The trailer for the new Dear Evan Hansen movie got people talking when they saw 27-year-old
Ben Platt playing a literal TEENAGER, But Ben’s not the first actor to play a character
significantly younger than himself, so let’s get into it.
Have you ever been watching something on TV and thought to yourself, ‘This is DEFINITELY
NOT what I looked like as a 16-year-old?’
Well there’s definitely a good reason for that, and that reason has to do with the fact
that these characters were literally 10 years older than you were when portraying high school
students.
While the upcoming Broadway musical-turned-movie adaption of Dear Evan Hansen recently drew
criticism over 27-year-old actor Ben Platt starring as a high school student, this wasn’t
the first time a 20-something reverted back to their teenage ways.
The late Cory Monteith was also 27 when he first appeared as Finn Hudson on Glee as the
high school quarterback-turned-Glee-Club heartthrob, who inspired adoration in Gleeks everywhere.
Although many of the actors were also slightly older than their characters, Cory was only
three years younger than his on-screen teacher, played by Matthew Morrison, who was 30 at
the time Glee aired.
Crazy, right?!
And you’re living under a rock if you haven’t seen THE show of summer 2020, Outer Banks!
Chase Stokes plays teenager John B, who is a minor as noted by child services coming
to put him into foster care as he didn’t have a guardian in his life.
This would mean that then-28-year-old Chase was about 10 years older than his character.
Chase is in a relationship IRL with co-star Madelyn Cline and the two even won Best Kiss
at the MTV Movie and TV Awards just last month…
Let's just hope their reality is much more drama-FREE than their wild Outer Banks escapades.
Peter Parker is everyone’s favorite teenager-turned-superhero, but in 2012’s The Amazing Spider-Man, 17-year-old
Peter is played by then 28-year-old Andrew Garfield.
When he landed the role, Andrew told The Hollywood Reporter, quote, “I see it as a massive
challenge in many ways.
To make it authentic.
To make the character live and breathe in a new way.”
He was well-aware that the audience already had a relationship with many different versions
of Spidey, adding that even he does too, and that QUOTE, “I'm probably going to be the
guy in the movie theater shouting abuse at myself.
But I have to let that go.
No turning back.
And I wouldn't want to.”
Okay, this next one blew my mind when I first heard it!
Jason Earles as Jackson Stewart on Hannah Montana was 29 Years Old!
Excuse me?!
For comparison, Miley Cyrus was only 13 at the time of season 1 of the show, which is
a massive age difference for actors playing teenage siblings!
In fact, just last year, Jason’s age went viral as many past Hannah Montana fans reacted
to a Twitter thread comparing his age to John Cena’s.
As of last year, the two were both 43 years old, but apparently this didn’t resonate
with fans until years after the show ended.
One user tweeted QUOTE, “Damn, i knew he was older at the time but almost 30????
WTF???”
What’s crazier is that Miley and her character Miley Stewart were both the same age when
the series first began, but the siblings were only supposed to be two years apart on the
show despite their 16 year age difference.
Regardless, this semi-new epiphany just gives us all the more reason to go rewatch old episodes
of Hannah Montana.
And if you’ve ever tuned into The CW’s Riverdale, you’d know that none of the actors
playing the Archie Comics-inspired characters are actually of high school age.
Ashleigh Murray played Josie McCoy on Riverdale at 29 years old and later went on to star
in the spin-off series Katie Keene alongside Lucy Hale.
Her character was aged up for the new show, making her role a little more age appropriate.
“I just know they’re in their like mid-twenties.
There’s a lot of five years being thrown around.
I’m not sure, we’re just, she’s not in high school anymore.”
Unfortunately, Katy Keene was canceled after one season, but maybe Josie will reappear
on Riverdale now that all the characters have gone through a seven year time jump!
And we can’t forget about Rachel McAdams as the iconic Regina George in Mean Girls.
“But you’re, like, really pretty.”
“Thank you.”
“So you agree?”
“What?”
“You think you’re really pretty?”
She was 26 at the time of filming, and oddly enough, Amy Poehler, who played her ‘cool
mom’ in the movie, is only 10 years older than her in real life!
This just goes to show that anything goes in Hollywood, y’all!
For 6 times celebs shut down sexist interview questions, click right over here for another
Clevver video!
Then let me know what you think of these actors playing teens down in the comments below!
As always, I’m your host Renee Ariel, you can follow me on socials @ReneeAriel, see
you next time!