What 11 Movie Characters Would Look Like If They Were Portrayed by Actors of the Right Age

Actors and actresses have to embody different characters. And the actors’ looks don’t always match the appearance of their characters. Sometimes it’s not that important, but other times, you can see the difference with the naked eye.

At Bright Side, we came up with the idea to show you what our favorite characters from movies and TV series would look like if the actors’ ages matched that of their characters.

Zendaya — Chani (Dune)

In the book, Paul is 15 years old, while Chani is described as a girl whose age was similar to Paul’s. The events of Dune unfold in 10191 while Chani was born in 10178, according to the original novels. Thus, Chani was about 13 in the first book.

Emma Stone — Cruella (Cruella)

At the beginning of the movie, Cruella is played by another actress. The girl studies at school and is about 10-12 years old. Then there is a leap over a period of 10 years. Estella is a young woman here, and her age is about 20-22. At the same time, the actress who played this villain was 33 years old.

Lily Collins — Rosie Dunne (Love, Rosie)

The main character graduates from school at the beginning of the movie, thus her age is 16 to 18. Lily Collins, who played Rosie, was 25 years old.

Saoirse Ronan — Jo March (Little Women)

In 2019, another screen adaptation of the story about the close-knit March family was released. One of the main characters, Jo, has a fiery temper and a stubborn personality. The actress who played Josephine was 10 years older than her heroine.

Julia Roberts — Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat Pray Love)

The main character of the movie who travels around the world is 34 years old. The gorgeous Julia Roberts who embodied this character on screen was 43 years old during the production.

Patrick Swayze — Johnny Castle (Dirty Dancing)

The character who conquered the hearts of thousands of girls was 25 years old, according to the script. The great dancer, Patrick Swayze, was 10 years older.

Armie Hammer — Oliver (Call Me by Your Name)

According to the script, Oliver is a 24-year-old student who comes to the professor’s country house for the summer to work on his academic paperwork. Armie Hammer portrayed a character who was 7 years younger than himself.

Carey Mulligan — Edith Pretty (The Dig)

In the 2021 movie, Carey Mulligan, who was 35 at the time, embodied the heroine who was much older than herself.

Mia Wasikowska — Alice (Alice in Wonderland)

The girl who followed the white rabbit in Lewis Carroll’s first book was only 7 years old. For the screen adaptation of the book, it was decided to make the main character older, and 21-year-old Mia Wasikowska was cast for the role.

Danielle Macdonald — Willowdean (Dumplin’)

According to the story, Willowdean is an overweight teenage daughter of a former beauty queen. As an act of rebellion, she decides to enter a local beauty pageant run by her mother. The body-positive schoolgirl was played by 27-year-old actress Danielle Macdonald.

Matt Damon — Scott Thorson (Behind the Candelabra)

Matt Damon has always been known for his ability to fully transform into his characters. But this time, it seems that he surprised himself, as he portrayed 18-year-old Scott, at the age of 43.

Do you think it’s okay if the actors’ and the characters’ ages don’t match? Or should film directors be more attentive when choosing an actor for the role? Share your opinion in the comments below.