Hollywood has never met an age it couldn’t fudge. Whether it’s a 30-year-old playing a high schooler or a teenager cast as a world-weary adult, Tinseltown has a long, proud tradition of ignoring the numbers on a birth certificate. Sometimes it’s about star power, sometimes it’s about who can pull off the look, and sometimes… well, it’s just plain baffling. Let’s count down ten of the biggest jaw-dropping age gaps between an actor and the character they portrayed—because nothing screams “movie magic” like a 14-year-old soldier or a grandma younger than her on-screen daughter.
10. Florence Pugh as Amy March in “Little Women”
Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” presented us with new March sisters, but did you realize Florence Pugh was 22 playing Amy, who begins the novel at age 13? According to MovieWeb, Pugh’s work was so convincing that you almost don’t notice the age difference. It’s a credit to her ability, but also a reminder that Hollywood will always cast upward if you can get away with the pigtails.
9. Keira Knightley as Juliet in “Love Actually“
“Love Actually” is a Christmas tradition, but Keira Knightley’s turn as newlywed Juliet is an age-defying example of casting. She was just 18 (and 17 when originally cast), co-starring with actors much older than her. MovieWeb notes that audiences are still surprised when they remember just how young Knightley was, particularly because her character is the focus of one of the more adult love triangles in the film.
8. Emma Thompson as Elinor Dashwood in “Sense and Sensibility”
Emma Thompson is a legend, but legends can’t turn back the clock. At 35, she played 19-year-old Elinor Dashwood in “Sense and Sensibility.” MovieWeb says Thompson’s performance and script both received Oscar nods, but the age difference? Pure Hollywood.
7. Jason Earles as Jackson Stewart in “Hannah Montana”
Disney’s “Hannah Montana” was teen drama all the way, but Jason Earles was approaching 30 when he played goofy older brother Jackson to Miley. When the show ended, he was 34, still sporting the teenage slacker aesthetic. MovieWeb credits Earles’ eternally young looks as the key to his success, but come on: that’s some deep suspension of disbelief.
6. Estelle Getty as Sophia Petrillo in “The Golden Girls”
Estelle Getty entered legend as Sophia, the wisecracking, septuagenarian mother on “The Golden Girls.” The catch? She was younger than her TV daughter, Bea Arthur. MovieWeb describes how, at 62, Getty used wigs and makeup to age herself up for the part. The payoff: TV history, along with a great many bewildered viewers.
5. Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly in “Back to the Future Part III”
By the third installment of “Back to the Future,” Michael J. Fox was 29, still reprising the perpetually 17-year-old Marty McFly. MovieWeb observes that the age disparity was beginning to be apparent, but fans were too caught up in the fun to worry about it.
4. Gloria Stuart as Old Rose in “Titanic”
James Cameron’s “Titanic” required an actress for 101-year-old Rose, and Gloria Stuart, who was 87 at the time, came forward. MovieWeb explains how Stuart used makeup and wigs to fill the 14-year difference. Her act was so realistic that she earned an Oscar nomination and contributed to “Titanic” becoming a legend.
3. Jennifer Lawrence as Tiffany Maxwell in “Silver Linings Playbook”
Jennifer Lawrence took home an Oscar for her role as Tiffany, who was scripted as mid-to-late 30s, when she was only 21. MovieWeb criticizes her versatility and the acclaim she won, but it’s still crazy to consider that she was only just out of her teens.
2. Thomas Brodie-Sangster as Simon in “Nanny McPhee”
Thomas Brodie-Sangster always appeared to be younger than his age, but becoming 14 playing seven-year-old Simon in “Nanny McPhee” is on another level. MovieWeb points out that people are still blown away by how ageless he is. Hollywood, pay attention: sometimes you actually can cast a teen as a little kid.
1. Laurence Fishburne as Tyrone Miller in “Apocalypse Now”
The gold medal for age-gap casting belongs to Laurence Fishburne, who was 14 when he was cast as a young soldier in “Apocalypse Now”. MovieWeb reports that Fishburne lied about his age to get the role, spending more than a year shooting in the Philippines before he could legally drive.
Why does Hollywood continue to do this? Sometimes it’s about vibe, sometimes it’s about star power, and sometimes it’s just because they can. People enjoy seeing these age gaps, and honestly, it’s become part of the fun. So next time you’re watching your favorite show or movie, keep an eye out—you never know if that “teenager” is old enough to rent a car, or if grandma is younger than her daughter. That’s Hollywood, baby.