Why Hollywood prefers casting adults to play teenagers?
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
Calgary, Alberta
June 10, 2017 3:48pm CST
This is something I noticed in many Hollywood movies and Television shows. They love casting adults on their 20's to play Teenagers. Well Nickelodeon and Disney does hire actual teens but Most Tv Networks prefers casting adult for teenage roles that are suppose to be on highschool.
I mean look at Glee, they have people on their 30's playing teen roles. I don't know if it has something to do with the risque teen characters that might be too controversial to be played by teens but they also cast adults for wholesome roles too.
10 people like this
10 responses
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
11 Jun 17
i think it started with the sitcom beverly hills 90210
2 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
11 Jun 17
Meanwhile in the Philippines, teenagers play adults while 30 year olds play middle age roles. I remember a 14 year old Bea Alonzo playing the role of a Lawyer.
Heck they even have someone 28 play the role of the mom of a 19 year old.
It seemed like it is better to be an actor in the US, You can still play young roles as long as you look young.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
12 Jun 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker i notice that once actresses have babies, they're given "mother" roles.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
12 Jun 17
@hereandthere and the only way to escape it is to not have babies. since there are some actresses who luckily kept the young roles in their 30's but they still eventually ends up in mother roles. Guys have longer career span for young roles.
2 people like this
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
11 Jun 17
I think the real teenagers have more protections when they are starring in the movie. Besides, they need to go to school and sometimes it may slow down the movie filming. The adults will not have such kind of issues. Of course this is my guess only.
2 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
11 Jun 17
In Asia though most teen roles goes to actual teens. The potrayal of teens here in Asia though is more age appropriate. In the US they portray teens as sexually promiscuous rebels.
3 people like this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
18 Jun 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker What 
? Is it that they are so good at acting or they look much older for their age? Or is it that the youth is more appealing and marketable out there? This is interesting!!
? Is it that they are so good at acting or they look much older for their age? Or is it that the youth is more appealing and marketable out there? This is interesting!!@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
18 Jun 17
@much2say Youth is appealing there. Apparently turning 30 will turn a person "50" years old there even if they still look young . It is even getting worst because a 25 year old actress just played mother of a 19 year old man. They put lots of make on her to make up her look old.
If an actor or actress dont kiss on their movies despite of it's romance theme, there is a chance that actor is a minor.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
18 Jun 17
In the Philippines , a 14 year old actress can play the role of a college graduate adult career woman. I am not kidding they give young adult roles to teens. While adults on their 30's play 50 year olds.
I am not kidding they give young adult roles to teens. While adults on their 30's play 50 year olds.1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
11 Jun 17
18 year olds are adults though while still being teenagers so they can still play teen roles. yet they prefer someone who is like 33 to play a highschool student.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (502886)
• Italy
12 Jun 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker Even if 18 years old are adults, they still have to work a shorter time and this is a problem. I think that another problem for the series is that teenagers change a lot (physically) in short time. They need to show people with the same appearance for several years. This is fine for people over 25, but not for 16 and 18 years old that will look a lot different in a couple of years.
2 people like this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Jun 17
That keep the short adult actors employed. 
Many of them are like 34 and still play highschool kids thanks to their lack of height and youthful appearance.
Many of them are like 34 and still play highschool kids thanks to their lack of height and youthful appearance.
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
10 Jun 17
Lol, I remember reading an article long ago about the 1990s tv show on Fox, Beverly Hills 90210. Kinda funny how times never change.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
10 Jun 17
I also remember Mellisa Joan Hart, being Sabrina the teenage witch at her mid 20's and her age is starting to show. LOL
2 people like this
@librarygeek1980 (3137)
• United States
10 Jun 17
@CaptAlbertWhisker lol, and shes only 41! Lol I think she still looks good for her age, she's not that much older than me.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
11 Jun 17
@librarygeek1980 she looks good for her age today but during the Sabrina times, she is obviously not a teen.
2 people like this
@jaiho2009 (39140)
• Philippines
14 Jun 17
I don't understand either, but maybe because adult can portray better since they had been there.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Jun 17
The opposite reason why Philippine television casts 30 year olds to play the role of 50 year olds
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
14 Jun 17
So weird isn't it but I didn't realize it before. In fact I'm not that fond of US series. Maybe because they have school. I haven't watch any of the teens series for a while now.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Jun 17
Meanwhile in the Philippines teens play young adult roles. Youth is more prioritized in the Philippines.
@jstory07 (148782)
• Roseburg, Oregon
13 Jun 17
Maybe they can not get teenagers to play those roles.
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
13 Jun 17
If you notice many teen characters in American movies and TV are sexually active.
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
14 Jun 17
I find it quite interesting that shows do that. The actors they cast really look like they could be teens. Then later, you find out they are 20 something... Maybe it's an experience or maturity thing to cast older actors in younger age roles?
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32760)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Jun 17
A lot of actual teens in the US still play child roles. Yeah teens have potential to be whiny and rebellious to follow instructions and adults might be more mature and professional.
1 person likes this
