch Me If You Can.' DiCaprio was in fact much older than his character, at 28 years old.

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Matt Damon in 'Behind the Candelabra' -

Matt Damon impersonated the 17-year-old Scott Thorson in 'Behind the Candelabra' (2013) but was way older than his character. The actor was 43 years old by the time he starred in the movie.

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Shirley Henderson in 'Harry Potter' - Moaning Myrtle was only 14 years old in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' but was played by the then 36-year-old actress Shirley Henderson. Henderson was 40 when she took on the same role in 'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.'

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Gabrielle Union in 'Bring It On' -

Gabrielle Union is best known for her role in 'Bring It On,' where she played a high school cheerleader at the age of 27.

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Ian Somerhalder in 'The Vampire Diaries' - When he started playing forever-17-year-old Damon Salvatore on 'The Vampire Diaries,' Somerhalder was in reality 31. He was 38 by the time the show ended, but was still playing a 17-year-old kid on-screen.

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Gabrielle Carteris in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' - Sixteen-year-old Andrea Zuckerman of the teen show 'Beverly Hills, 90210' was played by Gabrielle Carteris (left), who was 29 when she first appeared on the show.

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Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing' - Jennifer Grey, who played the 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman in the iconic 'Dirty Dancing' (1987), was in fact ten years older than her character.

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Ashleigh Murray in 'Riverdale' - Ashleigh Murray currently stars as a teenager in the teen drama series 'Riverdale.' She is 33 years old.

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Shay Mitchell in 'Pretty Little Liars' - The actress became notorious thanks to her role as the teenager Emily Fields on 'Pretty Little Liars.' Mitchell, who's 33 now, was 23 years old when the series began.

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Michael J. Fox in 'Back to the Future' - A 29-year-old Fox returned to his role as the teenager Marty McFly in 'Back to the Future Part III.'

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Felicity Jones in 'Breathe In' - When Felicity Jones played teenage Sophie in 'Breathe In' (2013), she was 29.

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Troian Bellisario in 'Pretty Little Liars' - Bellisario was 25 when the show first aired, and 29 when it ended. She played teenager Spencer Hastings.

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Robert Pattinson in 'Twilight' - Pattinson played the forever-teenage Edward Cullen in the 'Twilight' saga, a role that has earned the then 26-year-old actor many awards.

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Ian Ziering in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' - Teenage Steve Sanders was portrayed by the then 26-year-old actor Ian Ziering (left).

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Emilia Clarke in 'Game of Thrones' - The British actress began playing her initially 16-year-old character on 'Game of Thrones' when she herself was 25.

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Monique Coleman in 'High School Musical' - Monique Coleman is best known for her role as teen Taylor McKessie in the 'High School Musical' films. Coleman was 25 when she appeared in the first movie.

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Jason Earles in 'Hannah Montana' - The actor was 29 when he started playing his role as 16-year-old Jackson Stewart in 'Hannah Montana.'

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Amber Riley in 'Glee' - From 2009 to 2015, Riley played the teen Mercedes Jones on the comedy-drama series 'Glee.' She was 29 by the end of the show.

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Anna Akana in 'You Get Me' - In the 2017 thriller 'You Get Me,' Anna Akana played the role of a teen while being 27 in real life.

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Andrew Garfield in 'The Amazing Spider-Man' - The actor played 17-year-old Peter Parker in the film 'The Amazing Spider-Man.’ However, he was 31 at the time.

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Jenna Dewan in 'Fab Five: The Texas Cheerleader Scandal' - Jenna Dewan starred as high school cheerleader Emma Carr. In real life however, she was already 28.

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Taylor Kitsch in 'Friday Night Lights' - Actor Taylor Kitsch took on the role of sophomore Tim Riggins in the show 'Friday Night Lights.' The actor's actual age was 27.

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Selma Blair in 'Cruel Intentions' - Selma Blair embodied the role of teenager Cecile Caldwell in the teen romantic drama movie 'Cruel Intentions' (1999). Blair was 27 years old at the time.

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Alison Lohman in 'Flicka' - Lohman proved to be a really versatile actress by playing a 16-year-old teen while she was eleven years older.

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Kenny Wormald in 'Footloose' - Wormald appeared as 17-year-old Ren McCormack in the 2011 remake of 'Footloose.' You would almost forget that he was 27.

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Ross Butler in '13 Reasons Why' - The '13 Reasons Why' actor was 26 years old when he had the role of teenage Zach Dempsey.

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Ashley Benson in 'Pretty Little Liars' - Like most of her co-stars on set, Ashley Benson wasn't a teenager when she played 16-year-old Hannah on the show. She was 27 when the show ended.

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Greta Onieogou in 'All American' - The then 28-year-old actress stared as a high schooler on the 2018 drama show 'All American.'

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Kevin Bacon in 'Footloose' (1984) - When Kevin Bacon played the role of Ren McCormack in the original 'Footloose.' he was 26 years old. His character on the other hand, was still a teenager.

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Tom Welling in 'Smallville' - Tom Welling, alias Clark Kent in 'Smallville,' was in fact ten years older than his character, who was 24 years old when the series started. Welling was 34 by the time the show came to an end.

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Kristen Bell in 'Veronica Mars' - Kristen Bell started playing the role of 17-year-old Veronica Mars when she was 24.

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Evan Peters in 'American Horror Story' - When Peters first appeared as Tate in 'American Horror Story' in 2011, he was 24 years old, while his character appeared to be only 16.

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John Travolta in 'Grease' - John Travolta made an unforgettable performance as teenage Danny Zuko, although he was 24 in real life.

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Cole Sprouse in 'Riverdale' - Thanks to his "baby face," the 28-year-old actor can still pass as an adolescent. He currently plays 16-year-old Jughead Jones on 'Riverdale.'

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Wood Harris in 'Remember The Titans' - Wood Harris was far from being a teen when he starred as 18-year-old Julius Campbell in 'Remember The Titans.' The actor was 31.

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Sean Patrick Thomas in 'Save The Last Dance' - Remember actor Sean Patrick Thomas from 'Save The Last Dance' (2001)? He was 31 when he starred as teenager Derek Reynolds in the movie.

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Trevor Donovan in '90210' -

Trevor Donovan turned 31 just a couple of weeks after joining the cast of '90210.' He impersonated the teen character Teddy Montgomery.

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Older actors who played teenagers on-screen

Forever young

22/03/21 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Hollywood

Would you believe us if we told you that 'Pretty Little Liars' actress Bianca Lawson just turned 42? She has been playing a teenager on-screen for the last two decades! Vampire or just good genes, who could tell? But Lawson is far from being the only actress in Hollywood who played a way younger character than her actual age.

Check out these actors who still managed to play teens on-screen while actually being much older!