Many times, movies tell us stories about people’s lives from the time they are children to the time they become adults. The production faces a difficult problem in this regard. It’s not just about casting a good actor or actress in the role; it’s also important that both interpreters of the character bear some similarity to one another so that everything makes sense.
1. Gia Carangi in Gia
The HBO television film Gia Carangi was released in 1998 and is based on the life of American model Gia Carangi. Carangi was regarded as one of the first supermodels of her generation at the time. The film depicts her life story as well as the challenges that come with international recognition. Carangi is played by Mila Kunis throughout her childhood, and later Angelina Jolie takes over as an adult.
2. Melanie and Jake in Sweet Home Alabama
Melanie Carmichael and Jake Perry, two childhood friends, have a love tale full of ups and downs in this film. Jake believes they are destined to marry, however, Melanie, played by Dakota Fanning as a child and then by Reese Witherspoon as an adult, isn’t convinced. Perry is played by Thomas Curtis at first, and then by Josh Lucas as an adult.
3. Lila Wittenborn in Evening
This drama depicts a woman’s final days, in which she reflects on the most exciting and dramatic episodes of her life. Mamie Gummer portrays Lila Wittenborn in her youth, while Meryl Streep portrays her in her later years. The physical resemblance between them is startling, as you can see in the collage above. This, however, is not a coincidence. This is since the actresses are mother and daughter.
4. Sally and Gillian Owens in Practical Magic
Witches Sally and Gillian Owens have always known they were different from the other girls in town, not just because they were witches, but also because of a weird enchantment that plagues their family’s ladies and keeps them from falling in love. Camilla Belle and Sandra Bullock, who played Sally Owens and Lora Anne Criswell and Nicole Kidman, respectively, bring these lovely sisters to the big screen.
5. Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic
There was no way we could leave Titanic’s gorgeous Rose off this list. Gloria Stuart portrays an elderly Rose in the film’s opening scenes. Rose was, however, played by the lovely Kate Winslet in her younger years, as you may recall. Despite the large age gap between the two actresses, there is an intriguing physical likeness between them, but there is no family connection between them in this case, which makes it all the more remarkable.
6. Professor X in X-Men
The X-Men franchise has produced a slew of fantastic action blockbusters. The nicest thing about them is that they’re all fantastic journeys that take you through the characters’ present, past, and future. We’ve been able to see various distinct faces of some of the favorite protagonist’s thanks to these “time trips.” Professor Xavier, for example, was played by Patrick Stewart in the first two films of the story as an older incarnation and afterward by James McAvoy in a younger one.
7. Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars saga
Obi-story Wan’s is initially told in the first installment of the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars. He is portrayed as a mysterious and lonely desert dweller. Sir Alec Guinness, a British actor, played him. However, we eventually learn that he is a Jedi master from the ancient Galactic Republic who mentored Anakin and Luke Skywalker on their initial steps. Ewan McGregor, a Scottish actor, took over the part after him, playing him at a younger age.
8. Indiana Jones in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
We might see a young and already very curious Indiana, played by actor River Phoenix, in the third episode of one of the most popular adventure sagas of all time. Harrison Ford himself recommended the young actor for the role of his younger self. Both actors have previously collaborated on the film The Mosquito Coast. They were cast as father and son, and there was a startling likeness between them.
9. Mystique in X-Men
One of the most prominent characters in the X-Men saga is this mutant who can shapeshift by copying anyone’s appearance and speech. It’s no coincidence that she features in all of the films that have been released so far. Mystique was performed by actress and model Rebecca Romijn for the first three segments. Jennifer Lawrence and Rebecca shared the role in the fourth installment, and Jennifer has been in charge of bringing this weird but charming character to the big screen ever since.
10. Mike O’Donnell in 17 Again
The mystical return of an adult, Mike O’Donnell, to his peak years as the popular kid in high school is the subject of this comedy. Matthew Perry played the protagonist as an adult, but Zac Efron played him as a teenager.
During the filming of the film, Zac would seek Matthew’s help on his dialogue because, after all, he needed to be as believable as possible in his acting. Perry was already a well-known actor, having starred in one of television’s most successful comedies, Friends. Perry’s casting is especially ironic given that he previously starred in the sitcom Second Chance, in which he played an adolescent who meets his time-traveling future self.
11. Noah Calhoun in The Notebook
We were able to learn about the deep love story between Allie and Noah in this romantic film, which lasted for many years. Noah was played by Canadian Ryan Gosling when he was young and gorgeous, and by American James Garner when he was older.
12. Bill Denbrough in It: Chapter Two
We met the young ones who were members of the “Losers’ Club” in the first installment of this film, who faced and conquered the wicked Pennywise. Or so they thought back then, for the sequel reveals that, contrary to the children’s beliefs, the villain was still on the loose. Pennywise, on the other hand, discovered the hard way that the small ones were no longer so little. Bill Denbrough, played as a child by Jaeden Martell and as an adult by James McAvoy, was in control of the team.
Do you know any other actors or actresses who have portrayed the same role at different ages?
Preview photo credit Titanic / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers
