Top 10 Most Incredible Young-to-Old Castings
#10: Cassie Howard “Euphoria” (2019-)
Throughout the first season of “Euphoria,” we spend a good amount of time learning about each character in their childhood. As a result, we get to see a few old-and-young casting choices. But none are so good as Cassie Howard. At her present-day age, Cassie is played by Sydney Sweeney. But in one flashback-heavy episode, we briefly see a young Cassie – complete with an actress who looks exactly like Sweeney herself. It’s already enough that the young performer is basically a carbon copy of the actress. But it must have been tough to find someone with the exact same look of apathy in her pouty eyes. That was well done!
#9: Bill Anderson “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” (2018)
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In the first “Mamma Mia!” film, Stellan Skarsgård is the perfect choice for Bill. And in the second movie, they found his perfect young counterpart in Josh Dylan. The British actor doesn’t necessarily look just like the elder Skarsgård, but looks aren’t everything. Sometimes, nailing the vibe is enough. Skarsgård has a playful charm to him that exudes confidence. Even in his somewhat advanced age, the twinkle in his eye lets you know he’s still got it. Dylan is not only handsome, but he’s also got that familiar twinkle. When he meets Lily James’ character, his eyes dance and he might as well be another one of Skarsgård’s actor sons.
#8: Eddie Kaspbrak “It” (2017) & “It: Chapter Two” (2019)
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When the first movie in the “It” franchise saw such success, casting directors had the immense task of finding adult actors to match the kids. They did a great job with mostly everyone – you can’t go wrong with the likes of Bill Hader or Jessica Chastain – but nothing beats Eddie’s casting. In the first movie, Jack Dylan Grazer gives a nervy and hysterical performance. In the second film, actor James Ransone captures the younger performer’s energy perfectly. His dark brows are able to convey the same energy as Grazer, and he embodies his physicality to a T.
#7: Kate Pearson “This Is Us” (2016-22)
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Casting a role at two different ages is hard enough. But the casting directors for “This Is Us” had to find the perfect actors to portray the Pearson kids at not two, not three, but four different ages. They did a great job with Randall and Kevin, but they hit the jackpot with Kate. We’re introduced to Chrissy Metz as the present-day version of the character, with different actresses playing her as a child, a preteen, and a teenager. The similarities in the four stars’ face shapes is astounding, and the performances are eerily similar – particularly with Hannah Zeile, who plays teenaged Kate. You can tell she must have studied Metz in the role and really worked to nail down her mannerisms.
#6: Lucy Wyman “13 Going on 30” (2004)
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We don’t spend a ton of time with the “13 Going on 30” characters in their younger years, but it’s definitely enough to make an impression. Christa B. Allen, who brings the young Jenna Rink to life, has grown up to look uncannily similar to Jennifer Garner. But today, we’re giving it up to this little Judy Greer lookalike! In the film, Greer is Jenna’s frenemy Lucy. The character was terrible to our protagonist all throughout school. And Alexandra Kyle, the actress playing the younger version of Lucy, has the same hawkish, mean girl energy that Greer infuses into her portrayal. When they make certain faces, it’s literally almost like looking in a mirror.
#5: Snow White “Once Upon a Time” (2011-18)
Ginnifer Goodwin is a beloved actress – and one with a very specific look. She almost looks like a pixie, with her small frame, and big, round features. Casting directors must have looked far and wide for an actress with the same fairytale vibes to play the younger version of the Fairest of them All on “Once Upon a Time.” Luckily, they found Bailee Madison. Much like Goodwin, Madison seems like she was plucked from the pages of a storybook. Not only do the actresses look alike, but they both have the chops necessary to play an iconic character like Snow White. Sometimes, it feels like they’re not just acting – they’re living it.
#4: Cece Parekh “New Girl” (2011-18)
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On “New Girl,” Cece and Jess are the very best of friends and have known each other for basically their entire lives. As such, we’re privy to flashbacks showing them growing up together. The younger actresses picked to embody Zooey Deschanel’s Jess really captures her zany energy. And as far as young Cece goes? Let’s just say they nailed it with not one, but two actresses. Ariela Barer, for one, really could’ve realistically grown up to turn into Hannah Simone. Jaidan Jiron also seamlessly takes on the role as if she was born for it. Both of them exude the confidence that Simone brings to the character. Like, of course this girl becomes a model.
#3: Rhaenyra Targaryen & Alicent Hightower “House of the Dragon” (2022-)
While we didn’t get to spend too much time with Milly Alcock and Emily Carey in “House of the Dragon,” there’s no denying the two young actors made their marks. Watching them perform the roles of Rhaenyra and Alicent, you find yourself wishing for time to slow down. When episode six finally hit, catapulting the show ten years into the future, it almost felt like nothing had changed. Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke look and act so much like their younger counterparts, it’s as if some magical Westerosi force simply aged up the younger stars instead of switching them out. With casting so at the forefront of this show, they really had to bring the results. Well, there were no problems there.
#2: Shauna Shipman “Yellowjackets” (2021-)
“Yellowjackets” offers some of the best old-to-young casting we’ve seen from a show in years – and it’s probably because they focused on more than just looks. In an interview with Deadline, the casting director for the show said they chose their actors based on how well they fit the role as written, not how much they resembled the adult cast members. In the case of Shauna, they lucked out on both fronts. Sophie Nélisse, the actress who plays the character in her younger years, looks so much like her counterpart Melanie Lynskey it’s almost eerie. The performance is pitch perfect too – it’s like the women worked together to bring one singular identity to the role. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Elena Richardson, “Little Fires Everywhere” (2020) Anna Sophia Robb Giving Off Big Reese Witherspoon Vibes Shirley Crain Harris, “The Haunting of Hill House” (2018) Elizabeth Reaser Might as Well Be Lulu Wilson’s Mother Camille Preaker, “Sharp Objects” (2018) We Never Noticed How Much Sophia Lillis Looks Like Amy Adams Gamora, “Avengers: Infinity War” (2018) The Green Skin Helps, but Even Without It, the Resemblance Is Wild Tahani Al-Jamil, “The Good Place” (2016-20) This Young Actress Captures Jameela Jamil’s Vibe Perfectly
#1: Sabrina Spellman “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” (2018-20)
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Mckenna Grace is a young actress who has hit the Hollywood scene with a splash, particularly in the horror world. She starred in “The Haunting of Hill House” as a young version of Kate Siegel’s character Theo. But her best work in that type of role has to be as a young Kiernan Shipka in “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” Now, we have to give it up to the make-up and hair department here as well, because the character’s styling at both stages of life is perfectly matched. But Grace is already a strong enough actress that she’s also able to capture the spooky, slightly off-kilter vibe that Shipka brings to the role. It’s a chilling pairing of performances.
