16 Inappropriate Hollywood Castings Where An Underage Girl Played A Grown Man's Love Interest

Buzz Feed

26-02-2025

We asked the members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us what age gap between a minor and the actor who played their love interest surprised them. Most of their responses were about underage female actors and male actors who were well over the age of 18. Here are some of the alarming casting age gaps they shared:
1. When they filmed My Father the Hero, Katherine Heigl was 14.
Dalton James was 22 during filming.
They played love interests in the movie.
Universal Pictures
"I'm pretty sure it was her very first kiss ever."
— mkatherinekelly
2. Taylor Momsen was 15 during Season 2 of Gossip Girl.
Chace Crawford was 22 during Season 2 Of Gossip Girl.
During that second season, their characters on the show became romantically involved with each other.
— sheenadawnn
3. Hilary Duff was 15 when she filmed A Cinderella Story.
Chad Michael Murray was 22 when he filmed the movie.
And their characters were an item.
Universal Pictures
— ktlynmariee
4. Claire Danes was 15 during My So-Called Life.
ABC
Jared Leto was seven years older during the show, at 22 years old.
Their characters dated each other on the series.
5. Mila Kunis lied about her age to get cast in That '70s Show. She was 14 when she was cast and 15 when the first episode aired.
Ashton Kutcher was 20 at the time.
Fox
They played boyfriend and girlfriend on the show.
6. Selena Gomez was 15 during the first season of Wizards of Waverly Place.
Brian Kubach was 24 when he appeared in the first season.
During that season, they played boyfriend and girlfriend.
Disney
7. In Starstruck, Danielle Campbell was around 15 years old.
Sterling Knight was around 20 years old in the film.
At the end of the movie, they reconcile and he almost kisses her.
— liliescandon34
8. In Endless Love, Brooke Shields was 16.
Universal Pictures
Martin Hewitt was 22 at the time.
In the movie, they played lovers.
— isola
9. Selena Gomez had just turned 16 when Another Cinderella Story was released.
Disney
Drew Seeley was 26 at the time.
Disney
They played love interests throughout the film.
Disney
— rosiecat98
10. Chloë Grace Moretz was 16 in If I Stay.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Jamie Blackley was 22 while filming the movie.
Warner Bros. Pictures
They played love interests in the film.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"It skeeves me out a bit."
— coffeeowl7
11. Madison Reyes from Julie and the Phantoms was only 16 during Season 1.
Netflix
Charlie Gillespie was 22 during Season 1.
Netflix
Their characters had a romance growing between them.
Netflix
— avasexton64
12. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan was 17 while filming Never Have I Ever Season 1.
Netflix
Darren Barnet was 28 during the filming of Season 1.
Netflix
Daren Barnet and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan played love interests, and her character wanted to lose her virginity to him.
Netflix
— sevenandhis606
13. Emmy Rossum was only 17 in Phantom of the Opera.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Gerard Butler was 33.
Warner Bros. Pictures
And Patrick Wilson was 30.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Both men played her love interests at some point, and she kissed both of them.
Warner Bros. Pictures
"I love that movie, but when I learned that, I was grossed out."
— Th3FatPanth3r
14. Keira Knightley was 17 while filming Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Buena Vista Pictures
Orlando Bloom was 25 while filming the movie.
Buena Vista Pictures
They played love interests in the film.
Buena Vista Pictures
"That one surprised me because I thought they were the same age until recently!"
— rachelc43
15. Mandy Moore was 17 while filming A Walk to Remember.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Shane West was 23 during filming of the movie.
Warner Bros. Pictures
They played a couple in the movie.
Warner Bros. Pictures
— malouniemann
16. And finally, J.C. Brandy was 17 when she guest-starred in the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Tapestry."
Paramount Domestic Television
Patrick Stewart was 52 during that episode.
Paramount Domestic Television
In the episode, their characters kiss and sleep together.
Paramount Domestic Television
— mickpatricktyphon