Date Posted:06:14:19 08/07/15 Fri Author: Islandgirl Subject: It also matters. . . In reply to:
BDM
's message, "Re: Actors vs. characters ages" on 17:51:48 08/05/15 Wed
whether or not the age of the character is central to the plot of the show.
One of the most ridiculous examples of age-inappropriate casting was when Glenn Close played Nellie Forbush in a TV production of "South Pacific" about 15 years ago. Nellie Forbush is supposed to be a "young and naive Navy nurse"; that's how the character is described in every summary of the show and the fact that she is significantly younger than the middle-aged man she falls in love is one of the main conflicts within the show.
But Glenn Close was well into her 50s at the time she played the role!! She looked like Nellie Forbush's grandmother!! (LOL! Actually she looked good for a woman in her 50s; but more like somebody in her late 30s than somebody in he mid-20s, which is the age Nellie is supposed to be.)
I do understand what you're saying about characters aging over the timespan of a movie. But I think it is, generally, easier to make a young actor look old than an old actor look young. So if you need a character to be in his/her 20s for part of the movie and middle-aged for other parts of it, it probably makes more sense to cast an actor under the age of 35 (so they can realistically look like their in their 20s) and then use makeup, etc. to "age" them so they look middle-aged in other parts.
It also matters. . .