How old were these actors when playing their iconic roles?

Some people are still traumatized after watching 'Carrie' (1976) and the actress Sissy Spacek had a lot to do with it. The actress played the role of teenager Carrie White at 27 years old.

The actor debuted at 19 years old in the movie 'Rebel Without A Cause'. But we also saw him as Billy in 'Easy Rider' (1969) at 33 years old, and as Shooter Flatch in 'Hoosiers' (1986), at 50 years old. This picture is from 1979.

At a really young age, 19 years old, Scarlett Johansson played the role of Charlotte in the Sofia Coppola movie 'Lost in Translation' opposite Bill Murray.

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Willem Dafoe did an excellent job as Jesus in the scandalous 'The Last Temptation of Christ' (1988). Curiously, the actor was 33 years old when he starred in the movie.

She was the unforgettable Scarlett O'Hara in 'Gone with the Wind' (1936) and the actress was just 23 years old at the time.

Natalie Portman's first role in a big Hollywood production was the one of Amidala in 'Star Wars' at 18 years old. However, her film debut was much earlier, when she played the role of Mathilda in 'Leon' (1994) at 13 years old.

Just like her mother, Judy Garland, Liza Minelli started at a young age. The actress played Sally Bowles in 'Cabaret' (1972) when she was just 22 years old. She won the Oscar for Best Actress thanks to the role.

We have often wondered how old were some actors and actresses when they played certain roles. Are they older or younger than their characters? Sometimes it's difficult to tell… For example, Leonardo DiCaprio was just 23 years old when he filmed 'Titanic'.

If we flipped DiCaprio's age around, we have the age of Audrey Hepburn, 32, when she worked in 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' (1961).

Kate Winslet was a year younger (22) than her co-star Leonardo DiCaprio when they both starred in 'Titanic'.

The famed actress and singer played the teenager Sandy in 'Grease' (1978) when she was 30 years old.

Humphrey Bogart played Rick Blaine in 1942 in the movie 'Casablanca'. At 43 years old, it was the first time he wasn't playing a gangster.

Judy Garland only was 17 when she played the role of Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' (1929). A role that helped her push her career to the top.

He was already a consolidated Hollywood star. He was 55 years old when he took on his succesful role as Roger Thornhill in 'North by Northwest' (1959).

Al Pacino was 32 years old when Francis Ford Coppola chose him to be Michael Corleone in 'The Godfather' (1972).

Julia Roberts was just 23 years old when she became extremely famous thanks to her role opposite Richard Gere in 'Pretty Woman' (1990).

Charles Chaplin wasn't that young when he did 'Modern Times' in 1936, one of the best movies of his career. He was 47 years old.

The American actress was 29 when she played the role of Rachel Marron in the beautiful movie 'The Bodyguard' (1992) opposite Kevin Costner.

Maybe you thought he was a bit older but Clark Gable was only 38 years old when he played the role of Rhett Butler in the iconic 'Gone with the Wind' (1939).

At just 30 years old, Meryl Streep won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the movie 'Kramer vs. Kramer' (1979).

It is tough to choose the best role in Clint Eastwood's filmography. But it's interesting to know that the iconic 'Dirty Harry' (1971) was played by the actor when he was 41 years old.

Ava Gardener was 30 years old when she participated in the film 'Mogambo', one of the best movies of her career. She was Eloise Kelly and the actress was nominated for the Oscar thanks to the role.

He was not an amateur actor: He had already won an Oscar at 31 for 'The Godfather 2'. At 33, Robert de Niro wanted more, and he played one of the best roles of his career in 'Taxi Driver'.

The '90s were a glorious time for Brad Pitt. One of his most iconic roles was detective David Mills in the film 'Seven' (1995). The actor was 32 years old.

At 34, Bette Davis played the role of Charlotte Vale, a not-very-attractive single woman who is the protagonist of 'Now, Voyager' (1942).

After he had won an Oscar in 1980 for 'Kramer vs. Kramer', Dustin Hoffman kept surprising us with new performances. At age 51, he was Raymond Babbitt in 'Rain Man' (1988).

After winning her first Oscar for 'The Accused', the actress won again the next year at just 28 years old thanks to her role as Clarice Starling in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991).

In the '70s and '80s, we had the opportunity to see the best of Harrison Ford. He was 35 when he first starred in 'Star Wars', 39 in his first 'Indiana Jones' movie, and 40 when he starred in the science fiction cult movie 'Blade Runner'.

At 41 years old, Glenn Close was the Marquise Isabelle de Merteuil in 'Dangerous Liaisons' (1988). She was nominated for an Oscar, but the actress has never won the award.

Gene Hackman was 42 years old when he was at the top of his career thanks to 'The French Connection' (1971) and won his first Oscar. 20 years later, at 62, he would win his second Oscar for the movie 'Unforgiven' (1992).

The actor has delivered many amazing performances, but his first Hollywood success was 'Edward Scissorhands' in which he starred when he was 27 years old.

Katherine Hepburn was part of many amazing movies and won many awards. One of those movies is 'Bringing Up Baby' (1939) which she did when she was 31 years old.

Jack Nicholson's crazy face in 'The Shinning' (1977) is part of cinema history. He was 43 years old when he filmed the movie.

Maximus Decimus Meridius is probably THE role in Russell Crowe's career. 'Gladiator' was a huge success in 2000 and the actor won the Oscar for his performance at 36 years old.

In 2001, at 32 years old, we fell in love with the actress as Elf Galadriel in 'The Lord of the Rings', but it was at 35 when the actress took the Oscar home for her role in 'The Aviator' (2004).

He was impeccable as Hannibal Lecter in 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) and won his first Oscar at age 54 for it.

Matthew McConaughey worked with Anthony Hopkins when he was 28 years old in the 1997 movie directed by Steven Spielberg called 'Amistad'.

When she was 31 years old, Woody Allen called her to do the role of Annie Hall in 1977. Her performance won the actress an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA.

Practically every actor in 'The Godfather' enjoyed the success of the movie. Ahead of that wonderful cast was Marlon Brandon who played Vito Corleone at 48 years old.

Although he was a usual of our TV screens thanks to the 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air', Will Smith's big jump to Hollywood came with the movie 'Men in Black'. He was 29 years old when he starred in the movie with Tommy Lee Jones.

The iconic 'Cleopatra' was played by Elizabeth Taylor when the actress was 31 years old. In the 1963 movie, we could also see Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, Roddy McDowall, and Martin Landau.

'Il Gattopardo' (1963) was one of the last movies of Burt Lancaster's successful career. He was 50 years old when he starred in it.

She starred in 'Casablanca' at just 27 years old with the veteran Humphrey Bogart. Her role as Ilsa Lund is the most important one of her career.

The actor delivered a hilarious performance as Phil Connors in 'Groundhog Day' (1993) when he was 43 years old.

After a long career, Judi Dench won the Oscar for Best Supporting actress at 65 years old for her role in the movie 'Shakespeare in Love' (1999).

Younger generations can recognize him as Count Dooku from 'Star Wars' or Saruman from 'The Lord of the Rings', but Christopher Lee will always be Dracula, a role he played in 1958 at 36 years old.

In recent years the actress has won two more Oscars for her roles in 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri' (2017) and 'Nomadland' (2021), however, her first Oscar came with the movie 'Fargo' in 1996 when the actress was 39 years old.

Incredible dancer, the actor Gene Kelly smashed it in 'Singin' in the Rain' (1952). In the film directed by Stanley Donen and starring Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, Kelly was 40 years old.

After an amazing career, Julianne Moore won the Oscar at 55 years old in 2015 for her role as Alice Howland in 'Still Alice'.

At 44 years old, George Clooney starred in 'Syriana' opposite Matt Damon. He was Bob Barnes and the role granted him his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

At 46 years old, Gregory Peck played the role of Atticus Finch in the film adaptation of 'To Kill a Mockingbird' (1962). His performance granted him an Oscar.

Julie Christie was just 25 years old when she won the Oscar for her role as Diana Scott in 'Darling' (1965).

Jack Lemmon won his first Oscar at 30 years old with the movie 'Mister Roberts' (1955), then he would be praised for his role in 'Some Like It Hot' (1959) and delighted everyone, along with Shirley MacLaine, in 'The Apartment' (1960).

The actor was already known for his roles in movies like 'The Outsiders' (1983) when he was just 21 years old. However, his most important role of the decade was in the movie 'Top Gun' (1986); he was 24 years old.

The French actress came to Hollywood to succeed… And she did. In 1996 at 32, she filmed opposite Ralph Fiennes the film 'The English Patient' for which she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

James Dean passed away way too young at just 24 years old. Before that, he left us with his incredible role in 'Rebel Without a Cause' the movie he had filmed the same year of his passing.

The Christmas classic, 'It's a Wonderful Life' (1946), had James Stewart (38) as the protagonist. Years later, the actor starred in another great movie, 'Rear Window', at 46 years old.

In 1990, Denzel Washington showed us what he was capable of at 36 years old when he won the Oscar for the movie 'Glory'. Again, at 47 years old, the actor won the Oscar for his role in the movie 'Training Day'.

At just 25 years old, she played the role of Elvira Hancock, the wife of Frank López (Robert Loggia) and later, the wife of Tony Montana (Al Pacino) in 'Scarface' (1983).

Jeremy Irons' great acting opportunity came at 38 years old with the movie 'The Mission' (1986).

At 32 years old, the comedy genius starred in numerous hilarious movies: 'Ace Ventura', 'The Mask', and 'Dumb & Dumber', all in 1994. But one of the best movies of his career was 'The Truman Show' (1998) which he did at 36 years old.

Under Stanley Kubrick's direction, Nicole Kidman proved how well of an actress she was at 32 years old in the 1999 movie 'Eyes Wide Shut'. Another important movie of her career was 'Dogville' (2003) in which the actress participated at 36 years old.

Joaquin Phoenix is known for his wonderful roles in 'Her' in 2013 when he was 39 years old, and in 'Joker' in 2019, at 45. But many still remember him for his role as Comodo in 'Gladiator' (2000), when the actor was just 26 years old.

In Spain, the actress debuted at just 18 years old in the film 'Jamón, Jamón' starring her now husband Javier Bardem. The actress won the Oscar for her role in Woody Allen's movie 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' in 2008 at 34 years old.

One of John Wayne's most memorable roles in western films is the one of Tom Doninphon in 'The Man Who Shot Liberty Wallace' (1962). The actor was 55 years old.

We could see the actor at 26 in the movie 'Splash' (1988) and at 30 in the wholehearted movie 'Big' (1988). However, the actor received his first Oscar at 36 years old for his participation in the movie 'Philadelphia'. The next year, at 37, he won again for his performance in 'Forrest Gump'.

At 26 years old, Shirley MacLaine was Frank Kubelik in Billy Wilder's movie 'The Apartment' (1960), starring Jack Lemmon.

Nobody can deny Kevin Spacey's incredible talent. The actor won two Oscars for his roles in 'The Usual Suspects' at 36 years old and 'American Beauty' at 40.

This incredible Hollywood beauty was 30 years old when she starred in the movie 'The Fall of the Roman Empire' in 1964. She had won the Oscar two years earlier for her role in 'La Ciociara'.

The eternal Kirk Douglas will always be remembered for his role in 'Spartacus'. The actor was already 44 years old when he played this iconic role.

Her iconic role as Louise Shawer in 'Thelma & Louise' came in 1991 when she was 45 years old. However, she won her first Oscar in 1995, at 49 years old, for the movie 'Dead Man Walking'.

One of the most beautiful men in the industry, and probably the world, was 48 years old when he played one of the most important roles of his career in 'The Sting' (1973).

He became famous among a large popular audience thanks to the movie 'The Last of the Mohicans' at 35 years old. But he wasn't a nobody, the actor had already won his first Oscar at 32 years old for 'My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown'.

Many remember him for his role as Red in 'The Shawshank Redemption' when he was 57 years old. Ten years later, he would win the Oscar for 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004).

At 25 years old, Ben Affleck succeeded in Hollywood by writing and performing in the movie 'Good Will Hunting'.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon usually go hand in hand, in 'Good Will Hunting', at 27 years old, Matt Damon writes and plays the protagonist role of the film.

She is the undeniable queen of Halloween nights, being the protagonist of the first movie of 'Halloween' at 20 years old. In the same genre, we saw her in 'The Fog' at 22 years old. But won many awards, including a Golden Globe, when she starred along with Arnold Schwarzenegger at 36 years old in the movie 'True Lies'.

The actress became famous at 30 years old for her role as Ellen Ripley in the movie 'Alien' (1979).

Another great actor that was part of 'The Sting' cast was Robert Redford, who was 37 years old when he played the role of Johnny Hooker.

The younger generation may know him as Obelix, but others remember him for his role as 'Cyrano de Bergerac' when the actor was 42 years old.

Emmanuelle Béart is another French actress who tried her luck in Hollywood and became famous for her role in 'Mission Impossible' when she was 33 years old.

The chameleonic actor became famous at 26 years old thanks to his role as Patrick Bateman in the movie 'American Psycho' (2000).

Ian McKellen started his career in 1966 at 27 years old. However, his most memorable role came at 62 years old when he played the role of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings'.

One of the toughest guys in Hollywood is really well known for the 'Die Hard' movies, the first one was filmed in 1988 when the actor was 33 years old.

And from one tough guy to another. Arnold Schwarzenegger said 'Hasta la vista, baby' in 1984 when he was 37 years old. Before that, at 35 years old, the actor had already shown his muscles in the movie 'Conan, The Barbarian'.

At 24 years old, people fell in love with the incredible role of Uma Thurman in 'Pulp Fiction' (1994). Tarantino's muse was 33 years old when she starred in the movie 'Kill Bill'.

'Hook' (1991), 'Jumanji' (1995), 'Patch Addams' (1998)... Robin Williams has gifted us with amazing roles, but the most memorable one of all was the one in the movie, 'Dead Poets Society' when the actor was 38 years old.

The role of Danny Zuko in 'Grease' will always be the most iconic image of John Travolta. The actor was part of the '50s-inspired musical when he was just 24 years old.

The actor was a true star of the '80s and '90s thanks to movies like 'Dirty Dancing' (1987) which he starred in at 35 years old, and 'Ghost' (1990).

At 30 years old, Sylvester Stallone played the most iconic character of his career, Rocky Balboa.

The Spanish actor started in cinema at just 21 years old. But it was in 2007 when he triumphed in Hollywood thanks to the movie 'No Country For Old Men'. Bardem won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for the movie at 38 years old.