Adult Actors Who Played High Schoolers … and How Old They 'Really' Were

01of 41Ben Platt in Dear Evan HansenTheo Wargo/GettyCharacter:Evan Hansen, 17Platt’s Actual Age at Filming:27

01of 41

Ben Platt in Dear Evan Hansen

Theo Wargo/Getty

Character:Evan Hansen, 17

Platt’s Actual Age at Filming:27

02of 41Nina Dobrev in The Vampire DiariesTina Rowden/The CWCharacter:Elena Gilbert, 17Dobrev’s Actual Age at Filming:20

02of 41

Nina Dobrev in The Vampire Diaries

Tina Rowden/The CW

Character:Elena Gilbert, 17

Dobrev’s Actual Age at Filming:20

03of 41Zendaya in EuphoriaZendaya inEuphoria.HBOCharacter:Rue, 17Zendaya’s Actual Age at Filming:22

03of 41

Zendaya in Euphoria

Zendaya inEuphoria.HBO

Character:Rue, 17

Zendaya’s Actual Age at Filming:22

04of 41Olivia Newton-John in GreaseEverettCharacter:Sandy, 18Newton-John’s Actual Age at Filming:29

04of 41

Olivia Newton-John in Grease

Everett

Character:Sandy, 18

Newton-John’s Actual Age at Filming:29

05of 41Rachel McAdams in Mean GirlsParamount/EverettCharacter:Regina George, high school juniorMcAdams' Actual Age at Filming:27

05of 41

Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls

Paramount/Everett

Character:Regina George, high school junior

McAdams' Actual Age at Filming:27

06of 41Cole Sprouse on RiverdaleDean Buscher/The CWCharacter:Jughead Jones, 16Sprouse’s Actual Age at Filming:24

06of 41

Cole Sprouse on Riverdale

Dean Buscher/The CW

Character:Jughead Jones, 16

Sprouse’s Actual Age at Filming:24

07of 41Stacey Dash in CluelessEverettCharacter:Dionne, high school juniorDash’s Actual Age at Filming:27

07of 41

Stacey Dash in Clueless

Character:Dionne, high school junior

Dash’s Actual Age at Filming:27

08of 41Stockard Channing in GreaseEverettCharacter:Rizzo, 18Channing’s Actual Age at Filming:34

08of 41

Stockard Channing in Grease

Character:Rizzo, 18

Channing’s Actual Age at Filming:34

09of 41Taylor Kitsch on Friday Night LightsPaul Drinkwater/NBC/GettyCharacter:Tim Riggins, high school juniorKitsch’s Actual Age at Filming:28

09of 41

Taylor Kitsch on Friday Night Lights

Paul Drinkwater/NBC/Getty

Character:Tim Riggins, high school junior

Kitsch’s Actual Age at Filming:28

10of 41Bianca Lawson in Pretty Little LiarsRandy Holmes/ABC Family/GettyCharacter:Maya St. Germain, 16Lawson’s Actual Age at Filming:31

10of 41

Bianca Lawson in Pretty Little Liars

Randy Holmes/ABC Family/Getty

Character:Maya St. Germain, 16

Lawson’s Actual Age at Filming:31

11of 41Henry Winkler on Happy DaysEverettCharacter:The Fonz, high schoolerWinkler’s Actual Age at Filming:29

11of 41

Henry Winkler on Happy Days

Character:The Fonz, high schooler

Winkler’s Actual Age at Filming:29

12of 41Darren Barnet in Never Have I EverISABELLA B. VOSMIKOVA/NETFLIXCharacter:Paxton Hall-Yoshida, 17Barnet’s Actual Age at Filming:29

12of 41

Darren Barnet in Never Have I Ever

ISABELLA B. VOSMIKOVA/NETFLIX

Character:Paxton Hall-Yoshida, 17

Barnet’s Actual Age at Filming:29

13of 41Shirley Henderson in Harry PotterPaul Drinkwater/NBC/GettyCharacter:Moaning Myrtle, teenage high school studentHenderson’s Actual Age at Filming:37

13of 41

Shirley Henderson in Harry Potter

Character:Moaning Myrtle, teenage high school student

Henderson’s Actual Age at Filming:37

14of 41Keiko Agena on Gilmore GirlsEverettCharacter:Lane Kim, 16Agena’s Actual Age at Filming:27

14of 41

Keiko Agena on Gilmore Girls

Character:Lane Kim, 16

Agena’s Actual Age at Filming:27

15of 41Gabrielle Union in Bring It OnEverettCharacter:Isis, high school seniorUnion’s Actual Age at Filming:28

15of 41

Gabrielle Union in Bring It On

Character:Isis, high school senior

Union’s Actual Age at Filming:28

16of 41Charisma Carpenter on Buffy the Vampire SlayerEverettCharacter:Cordelia Chase, 16Carpenter’s Actual Age at Filming:27

16of 41

Charisma Carpenter on Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Character:Cordelia Chase, 16

Carpenter’s Actual Age at Filming:27

17of 41Chase Stokes in Outer BanksCOURTESY OF NETFLIXCharacter:John B., 17Stokes' Actual Age at Filming:27

17of 41

Chase Stokes in Outer Banks

COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Character:John B., 17

Stokes' Actual Age at Filming:27

18of 41Alexa Demie in EuphoriaCharacter:Maddy Perez, high school studentDemie’s Actual Age at Filming:29

18of 41

Alexa Demie in Euphoria

Character:Maddy Perez, high school student

Demie’s Actual Age at Filming:29

19of 41Shay Mitchell on Pretty Little LiarsABC FamilyCharacter:Emily, 16Lawson’s Actual Age at Filming:30

19of 41

Shay Mitchell on Pretty Little Liars

ABC Family

Character:Emily, 16

Lawson’s Actual Age at Filming:30

20of 41Paul Wesley on Vampire DiariesThe CWCharacter:Stefan Salvatore, 17Wesley’s Actual Age at Filming:27

20of 41

Paul Wesley on Vampire Diaries

The CW

Character:Stefan Salvatore, 17

Wesley’s Actual Age at Filming:27

21of 41Ian Somerhalder on Vampire DiariesThe CWCharacter:Damon Salvatore, 17Somerhalder’s Actual Age at Filming:31

21of 41

Ian Somerhalder on Vampire Diaries

Character:Damon Salvatore, 17

Somerhalder’s Actual Age at Filming:31

22of 41Ashleigh Murray on RiverdaleThe CWCharacter: Josie (of Josie & the Pussycats), high school studentMurray’s Actual Age at Filming:30

22of 41

Ashleigh Murray on Riverdale

Character: Josie (of Josie & the Pussycats), high school student

Murray’s Actual Age at Filming:30

23of 41Sean Patrick Thomas in Save the Last DanceParamountCharacter:Derek Reynolds, senior in high schoolThomas' Actual Age at Filming:31

23of 41

Sean Patrick Thomas in Save the Last Dance

Paramount

Character:Derek Reynolds, senior in high school

Thomas' Actual Age at Filming:31

24of 41Sissy Spacek in CarrieEverette CollectionCharacter:Carrie White, 16Spacek’s Actual Age at Filming:27

24of 41

Sissy Spacek in Carrie

Everette Collection

Character:Carrie White, 16

Spacek’s Actual Age at Filming:27

25of 41

Jennifer Grey in Dirty Dancing

Courtesy Everett Collection

Grey’s Actual Age at Filming:27

26of 41John Heder in Napoleon DynamiteCourtesy Everett CollectionCharacter:Napoleon, high school studentHeder’s Actual Age at Filming:26

26of 41

John Heder in Napoleon Dynamite

Character:Napoleon, high school student

Heder’s Actual Age at Filming:26

27of 41Winona Ryder in Girl, InterruptedCourtesy Everett CollectionCharacter:Susanna Kayson, 18Ryder’s Actual Age at Filming:28

27of 41

Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted

Character:Susanna Kayson, 18

Ryder’s Actual Age at Filming:28

28of 41Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller’s Day OffFrom left: Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara and Alan Ruck in promo forFerris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986.Courtesy Everett CollectionCharacter:Cameron, 17Ruck’s Actual Age at Filming:30

28of 41

Alan Ruck in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

From left: Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara and Alan Ruck in promo forFerris Bueller’s Day Off, 1986.Courtesy Everett Collection

Character:Cameron, 17

Ruck’s Actual Age at Filming:30

29of 41Selma Blair in Cruel IntentionsCourtesy Everett CollectionCharacter:Cecile Caldwell, 17Blair’s Actual Age at Filming:27

29of 41

Selma Blair in Cruel Intentions

Character:Cecile Caldwell, 17

Blair’s Actual Age at Filming:27

30of 41Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like BeckhamCourtesy Everett CollectionCharacter:Jess Bhamra, 17Nagra’s Actual Age at Filming:27

30of 41

Parminder Nagra in Bend It Like Beckham

Character:Jess Bhamra, 17

Nagra’s Actual Age at Filming:27

31of 41Ross Butler on 13 Reasons WhyCharacter:Zach Dempsey, high school studentButler’s Actual Age at Filming:27

31of 41

Ross Butler on 13 Reasons Why

Character:Zach Dempsey, high school student

Butler’s Actual Age at Filming:27

32of 41Gabrielle Carteris on Beverly Hills, 90210mikel roberts/Getty ImagesCharacter:Andrea Zuckerman, 16Carteris' Actual Age at Filming:29

32of 41

Gabrielle Carteris on Beverly Hills, 90210

mikel roberts/Getty Images

Character:Andrea Zuckerman, 16

Carteris' Actual Age at Filming:29

33of 41Matt Damon in Behind the CandelabraHBOCharacter:Scott Thorson, 17Damon’s Actual Age at Filming:43

33of 41

Matt Damon in Behind the Candelabra

HBO

Character:Scott Thorson, 17

Damon’s Actual Age at Filming:43

34of 41Meredith Monroe on Dawson’s CreekCharacter:Andie McPhee, high school sophomoreMonroe’s Actual Age at Filming:29

34of 41

Meredith Monroe on Dawson’s Creek

Character:Andie McPhee, high school sophomore

Monroe’s Actual Age at Filming:29

35of 41Kerr Smith on Dawson’s CreekColumbia TriStar Television/courtesy Everett CollectionCharacter:Jack McPhee, high school sophomoreSmith’s Actual Age at Filming:26

35of 41

Kerr Smith on Dawson’s Creek

Columbia TriStar Television/courtesy Everett Collection

Character:Jack McPhee, high school sophomore

Smith’s Actual Age at Filming:26

36of 41Tammin Sursok on Pretty Little LiarsABCCharacter:Jenna Marshall, high school studentSursok’s Actual Age at Filming:31

36of 41

Tammin Sursok on Pretty Little Liars

ABC

Character:Jenna Marshall, high school student

Sursok’s Actual Age at Filming:31

37of 41Jason Earles on Hannah MontanaCharacter:Jackson, high school studentEarles' Actual Age at Filming:29

37of 41

Jason Earles on Hannah Montana

Character:Jackson, high school student

Earles' Actual Age at Filming:29

38of 41Cory Monteith on GleePatrick Ecclesine/FOXCharacter:Finn, high schoolerMonteith’s Actual Age at Filming:27-31

38of 41

Cory Monteith on Glee

Patrick Ecclesine/FOX

Character:Finn, high schooler

Monteith’s Actual Age at Filming:27-31

39of 41Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-ManSony PicturesCharacter:Peter Parker, 17Garfield’s Actual Age at Filming:28

39of 41

Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man

Sony Pictures

Character:Peter Parker, 17

Garfield’s Actual Age at Filming:28

40of 41Ben Platt on The PoliticianCourtesy of NETFLIXCharacter:Payton Hobart, high school seniorPlatt’s Actual Age at Filming:26

40of 41

Ben Platt on The Politician

Courtesy of NETFLIX

Character:Payton Hobart, high school senior

Platt’s Actual Age at Filming:26

41of 41Lucy Boynton on The PoliticianIsabel Infantes/PA Images via GettyCharacter:Astrid, high school seniorBoynton’s Actual Age at Filming:25

41of 41

Lucy Boynton on The Politician

Isabel Infantes/PA Images via Getty

Character:Astrid, high school senior

Boynton’s Actual Age at Filming:25

source: people.com