15 Times When Actors Were Too Old for Their Roles

15. Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man

Andrew Garfield was 29 when he first played 17-year-old Peter Parker in The Amazing Spider-Man. While his age sparked some discussion, his energetic and heartfelt performance gave the character a fresh spin. | © Sony Pictures Releasing

14. Florence Pugh in Little Women

Florence Pugh was in her early 20s when she took on the role of 13-year-old Amy March in Little Women. While audiences knew she wasn’t actually a teenager, she still nailed the character’s vanity, charm, and eventual maturity. | © Sony Pictures Releasing

13. Sean Connery in Diamonds Are Forever

Sean Connery was 41 when he returned as James Bond in Diamonds Are Forever, a character meant to be in his 30s. His older appearance drew some notice, but the film was a hit and became his final official outing as 007. | © United Artists

12. John Travolta in Grease

John Travolta was 23 when he played high schooler Danny Zuko in Grease. Like much of the cast, he was far older than his “teen” character, a common Hollywood trend at the time. | © Paramount Pictures

11. Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming

Tom Holland was 21 when he played 15-year-old Peter Parker in Spider-Man: Homecoming. His youthful energy and look made him a convincing high schooler, earning praise for capturing the character’s humor and awkwardness. | © Universal Studios

10. Laurence Fishburne in Apocalypse Now

Laurence Fishburne was only 14 when he was cast as 17-year-old Mr. Clean in Apocalypse Now, having lied about his age to get the role. The film’s long production meant he was closer to the character’s age by the time it was released. | © Paramount Pictures

9. Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can

Leonardo DiCaprio was 28 when he played Frank Abagnale Jr., whose story in Catch Me If You Can spans ages 16 to 21. His youthful appearance helped him convincingly portray the teenage con artist as he bluffed his way into jobs as a pilot, doctor, and lawyer. | © DreamWorks Pictures

8. Emma Thompson in Sense and Sensibility

Emma Thompson was 36 when she played Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, a character who is just 19 in Jane Austen’s novel. The role was aged up for the film, and Thompson’s performance earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. | © Sony Pictures Releasing

7. Tobey Maguire in Spider-Man

Tobey Maguire was almost 27 when he first played high schooler Peter Parker in Spider-Man. He kept the role through two sequels, even into his early 30s, while the character was still written as a young college student. | © Marvel Enterprises

6. Robert Pattinson in Twilight

Robert Pattinson was 22 when he first played Edward Cullen, the eternally 17-year-old vampire in Twilight. Despite being a few years older than his high school character, his chemistry with Kristen Stewart helped make the romance a global phenomenon. | © Summit Entertainment

5. Keira Knightley in Love Actually

In Love Actually, Keira Knightley plays Juliet, a newlywed likely in her early 20s. She was only 18 during filming, just five years older than Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who played young Sam, which still surprises many viewers. | © Universal Studios

4. Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones

Emilia Clarke was 24 when she first played Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, a character meant to be around 16 in the show. The age gap didn’t stop her from delivering a standout performance that became central to the series’ success. | © HBO

3. Sissy Spacek in Carrie

Sissy Spacek was 26 when she played high schooler Carrie White in the horror classic Carrie. Despite the age gap, her mix of vulnerability and menace made the role unforgettable. | © MGM

2. Winona Ryder in Girl, Interrupted

Winona Ryder was 28 when she played 18-year-old Susanna Kaysen in Girl, Interrupted. She had long championed the project, and her performance still convincingly conveyed the character’s youth and vulnerability. | © Columbia Pictures

1. Barbra Streisand in Yentl

Barbra Streisand was 41 when she played a teenage girl disguised as a boy in Yentl. The age gap raised some eyebrows, but the film was a personal passion project that became one of her most celebrated works. | © MGM