15 Actors Who Weren’t as Young or Old as You Thought They Were

Hollywood has always been surprisingly good at convincing audiences that actors are much older or younger than they really are. Makeup, costumes, stressful storylines, and mature performances often create the illusion that certain stars were decades apart from their actual age during filming. Here are 15 actors who didn’t act their age when they made some of their most famous movies.

Rachel McAdams — Mean Girls (25 years old)

Rachel McAdams convincingly played Regina George despite being much older than a real high school student.

Robert Redford — The Natural (47 years old)

Robert Redford still looked believable as a much younger baseball player during the film’s flashback heavy story.

Shirley Henderson — Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (37 years old)

Shirley Henderson was nearly 40 while playing teenage ghost Moaning Myrtle.

Stockard Channing — Grease (33 years old)

Stockard Channing played high school student Rizzo while already in her thirties.

Thomas Brodie-Sangster — Game of Thrones (24 years old)

Thomas Brodie Sangster still looked extremely young during Game of Thrones despite already being in his twenties.

Wilford Brimley — Cocoon (50 years old)

Wilford Brimley looked convincing as a retiree in Cocoon despite only being 50 during filming.

Alan Ruck — Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (29 years old)

Alan Ruck was nearly 30 when he portrayed anxious teenager Cameron Frye.

Estelle Getty — The Golden Girls (62 years old)

Estelle Getty played Sophia as an elderly grandmother even though she was younger than some of her co-stars.

Jason Earles — Hannah Montana (29 years old)

Jason Earles spent years playing Miley Stewart’s teenage brother while already nearing 30.

Jennifer Grey — Dirty Dancing (27 years old)

Jennifer Grey played teenage Baby Houseman while already approaching 30.

Judd Nelson — The Breakfast Club (25 years old)

Judd Nelson brought enough intensity to Bender that many viewers forgot he was far older than a real high school student.

Keiko Agena — Gilmore Girls (27 years old)

Keiko Agena played teenager Lane Kim for years while being significantly older than the character.

Laurence Fishburne — Boyz n the Hood (29 years old)

Laurence Fishburne felt much older and wiser than his actual age while playing Furious Styles.

Marlon Brando — The Godfather (47 years old)

Heavy makeup and a legendary performance made Marlon Brando seem far older as Don Vito Corleone.

Max von Sydow — The Exorcist (44 years old)

Extensive makeup transformed Max von Sydow into the elderly Father Merrin despite him still being in his forties.