Top 10 Actors Who Aged Out of Their Roles
#10: Daniel Radcliffe
At 11 years old, Daniel Radcliffe's life changed forever when he was cast as Harry Potter in the screen adaptation of the literary phenomenon. He starred in the series from "The Philosopher's Stone" to the finale of "Deathly Hallows – Part 2." The entire series spanned a decade, and Radcliffe transitioned from adolescent to adult during his time at Hogwarts. While some performers would have a tough time breaking away from their most well-known roles, the London-born actor has successfully managed to create a career where he's known as a Daniel Radcliffe actor rather than only as The Boy Who Lived.
#9: The Cast of “Riverdale”
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Since 2017, "Riverdale" has taken the American comic book classic "Archie Comics" and brought the beloved characters to the small screen. The show helped launch the characters of Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Madelaine Petsch, and KJ Apa. After portraying Riverdale High's crime-fighting - murder mystery solving teens for six seasons, the ensemble is now in its mid-to-late twenties. Although the show's far-out plot lines keep the cast on their toes, each of them has branched off into other projects and is preparing to make their long-awaited departure from the fictional little town when the series wraps.
#8: Tobey Maguire
Tobey Maguire was already a steadily working actor when he was cast as Peter Parker in the highly anticipated screen adaptation of "Spider-Man." "The Cider House Rules" actor was in his mid-20s when he earned the opportunity, but he was required to play a high schooler. Not only did he master the demanding physicality of the role, but he was also a believable teen. He retired from his web-slinging days after "Spider-Man 3" and passed the torch to Andrew Garfield, who assumed the role of Parker in "The Amazing Spider-Man” series. While Maguire would return in “No Way Home,” they acknowledge that he’s not in high school or college anymore.
#7: Shirley Henderson
Scotland-born actress Shirley Henderson had appeared in numerous projects over her career, which started when she was a theatre student in the 1980s. In 2001, she appeared in "Bridget Jones's Diary" as the title character's friend, Jude. Not long after, she was seen in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" as the ghostly, Moaning Myrtle. At the time, Henderson was 36 years old and playing the fourteen-year-old Hogwarts haunting spirit. The actress can effortlessly span decades thanks to her distinct soft and high-pitched voice. In more recent years, though, she’s primarily played adult characters.
#6: Andrew Garfield
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After Tobey Maguire hung up his Spidey suit, Andrew Garfield became the next Friendly Neighbourhood Spider-Man in 2012. At 27 years old, the British actor was selected to lead Marc Webb's "The Amazing Spider-Man" series. Much like Sam Raimi's original web-slinging trilogy, the flick sees Peter Parker go from high school photographer to New York City superhero. Garfield, nearing his thirties, had to pull off being a believable minor. By the time the sequel came out, the Marvel universe needed to call upon a younger actor to carry on the role, and Garfield passed the baton to fellow Brit Tom Holland.
#5: Taylor Kitsch
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Before he was a successful actor, Taylor Kitsch was an aspiring model. His move from British Columbia to New York City saw him pursuing both fashion and modeling. His career gained more traction once he moved from the Big Apple to Los Angeles. After he moved, he was cast as a teen football star Tim Riggins on NBC's "Friday Night Lights." At the time, the 25-year-old Kitsch was well past his high school days. Since the show ended, "The Terminal List” star has publicly stated he has no interest in participating in any reboot of the show, proving his adolescent glory days are a thing of the past.
#4: Robert Pattinson
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At one time and place, Robert Pattinson was so synonymous with the "Twilight" series that even fans had a tough time differentiating him from his character, Edward Cullen. At only 22 years old, the actor was cast as the teenage vampire and stuck with the film franchise for years. Despite the iconic role, he eventually shed his vampiric persona by taking one role in darker flicks like "The Lighthouse" and "Tenet." With Cullen now being a part of his past, Pattinson has become more akin to another famous title: Batman.
#3: Colin Firth
Sometimes, a performer might be recast due to how old or young they look, but for Colin Firth, his recasting for "Paddington" was for a very different reason. After recording the voice of the cherished literary bear from Peru for a big screen adaption, the studio behind the picture thought Firth's voice was too grown up for the role. He was quickly replaced by "No Time To Die" star Ben Whishaw. It just shows that even the most seasoned Academy Award-winning actors aren't spared from the brutal realities of recasting.
#2: Jennifer Lawrence
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Jennifer Lawrence earned the role of a lifetime when she picked up a bow and arrow as Katniss Everdeen in "The Hunger Games." Adapted for the silver screen from the popular book series, Lawrence portrayed the butt-kicking volunteer tribute attempting to survive the dystopian setting of the film. Everdeen was 16 years old in the first film, while Lawrence was 20 when she played the role. The age gap isn't that wide, Lawrence moved on from her arrow-slinging days after the series wrapped and went on to focus on characters that were closer to her age.
#1: Ben Platt
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Ben Platt took Broadway by storm when he originated the lead role in "Dear Evan Hansen." He was in his early 20s when he became involved in the musical and eventually won a Tony for his portrayal of the socially anxious teen who gets caught up in a big lie. For the stage, it's not uncommon for an adult actor to play a teen role. However, for film, it's a very different story. When it was announced that Platt would reprise his role in the film adaptation, fans were excited. However, once the film was released, audiences couldn't help but notice that Platt did not look close to being a teen. Unfortunately, the film didn't receive a warm reception but luckily doesn't dismiss Platt's talent.
