What does 18-To-Play-Younger mean?
18-to-play-younger (also “18-To-Look-Younger” or “18TLY”) refers to a common casting practice in which an actor who is 18 years old or older is hired to play a character that is younger than 18, usually a teenager or younger. This casting decision is often made to meet labor law requirements since adult actors do not require work permits or limited working hours, unlike minors. Additionally, older actors can bring more experience and professionalism to the role.
Example:An 18-year-old actor might be cast as a high school freshman, allowing the production to avoid the restrictions of hiring a younger, underage actor.
Example: Many television shows featuring teen characters use actors who are well into their 20s but appear younger on screen. This enables the production to film longer hours without the legal limitations associated with child actors.
Did you know?
Some famous actors, like Gabrielle Carteris, who played a 16-year-old on the TV show “Beverly Hills, 90210,” were actually much older in real life. Carteris was 29 when she portrayed the teenage character Andrea Zuckerman!
You can also find “18-To-Play-Younger” and related terms in this category: Filming and Production.
