Watching teen movies and TV shows as an adult often comes with one surprising realization: many of the “high school students” look noticeably older than actual teenagers. While casting older actors is common because of labor laws and experience, some productions pushed that idea much further than others. In several cases, performers in their late twenties, thirties, or even older ended up convincing audiences they were sophomores or seniors. Here are 15 of the oldest actors to ever play high school students.©IMDbStockard ChanningStockard Channing was 33 years old when she played rebellious teenager Betty Rizzo in Grease. She was the oldest member of the main cast despite portraying a high school senior.©IMDbShirley HendersonShirley Henderson was 37 when she first appeared as Moaning Myrtle in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Although Myrtle is a ghost, she’s forever stuck as a teenage Hogwarts student.©IMDbJason EarlesJason Earles was 29 when Hannah Montana premiered, yet he played Jackson Stewart, a 16-year-old high school student. He continued playing the role into his thirties.©IMDbBianca LawsonBianca Lawson has become famous for portraying teenagers well into adulthood. She played high school students in series like Pretty Little Liars, Teen Wolf, and The Vampire Diaries while in her thirties.©IMDbAlan RuckAlan Ruck was 29 years old when he played Cameron Frye in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. His convincing performance made audiences forget he was more than a decade older than the character.©IMDbRachel McAdamsRachel McAdams was 26 when she played queen bee Regina George in Mean Girls. Despite the age gap, she became one of cinema’s most iconic high school students.©IMDbStacey DashStacey Dash was 28 while filming Clueless, where she played Cher’s fashionable best friend Dionne Davenport. She was nearly a decade older than her character.©IMDbOlivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John was 29 during the filming of Grease. She still managed to make Sandy’s transformation into a confident high school senior one of the film’s defining moments.©IMDbTobey MaguireTobey Maguire was 26 when he first played Peter Parker in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. Although Peter graduates early in the film, the story begins with him as a high school student.©IMDbAndrew GarfieldAndrew Garfield was 28 when he starred in The Amazing Spider-Man. Like Maguire before him, he spent part of the film portraying a teenage Peter Parker.©IMDbKeiko AgenaKeiko Agena was 27 when Gilmore Girls debuted, even though Lane Kim was only a high school sophomore. She continued playing the character throughout the show’s early seasons.©IMDbGabrielle UnionGabrielle Union was 26 when she portrayed cheerleader Chastity Church in 10 Things I Hate About You. It was one of several teen movies she made while in her twenties.©IMDbBen McKenzieBen McKenzie was 25 when he began playing Ryan Atwood on The O.C. Although Ryan is a troubled teenager, McKenzie looked convincing enough to anchor the hit series.©IMDbAlexa DemieAlexa Demie was 29 when Euphoria premiered, making her one of the oldest actors in the cast despite portraying high school student Maddy Perez.©IMDbBen PlattBen Platt was 27 when he reprised the role of Evan Hansen in the film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen. His age became one of the movie’s most widely discussed casting decisions.The post 15 of the Oldest Actors Ever Cast to Play High School Students appeared first on Den of Geek.