Entertainment
18 Celebrities Who Played High Schoolers As Adults
Hollywood is fascinated with the lives of teenagers. But while there are tons of TV shows and films that dive into the lives of high schoolers, there's a good chance that the actors portraying said teens aren't anywhere close to their character's age. Some actors who play teens are almost a decade older than their not-yet-graduated counterparts — and looked it, too. So what actors went "back to high school" years after they got their real-life diplomas? Click through to find out the age of the character — and the real age of the actor who played them.
Spencer, 'Pretty Little Liars'
In the pilot episode of the series, this little liar had just started her junior year of high school and was about 16.
Image: ABC Family
Troian Bellisario
Bellisario was 24 when she started the series, and is currently 29 years old, a full 10 years older than Sasha Pieterse, who plays Alison.
Dionne, 'Clueless'
Dionne was a junior in high school when she was cruising around Beverly Hills with Cher.
Image: Paramount Pictures
Stacey Dash
Dash never ages — she was 27 at the time she filmed Clueless, and is currently 47 years old.
Lyla, 'Friday Night Lights'
The Dillon cheerleader was 16 at the beginning of the series.
Image: NBC
Minka Kelly
Though Lyla graduated at the end of the third season, Kelly had actually held her diploma for years — she was 26 at the beginning of the series.
Rizzo, 'Grease'
Rizzo was barely 18 when she sang “There Are Worst Things” in the movie musical.
Image: Paramount Pictures
Stockard Channing
In reality, Channing was 34 years old at the time of filming — which is probably why she looked more like a teacher than a student. She wasn’t the only Grease cast member to be waaaay outside the high school age bracket, though: Olivia Newton-John was 29.
Cameron, 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'
17-year-old Cameron may have been under his parent’s thumb, but the actor who played him definitely was an independent adult.
Image: Paramount Pictures
Alan Ruck
Ruck was 29 when Cameron stole his dad’s car, but he certainly didn’t look it.
Peggy Sue, 'Peggy Sue Got Married'
Peggy Sue was 17 in this time-travel teen flick.
Image: TriStar Pictures
Kathleen Turner
Turner was 32 when she made the 1986 flick, but, to be fair, she also had to play the older version of Peggy Sue, who was 42.
Pedro, 'Napoleon Dynamite'
Pedro was 16 when he ran for student council.
Image: Fox Searchlight Pictures
Efren Ramirez
Ramirez’s real age? 30. (No wonder he had such a killer ‘stache.)
Carrie, 'Carrie'
Carrie was just 16 when she was the victim of a cruel prom prank.
Image: United Artists
Sissy Spacek
Spacek didn’t have to deal with the high school mean girls when she filmed the horror classic — she was already 27!
Marianne, 'Easy A'
The super-Christian was 16 in this teen flick.
Image: Screen Gems
Amanda Bynes
In real life, Bynes was 24 — and older than many college graduates.
Andrea, 'Beverly Hills, 90210'
The “smart one” of the West Bev gang was barely 16 when she first appeared on the show.
Image: ABC
Gabrielle Carteris
There’s a reason that Carteris’ age is still a running joke — she didn’t look anywhere close to the age of the average high school student.
Tyler & Nora, 'Step Up'
The dancing duo played 17-year-olds in the first of what would be maaaany Step Up films.
Image: Buena Vista Pictures
Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan Tatum
The now-married co-stars were both 26 when they filmed the dance flick.
Grace, 'Secret Life of the American Teenager'
When the series started, good girl Grace was 15.
Image: ABC Family
Megan Park
In real life, Park was well out of high school — she was 23 when the series started. Though she’s currently 28, the actress could still pass for a teen.
Maya, 'Pretty Little Liars'
Maya, Emily’s first girlfriend, was 16 when she met the little liar… and only 17 when she was murdered.
Image: ABC Family
Bianca Lawson
Lawson has had a pretty prolific career playing teenagers — she portrayed on on Dawson’s Creek, Sister, Sister, and Saved By the Bell: The New Class. By the time she appeared on Pretty Little Liars, she was 30!
Peter Parker, 'Spider-Man'
The future superhero was on the cusp of graduating high school in the first film.
Image: Columbia Pictures
Tobey Maguire
The youthful-looking Maguire was already 27 when he filmed the first Spider-Man. His age served him well in the sequels, as time jumped ahead with each new film.
Jack, 'Dawson's Creek'
Jack was 16 when he appeared on the second season of the WB drama.
Image: The WB
Kerr Smith
Smith was actually 10 years older than the character he portrayed — the series ended when he was 31.
Lucas, 'One Tree Hill'
We first met the basketball star when he was a 16-year-old high school junior.
Image: The CW
Chad Michael Murray
The actor was pushing 21 when he landed the role of Lucas, which is hardly surprising — did any of the guys in your high school look like that?!
Nate, 'Gossip Girl'
The high society high schooler had just turned 16 at the beginning of the series.
Image: The CW
Chace Crawford
Like Murray, Crawford was also 21 when he was cast on the scandalous CW drama. A 16-year-old Nate probably wouldn’t have that much excellent stubble.
Veronica, 'Veronica Mars'
The teen P.I. was a 17-year-old high school junior at the beginning of the series.
Image: The CW
Kristen Bell
Sure, the 23-year-old actress didn’t look 16, but she was so plucky and fun that we didn’t care a bit.
