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Ryan Gosling in 'Barbie' (2023) -

It's hard to put an age on an eternally youthful doll. However, there have been critics saying 42-year-old Ryan Gosling's "too old" to play Ken. On the other hand, you could argue that the doll himself would be in his sixties!

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Tobey Maguire in 'Spider-Man 3' (2007) -

The actor was 27 when the franchise started and 32 in the last movie. The character is supposed to be in his late teens to early twenties.

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Winona Ryder in 'Girl, Interrupted' (1999) -

In this psychological thriller, Winona Ryder plays an 18-year-old young woman. In reality, she was 10 years older than that, but you couldn't tell!

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Stacey Dash in 'Clueless' (1995) -

Dionne Davenport, a 15-year-old high school student, was played by a 28-year-old actress!

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Olivia Newton-John in 'Grease' (1978) -

Sandy is supposed to be 17 years old, but the late Olivia Newton-John was actually 29 at the time.

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Henry Winkler in 'Happy Days' -

When he began playing teen Arthur "The Fonz" Fonzarelli, Henry Winkler was 29. When the show ended, he was 10 years older!

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Stockard Channing in 'Grease' (1978) -

Stockard Channing, who plated Rizzo, was even older. She was 34 years old at the time.

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Jennifer Grey in 'Dirty Dancing' (1987) -

Baby was supposed to be an adolescent teen, but Jennifer Grey was actually a 27-year-old woman.

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Florence Pugh in 'Little Women' (2019) -

In 'Little Women,' Florence Pugh played 13-year-old Amy March, even though she was 23 in real life.

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Cher in 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' (2018) -

In 'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again,' Cher played Meryl Streep's mother, even though, at the time, she was 72 and Streep was 69. Cher's character, Ruby, appears at the end, looking to build a true relationship with her granddaughter Sophie, played by Amanda Seyfried.

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Colin Farrell in 'Alexander' (2004) -

Colin Farrell was cast as 18-year-old Alexander, when in reality he was 28. And in the role of his mother was Angelina Jolie, age 29 at the time.

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Ian Somerhalder in 'The Vampire Diaries' -

When he began his role as a vampire teenager, Ian Somerhalder was already 31 years old. When it all ended, his character was still a teenager, but he was 38.

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Matt Damon in 'Behind the Candelabra' (2013) -

Matt Damon played 17-year-old Scott Thorson in this historic drama. In reality, he was 43!

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Gabrielle Union in 'Bring It On' (2000) -

Gabrielle Union famously played a high school cheerleader in this comedy, at the age of 27.

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Jon Heder in 'Napoleon Dynamite' (2004) -

This supposed high school student was played by a 26-year-old Jon Heder.

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Whoopi Goldberg in 'The Color Purple' (1985) -

Whoopi Goldberg filmed the early scenes as 14-year-old Celie when she was nearly 30. She then played the character until her mid-forties.

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Rachel McAdams in 'Mean Girls' (2004) -

Rachel McAdams was actually 25 when she played the notorious Regina George, high school bully and low-carb fanatic!

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Jason Earles in 'Hannah Montana' -

Jason Earles was supposed to be Miley Cyrus' 16-year-old brother in the series. He was nearly 30 when they started filming!

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Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Catch Me If You Can' (2002) -

Leonardo DiCaprio was 28 years old when he took on the role of 16-year-old Frank Abagnale.

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Shirley Henderson in the 'Harry Potter' movies -

Shirley Henderson, the woman behind Moaning Myrtle, the 14-year-old Hogwarts ghost, was 36 when she filmed 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets' (2002), and she was 40 at the time of the 'Goblet of Fire' (2005).

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Ashleigh Murray in 'Riverdale' -

In 'Riverdale,' Ashleigh Murray played 16-year-old Josie McCoy. In real life, however, she was already in her thirties.

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Michael J. Fox in 'Back to the Future' -

In 'Back to the Future Part III,' a 29-year-old Fox returned to his role as the famed teenager Marty McFly, who he first played at 24.

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Carey Mulligan in 'The Great Gatsby' (2013) -

The then 27-year-old Carey Mulligan glamorously transformed into 18-year-old Daisy Buchanan in 'The Great Gatsby.'

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Orlando Bloom in 'The Hobbit' movies -

In 'The Hobbit' franchise, Orlando Bloom was actually two years older than Lee Pace, who played his father.

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Alan Ruck in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' (1986) -

Cameron Frye, the supposed 17-year-old, was played by 30-year-old Alan Ruck. Matthew Broderick, Bueller himself, was 25 at the time.

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Felicity Jones in 'Breathe In' (2013) -

At 28, Felicity Jones played 18-year-old Sophie in the romantic drama 'Breathe In.'

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Judd Nelson in 'The Breakfast Club' (1985) -

Teenage rebel John Bender was played by 26-year-old Judd Nelson.

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Nicola Coughlan in 'Derry Girls' -

In 'Derry Girls,' Nicola Coughlan began playing 16-year-old Clare Devlin when she was 31 in real life.

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Bianca Lawson in 'Pretty Little Liars' -

In 'Pretty Little Liars,' Bianca Lawson played 16-year-old Maya St. Germain, despite being 31 years old in real life. Definitely not a teenager! 

Sources: (TheRichest) (BuzzFeed) (Grunge)

See also: Considerable age gaps in movies that make you think!

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