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While it's certainly naive to think that everything we see in the movies is real, some of the lies they pull off are really impressive. Like the actual age gaps between some of the actors who play parent and child. Take Heath Ledger and Kate Mara in Brokeback Mountain, for example. At the time of producing the movie, Ledger was 25 and Mara was 21. Yet their portrayal of Ennis and Alma Jr. was totally believable!

And this isn't a one-time thing; it happens more than you're probably aware of. But don't worry, Bored Panda is here to open your eyes. We have compiled a list of on-screen relatives with ridiculous real-life age differences, so sit back, continue scrolling, and you'll have a better understanding of Hollywood in no time.

#1

Estelle Getty Was Actually Younger Than Bea Arthur When She Played Her Mom In Golden Girls

Estelle Getty Was Actually Younger Than Bea Arthur When She Played Her Mom In Golden Girls

NBC Report

But wait, there's more awkwardness when it comes to co-stars playing each other's relatives. For instance, they may end up having to work with people who have dated their exes. Weird, right? But I've got something even spicier. How about portraying family members with someone you actually date in real life!

It may sound unnatural to us but these are top-class professionals we're talking about and they have no problem with it. Georgia Moffett and David Tennant were daughter and father in Dr. Who but they started dating and even got married in 2011!

Also, Chris Pratt dated Emily VanCamp.These two secretly got together when they started to work together on Everwood, playing brother and sister but broke up after a couple of years together.

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    #2

    Angelina Jolie Was Colin Farrell's Mom In Alexander, But In Reality They’re Only A Year Apart

    Angelina Jolie Was Colin Farrell's Mom In Alexander, But In Reality They’re Only A Year Apart

    Warner Bros Pictures Report

    There's also a really meta example of these types of interesting relationship dynamics. Arrested Development was a show that had numerous references to incest and one time, the showrunners actually used a brother and sister duo to portray potential lovers.

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    In the episode "Family Ties", Michael Bluth (played by Jason Bateman) believes that he has another sister named Nellie (Justine Bateman). After going through the Bluth Company's old computer files, Michael finds a number for a girl with such a name. He believes this girl to be his long lost sister, but she is actually a prostitute who works for his father.

    Michael hires Nellie for the Bluth Company, while unaware of her true profession, and eventually Nellie leads Michael to a hotel where she admits that she is attracted to him. So throughout the episode, Justine had to go on dinner dates with her real-life brother Jason, admit she was attracted to him and have him ask her to marry her at the end.

    My point is this: When the chemistry between the actors is good, when the characters are well-developed and the make-up is spot-on, who cares if the stars are of a similar age or have a thing going on in real life? If it works, it works.

    #3

    Sally Field Was Tom Hanks's Mom In Forrest Gump. However, She's Just 10 Years Older Than Him, And Even Played His Love Interest In Punchline A Few Years Earlier

    Sally Field Was Tom Hanks's Mom In Forrest Gump. However, She's Just 10 Years Older Than Him, And Even Played His Love Interest In Punchline A Few Years Earlier

    paramount Report

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    StIJN
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    as her personage ages 20 years in that movie it seems logical to take an actress that's not too old to start with. adding age seems easier with make up

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    #4

    When She Starred In This Is Us, Mandy Moore (36) Was Younger Than All Of The Actors Who Played Her Children

    When She Starred In This Is Us, Mandy Moore (36) Was Younger Than All Of The Actors Who Played Her Children

    ABC Report

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    Pamela24
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    In this instance, it made sense, though...considering how much she was jumping throughout the timeline.

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    #5

    In Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Cher Played Meryl Streep's Mom Even Though She Was Only Three Years Older Than Her Co-Star

    In Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, Cher Played Meryl Streep's Mom Even Though She Was Only Three Years Older Than Her Co-Star

    Universal Pictures Report

    #6

    In Mean Girls, Amy Poehler Is Only Seven Years Older Than Her Daughter, Rachel Mcadams

    In Mean Girls, Amy Poehler Is Only Seven Years Older Than Her Daughter, Rachel Mcadams

    Paramount Pictures Report

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    Sarcastic Panda
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    maybe its because in the film she'd had loads of plastic surgery?

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    #7

    The Actors Who Played Father And Son In "Blue Bloods", Tom Selleck And Len Cariou, Have An Age Difference Of Just Six Years

    The Actors Who Played Father And Son In "Blue Bloods", Tom Selleck And Len Cariou, Have An Age Difference Of Just Six Years

    CBS Report

    #8

    Johnny Depp Is Five Years Older Than His Movie Mom In "Blow", Rachel Griffiths

    Johnny Depp Is Five Years Older Than His Movie Mom In "Blow", Rachel Griffiths

    New Line Cinema Report

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    #9

    Father And Son In Supernatural, Jeffrey Dean Morgan And Jensen Ackles, Were Born Just 12 Years Apart

    Father And Son In Supernatural, Jeffrey Dean Morgan And Jensen Ackles, Were Born Just 12 Years Apart

    warnerbros Report

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    JuJu
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Oh no! Next you're telling me that neither JDM nor Jensen Ackles are real-life demon hunters!!!!!! This whole post is redundant.

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    #10

    In Jane The Virgin, Andrea Navedo Is Only Seven Years Older Than Her Daughter, Gina Rodriguez

    In Jane The Virgin, Andrea Navedo Is Only Seven Years Older Than Her Daughter, Gina Rodriguez

    The CW Report

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    Biljana Malesevic
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's pretty obvious from the start Andrea is too young to play mother of anyone older than 12. It really annoyed me in this series, they think we wouldn't notice?

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    #11

    "Flicka's" Main Character, Katy, Is Supposed To Be A Teenager. But The Actress, Alison Lohman, Was 27 At The Time, Making Her Just 13 Years Younger Than Her Movie Dad, Played By Tim Mcgraw

    "Flicka's" Main Character, Katy, Is Supposed To Be A Teenager. But The Actress, Alison Lohman, Was 27 At The Time, Making Her Just 13 Years Younger Than Her Movie Dad, Played By Tim Mcgraw

    Twentieth Century Fox Report

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    #12

    In Brokeback Mountain, The Age Difference Between Heath Ledger And Kate Mara Playing Father And Daughter Was Just Four Years

    In Brokeback Mountain, The Age Difference Between Heath Ledger And Kate Mara Playing Father And Daughter Was Just Four Years

    Focus Features Report

    #13

    Elizabeth Rodriguez And Dascha Polanco Played Mother And Daughter In Orange Is The New Black, But In Real Life There's Less Than A Two-Year Age Gap Between Them

    Elizabeth Rodriguez And Dascha Polanco Played Mother And Daughter In Orange Is The New Black, But In Real Life There's Less Than A Two-Year Age Gap Between Them

    Netflix Report

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    Biljana Malesevic
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think everyone noticed they could play sisters and no way mother and daughter. First time Dascha said "she is my mother" I was like "you have to be joking, she is your age!". but nope, they just hoped it will pass.

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    #14

    In Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, The Age Difference Between Sean Connery And Harrison Ford Is 12 Years

    In Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, The Age Difference Between Sean Connery And Harrison Ford Is 12 Years

    paramount Report

    #15

    Bryce Dallas Howard Played Taron Egerton's Mom In Rocketman, But There's Only An Eight-Year Difference Between Them

    Bryce Dallas Howard Played Taron Egerton's Mom In Rocketman, But There's Only An Eight-Year Difference Between Them

    Paramount Pictures Report

    #16

    Daughter And Mother: Janet Hubert And Karyn Parsons In The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

    Daughter And Mother: Janet Hubert And Karyn Parsons In The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

    warnerbros Report

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    King Joffrey
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes but the thing with Janet Hubert is that she doesn't look much older now that she's 65.

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    #17

    Winona Ryder Is Only Six Years Older Than Zachary Quinto, And She Played His Mother In The 2009 Star Trek

    Winona Ryder Is Only Six Years Older Than Zachary Quinto, And She Played His Mother In The 2009 Star Trek

    Paramount Pictures Report

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    Saint Thomas
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This one kind of makes sense 'in universe', since Vulcans have a very long lifespan. Mother and son could look more or less the same age, even with a gap of 20/30 years.

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    #18

    Constance Marie Is Only Four Years Older Than Jennifer Lopez But She Played Her Mother In Selena

    Constance Marie Is Only Four Years Older Than Jennifer Lopez But She Played Her Mother In Selena

    Warner Bros Pictures Report

    #19

    In The 2019 Film "Glass," Charlayne Woodard Plays The Mother Of Samuel L. Jackson's Character, Elijah (Aka Mr. Glass). The Only Problem Is That, At 66, She's Five Years Younger Than 71-Year-Old Jackson

    In The 2019 Film "Glass," Charlayne Woodard Plays The Mother Of Samuel L. Jackson's Character, Elijah (Aka Mr. Glass). The Only Problem Is That, At 66, She's Five Years Younger Than 71-Year-Old Jackson

    Universal Pictures Report

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    #20

    Mother And Son: Julia Roberts & Ryan Reynolds In Fireflies In The Garden

    Mother And Son: Julia Roberts & Ryan Reynolds In Fireflies In The Garden

    Senator Entertainment Inc. Report

    #21

    Father And Son: John Noble And Sean Bean In The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

     Father And Son: John Noble And Sean Bean In The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King

    warnerbros Report

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    Eliška Hůlková
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Orlando Bloom is actually older than Lee Pace, who played his father in The Hobbit. That should have been on this list!

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    #22

    Cuba Gooding Jr. And Laurence Fishburne In 'Boyz N The Hood'

    Cuba Gooding Jr. And Laurence Fishburne In 'Boyz N The Hood'

    Summit Entertainment Report

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    Samantha Lomb
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Laurence Fishburne has always looked much older than he is. He was only 14 in Apocalypse Now but passed as much older to get the role.

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    #23

    In Six Feet Under, Frances Conroy And Peter Krause Play Mother And Son, But They’re Only Separated By 12 Years

    In Six Feet Under, Frances Conroy And Peter Krause Play Mother And Son, But They’re Only Separated By 12 Years

    HBO Report

    #24

    Mother And Son: Mary Steenburgen & Will Ferrell In Step Brothers

    Mother And Son: Mary Steenburgen & Will Ferrell In Step Brothers

    Columbia-Pictures Report

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    Lisa
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    the outtakes from Stepbrothers is just great, especially Mary's scenes.

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    #25

    In "Footloose," The Stodgy Town Reverend, Played By John Lithgow, Is Only 12 Years Older Than His Fictional Daughter, Played By Lori Singer

    In "Footloose," The Stodgy Town Reverend, Played By John Lithgow, Is Only 12 Years Older Than His Fictional Daughter, Played By Lori Singer

    Paramount Pictures Report

    #26

    In Prodigal Son, Bellamy Young (50) And Michael Sheen (51) Are Only 12 And 13 Years Older Than Tom Payne (38), Who Plays Their Son

    In Prodigal Son, Bellamy Young (50) And Michael Sheen (51) Are Only 12 And 13 Years Older Than Tom Payne (38), Who Plays Their Son

    FOX Report

    #27

    Wesley Was Already 27 When He Was Cast As Stefan In "The Vampire Diaries." Stefan's Mother, Also A Vampire, Is Played By Annie Wersching, Who Is Only Six Years Older Than Wesley

    Wesley Was Already 27 When He Was Cast As Stefan In "The Vampire Diaries." Stefan's Mother, Also A Vampire, Is Played By Annie Wersching, Who Is Only Six Years Older Than Wesley

    The CW Report

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    로희
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hollywood loves to hire over 25 year-old actors to play teen characters and they don't even look that young. Thus, as an Asian, when I was little I used to think that Caucasians age much faster than us Asians.

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    #28

    Michael J. Fox And Lea Thompson Are The Same Age — Even Though Fox's Character In "Back To The Future" Is Thompson's Son. Her Older Look Was Achieved With Facial Prosthetics

    Michael J. Fox And Lea Thompson Are The Same Age — Even Though Fox's Character In "Back To The Future" Is Thompson's Son. Her Older Look Was Achieved With Facial Prosthetics

    Universal Pictures Report

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    StIJN
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    and she also has to play her younger self so here it's even more valid to do so. (it makes sense unlike the title of the topic would make you believe)

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    #29

    Lorne Greene Was Only Seven Years Older Than Ava Gardner, Who Played His Daughter In This 1974 Disaster Film

    Lorne Greene Was Only Seven Years Older Than Ava Gardner, Who Played His Daughter In This 1974 Disaster Film

    Universal Pictures Report

    #30

    In Blue Bloods, Len Cariou Plays Tom Selleck’s Father, Even Though There Is Only A Six-Year Difference In Age, With Cariou Being 81 And Selleck Being 75

    In Blue Bloods, Len Cariou Plays Tom Selleck’s Father, Even Though There Is Only A Six-Year Difference In Age, With Cariou Being 81 And Selleck Being 75

    CBS Report

    Note: this post originally had 44 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.