Whether you blame good genes, great skincare, or questionable casting decisions, it's a truth of Hollywood that some of the most popular teen characters in movies and on TV are actually played by actors a decade or more out of high school. Some are able to pull off the fresh-faced teen look perfectly (can you believe Bianca Lawson, who played Maya St. Germain on "Pretty Little Liars," is 33?), but others are clearly way too old to hang out around high schools anymore. Like Bianca, Paul Wesley from "The Vampire Diaries" is also a decade older than his character -- but we definitely knew it from one look at him.
We give props to MTV shows like "Teen Wolf" and "Awkward" for doing a good job of casting actors into age-appropriate roles, but other hits -- "Glee," we're looking at you -- are repeat offenders when it comes to casting older actors. And movies like "Twilight" and "High School Musical" are often no better. Click through the slideshow below for 27 actors in their 20s and 30s who play teen characters.
How do you feel about actors and actresses twice your age playing high school kids? Sound off in the comments below or tweet @HuffPostTeen!
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