Why are Teens always played by Adults?

SteamTrean

I find it strange that teenagers are always played by 25+ year olds in American movies. It was parodied on Scary Movie so is a well known phenomenon but does anyone know why it happens. There are few exceptions so there must be a good reason for it.

Also if you could give an example. Ball rolling:

Sissy Spacek, Carrie, playing a 17 year old aged 27.

Latchy

All the porno movies seem to have 29 year olds playing at being 18 to ,weird .

EdgarAllenPoo

Might have something to do with the legality of portraying certain things that these supposed teens get up to in the movies.

Nevyn

Minors have restricted work hours adults do not.

ztoical

Thaedydal wrote: »

Minors have restricted work hours adults do not.

+ 1 plus with alot of kids and teens the studio has to provide tutors which can be a pain on location shoots.

Futurism

But surely there are enough 18+ year old's that could fit a role and bypass the restricted hours?

It annoys me. I grew up thinking Americans just looked older than us but now I'm just used to it. It's not just restricted to America though (obviously). Harry Potter springs to mind. The two lead males look much older than what they're playing even though they're only a few years older.

brendansmith

Teen have horrible skin and are moody.

Adult are better looking etc.

Thats my stab at it anyway

indough

never work with children or animals

unreggd

examples:

High School Musical - The whole fookin cast!

Heather Langenkamp as Nancy in Nightmare on Elm Street
She was 20, when she played Nancy who is 15
Hence the in-joke of Nancy saying she looks 20 years old from lack of sleep

Eh, that guy who played Claire's flying bf in the last Heroes series, he's like 25

Colossus in the X-Men films

Rhyme

I can't imagine anyone other than Judd Nelson playing Bender in the Breakfast Club and he was pretty 'old' for the part.

Liam O

Easy, adults sleep with the producers just kidding, is a bit weird though. I suppose they just go with whoever is the best draw at the box office e.g. If you had a chance to see Jessica Alba play a 16 year old or some actual spotty 16 year old who would you rather see?

Slutmonkey57b

Teenagers are very annoying. Any film featuring real teenagers inevitibly engenders a need to strangle somethine.