Shirley Henderson, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Shirley Henderson, a British actress then 37, portrayed the 13-year-old student Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002). Five years later, she returned to the same character in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), this time at age 40.
During production, Henderson stood about 154 centimeters tall and weighed around 55 kilograms, with makeup, glasses, and strong acting helping her convincingly embody a teenage girl. In the film’s plot, Myrtle is depicted as being in love with Harry Potter, though the character’s timeline places her at an age far older than the actor who brings her to life.
Yulia Khlynina, Elizabeth
Actress Yulia Khlynina spoke about her experience portraying a 16-year-old Elizaveta Petrovna in an interview cited by Gazeta.ru:
She recalled playing Elizabeth at 29, noting the mismatch between her real age and the character’s youth. The look revealed age differently over the years. While skin can be refined with makeup, lighting, and filters, altering a look once established proves challenging. She described adjusting her voice and behavior to fit the character, highlighting a more introverted reality that contrasted with the role’s lively, open image.
Michael J. Fox, Back to the Future
Michael J. Fox was 24 at the premiere of Back to the Future, where he portrayed 17-year-old Marty McFly. Fox has said that Marty’s spirit resonated with his own personality.
He described a youth spent skating, chasing girls, and playing in a band, dreaming of rock stardom. The role earned Fox a Golden Globe for Best Actor. In the sequels, he also played the present-day Marty, as well as his older self and a future-time version of a son, adding layers to his performance across the trilogy.
Irina Muravieva, Carnival
In the film Carnival, Irina Muravieva took on the role of Nina Solomatina, a 17-year-old recent graduate. At 32, the actress captured a naive young woman with pigtails who aspired to conquer Moscow and pursue acting. The film became a top box office success in the Soviet Union in 1982, and Muravieva was celebrated as one of the year’s best actresses by readers of Soviet Screen.
Tobey Maguire, Spider-Man
Tobey Maguire stepped into the shoes of 17-year-old Peter Parker in the Spider-Man series from 2002 to 2007, at age 27. Maguire has said that his own background helped shape the character, describing a sense of being an outsider and a keen observer of people. He spent time at various California schools, formed friendships, and lived with relatives as his family faced financial challenges.
The actor returned to the role of Parker in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) and earned a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the longest-running portrayal of a Marvel superhero in a single film cycle.
Jason Earles, Hannah Montana
Jason Earles became widely known for playing Jackson Stewart, Miley Cyrus’s older brother in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana. He has since been married to Jennifer Earles and has a child, portraying a 16-year-old character while being 34 at the time.
Ravshana Kurkova, Barvikha
In 2009, Ravshana Kurkova appeared as Angela, a high school student, in the television series Barvikha, which centers on teenage life in an elite Moscow suburb. At the time of filming, Kurkova was 29. She has spoken about tough years before the show, including taking on odd jobs and moving to Moscow in search of opportunities.
When asked about Angela, Kurkova noted that the role did not bring a clear path for growth in later seasons. She recalled that sex was added to the script, but her character never evolved, expressing gratitude for the experience while noting personal growth beyond the series.
Gabrielle Carteris, Beverly Hills, 90210
Gabrielle Carteris rose to prominence in the early 1990s through Beverly Hills, 90210, where she played Andrea Zuckerman at age 29, well within the age range of the character’s peers. The cast included relationships with other core characters, such as the Walsh family’s patriarch, contributing to the show’s dynamic appeal.
Barbra Streisand, Yentl
In Yentl, Barbra Streisand portrayed a character who disguises as a boy to pursue studies, effectively embodying a youthful identity at age 41. The narrative follows a protagonist who dons men’s attire for education and self-discovery, a storyline that earned five Oscar nominations.