MovieChat Forums > About a Girl (2007) Discussion > A Thirty -something playing a College So...

A Thirty -something playing a College Sophomore?!

posted 17 years ago by flickhead
24 replies | jump to latest

When I first saw the ads for this show, the first thing that hit me was that this girl (Chiara Zanni) is way too old looking to play a college sophomore. She may be plucky or spunky or whatever, but she's completely unconvincing as a twenty-year-old, which is the predominantly average age of a college sophomore in North America. Unless it turns out that she got into college on the G.I Bill (which at a four year tour of duty to place her around 24 would even be a reach) it's too much of a suspension of disbelief.
It's not like there's a shortage of girls the correct age who can act -even within the type for which they must have been looking. My guess? They couldn't afford the right person, their second choice was booked on something else and the lead is either a friend or relative of one of the producers. Amanda Bynes she's not.
I give this show one season, tops.

[–] Amelie_Grey 17 years ago

um.
that 27 year old lady (Monique Coleman, I think) plays a high school student in High School Musical.
why doesn't anyone complain about her?

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[–] lexisbaby88 17 years ago

Yeah I'm a sophomore in college omg shes such an old lady all the girls look wayyyyyyyy younger than her

[–] ninjangsta 16 years ago

Amelie brought up the girl in High School Musical was 27 or so and I'm going to bring up that the dude who plays Hannah Montana's brother on that show turned 30 this year. At least this chick is playing someone closer to her age and in college.

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[–] Melissa718 16 years ago

thats crazy the guy from hannah montana really is 30!!! but he looks nothing like it...and the girl from high school musical doesnt really look old in the movies so nobody notices...but i do think that chiara zanni does look old i think shes like 29 playing a 19-20 year old...eh i dont think its that big of a deal i like her on the show so her age is cool with me

[–] brutalhoney15-1 16 years ago

That's because he's not. IMDB isn't always 100% accurate. He was born in 85, meaning he's 22. They REALLY need to fix that. Monique Coleman doesn't look quite as old as 27 so until she was on Dancing with the Stars, I had no idea.

I agree that Chiara Zanni looked a slightly too old for a character who's only 20, but the whole cast is at least a few years older than who they play.

Oh well, I enjoy the show anyways. The age thing doesn't really bother me (as long as the information is correct *ahem*)

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] panicatthewisco 16 years ago

the difference is jason and monique are convincing as highschool students. this girl is not, when i first saw it i thought she was the girl in the series mother or something

[–] outof10000 17 years ago

I dont care how old she is, she's very pretty and does the character perfectly. I am a sophmore in college and there are some girls who are my age that look older than her or not as good. Id take her as a student at my school anyday.

[–] broadwayangel21 17 years ago

Whatever. Chiara Zanni rules! I wish I got the N so I could see this show and see her actually act and not voice act!

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[–] jeelcu615-1 16 years ago

yea ok but she isn't the only one who is like 30ish on that show..... the guy who plays jason is like 26.....they are all about 30....but just b/c they r old doesnt make it a bad show..... in fact it might make it better b/c they've already been through college so they kno wat its like...just sayin...

[–] Navy_Lou 16 years ago

Are you kidding me? It makes me feel nostalgic.... like watching Saved by the Bell or 90210! (snicker,snicker)

[–] siostrarana 16 years ago

or Dawson's Creek

[–] Jane_Doe01 16 years ago

So 26 is "about 30ish"?
And 30ish is "old?"

[–] fallingdisgrace 16 years ago

So every show you will find that the actors/actresses playing their roles were no where near their age. Dawson's Creek, BtVS, Party of Five...I think the only one was Friends.

But not only that but this show is filmed in Canada, their show business industry is not as big as the U.S.'s

[–] Glitter_Grl392 16 years ago

Exactly...i thought she was to old..to play a college studant..she looked very old in the face...but the guys are cute...and that will attract viewers..its not the best show..but maybe it will get better.

[–] ssperformance 16 years ago

I don't care about her age, I just can't stand her exagerated HORRIBLY BAD acting. I can't believe I actually paid to sit thru this crap on iTunes.

Real college girls look too damn young these days. I swear they looked older 10 years ago, college girls look like lil kids now.

[–] stareyes24 16 years ago

I think she does a good job with playing the character,however I think that if she did this show 7 years ago, when she was much closer to the actual age of the character, it would have worked better. Or instead of casting Chiara, they could have gone along with Kate Todd from Radio Free Roscoe, who is much closer to the age of the character.

But there are a plethora of actors and actresses who play much younger than they really are. Mostly the cast of "Friday Night Lights" are in their mid-twenties with the exception of Aimee Teegarden and Jesse Plemons who are both 19 in real life. Then there is Monique Coleman who is 27 and was playing a high school junior in High School Musical 1&2, but she looks much younger for her age. Lastly, Stacy Dash and Gabrielle Union, were 28 when they were both in two of the funniest teen comedies around, "Clueless" and "Bring it On" and both of them look great. Stacy is now about 41 and Gabrielle is about 34 or 35 now. So it happens all the time.

[–] cbhardison 16 years ago

Why does it matter what her age is? Plus, I'm 24 and still haven't gotten out of college, and don't plan on it soon. As long as the show is good, why does it matter?

[–] stayin_gold 16 years ago

I also think she looks too old for this role. I know that a lot of times actors are cast as somebody younger than they're real age, but most of the time they at least look like they are the same age. She looks a good 5 to 10 years older than the rest of the cast members, who are supposed to be her peers on the show. I think that this makes the show a little less relatable/easy to watch because of her age.
Rachel McAdams was at least ten years older than the character she played in Mean Girls, but she still looked like she could pass as a high school junior.

[–] delrod4 16 years ago

I think she looks like the 20-ish girls that went to my college. But maybe they were all old-looking. :)

Personally, I am a 26-year-old who constantly passes for 18, so I can understand casting someone who looks young, but is actually older (for experience sake).

I also agree with Navy_Lou and Siostrarana - this is NOT the first show to cast older people in roles like this. Read: 90210, Saved By the Bell, Dawson's Creek, Grease, That 70s Show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Breakfast Club, etc.

My point, I guess, is that I don't think she looks that bad at all. :)