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Here is a list of 28 of the most egregious instances where adult actors played teenagers on screen, highlighting how widespread and often blatantly obvious this practice has been in Hollywood and television:

1. Gossip Girl – The cast’s ages ranged from their early 20s to early 30s, yet they portrayed high school students convincingly, with many in their mid-20s.
2. One Tree Hill – The actors, most notably Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty, were in their early 20s but played teens in their late teens.
3. The O.C. – The main cast, including Benjamin McKenzie and Adam Brody, was in their early 20s but portrayed high schoolers.
4. Vampire Diaries – Paul Wesley was 27 when he played Stefan Salvatore, a teenager, on the show.
5. Riverdale – While ostensibly set in high school, many cast members, such as KJ Apa and Lili Reinhart, were in their early 20s during filming.
6. Pretty Little Liars – The main cast was mainly in their 20s but played teenage girls in a suburban high school setting.
7. Freaks and Geeks – The teenage actors were in their early 20s, with some facing criticism for looking older than college-aged.
8. Degrassi: The Next Generation – Although more authentic, some actors' ages still raised questions about their actual age versus high school role.
9. Dawson’s Creek – The cast, especially Katie Holmes and James Van Der Beek, was in their early 20s during the show's run.
10. Skins (UK version) – Many actors, although closer in age to actual teens, were still adults playing teenagers, often in their early 20s.
11. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend – The cast played high school students, even though many actors were in their 20s.
12. The Secret Life of an American Teenager – Cast members, including Shailene Woodley, were in their late teens or early 20s.
13. Euphoria – Several actors, like Sydney Sweeney, were in their early 20s, portraying high school students.
14. Young and Hungry – The cast consisted mainly of actors in their 20s and 30s playing college and teenage characters.
15. Gilmore Girls – Some actors, particularly Lauren Graham, were in their late 20s when the series was filmed.
16. Switched at Birth – While more authentic, some actors' ages still employed the standard practice of casting slightly older actors.
17. 9-1-1: Lone Star – Some of the "teen" characters were played by actors in their 20s.
18. Teen Wolf – Tyler Posey was 23 when the series started, although he played a 16-year-old.
19. The End of the Fing World* – Although the actors appeared younger, many were in their early 20s.
20. Riverdale – KJ Apa was 20 when filming began, while playing a 17-year-old.
21. Nancy Drew – Some cast members were in their early 20s portraying teenage detectives.
22. The Society – Cast members were early 20s playing high school-aged characters.
23. Never Have I Ever – The main cast were all in their early 20s, but played teenagers authentically.
24. The Chase (US version) – The show features adult contestants playing teens on occasion, such as in flashbacks.
25. Zooey 101 – Although set at a boarding school, many cast members were in their early 20s.
26. The Haunting of Hill House – Some flashback characters, portrayed by actors in their 20s, appear as teens.
27. The Loud House – Animated, but where voice actors are adult, yet convincingly portray young children and teenagers.
28. Outer Banks – Many actors, including Chase Stokes, were in their 20s playing high school students.

This pattern of casting older actors as teenagers has been a longstanding tradition in TV and film, often to meet studio age regulations or to have actors who can handle the demanding filming schedules. However, it frequently results in a disconnect between on-screen appearance and the characters’ supposed ages, raising questions about authenticity and portrayal.