MovieChat Forums > Carrie (2002) Discussion > I'm sorry, but Angela Bettis' age?

I'm sorry, but Angela Bettis' age?


Has anything been said about why they cast a nearly 30 year old woman for the role?

Thinking about her age took some away from the movie for me, because I get stuck on stupid things.

I know that they often do that in movies about high school, but if they truly intended on making this into a TV series, is picking a 30 year old to play an 18 year old a good idea?

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I think Angela sort of looked young in the movie. But the other cast members were their early to late 20's when the movie was made. The producers probably wanted people over 18 to avoid child labor laws so they could film whenever they wanted to. I agree I think if a tv series had been made over time Angela would have looked to old to play the character.

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Sissy Spacek was in her late 20's when doing the original. Olivia Newton-John was about 30 when she did Grease. Stacy Dash was about 30 when she did Clueless....etc. It's nothing new. It's been done for years, so who cares? If they look young enough, and they'd probably be more experienced anyway. I'm almost 39, and people think I'm barely 30, and 30's hardly old. How old are you?

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Dang, lucky you. I'm 29 and the best i could pass for is 26. I don't think angela bettis looked too old for the role - except the bit at the end where she's got a different hairstyle. But she;s meant to look older then.

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[deleted]

Sissy Spacek was 27 when she was in the original movie. ;)

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that, is the power of freckles.

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She was not a 30 year old woman in Carrie!

No Day But Today. Today 4 U. One Song Glory.
How we gonna pay last year's RENT?!

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It doesn't matter because Sissy Spacek LOOKED 17. Angela Bettis looked 30, and the dude who played Tommy looked 50. The cast were too old to be playing high schooler's.

Who's Betty Grable?!

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No, they hell did not! They looked Just fine! You're blind if you think they looked in their 30s or 50s. No, they looked Just fine!

No Day But Today. Today 4 U. One Song Glory.
How we gonna pay last year's RENT?!

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Tobias looked 50? He was only 26 when the film was made! And I'm sorry, but Sissy didn't pass as a 17 year old for me

But Gandalf! I don't want to be a Hobbit~~

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Exactly.

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Bettis looked about 35. She also looked like a drug user.






"Joey, have you ever been in a Turkish prison?"

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Exactly. Angela Bettis looked too old to be playing a character like Margaret White. Margaret is supposed to be in her 40's.

Who's Betty Grable?!

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I thought she was fine. She looked kinda ragged, but I think that's the point. Carrie was to look a bit unkempt, and homely.

I guess adults are used, as some said, to avoid Child Labor Laws drama, and if they want some nudity, the Child Pornography laws, and nuts won't flood in.

So, people 21-^ is just less risky, and more flexible.

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She looked like a teenager to me. I don't know how you could look at a girl like this Carrie and bully her instead of pity her.

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DC Can Suck It

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Angela Bettis looked like many teenage girls look like. I mean, many high school girls look kind of "old" for their age. Especially if they don't have any make up on, haven't used any facial creams; if they are under a lot of mental pressure; and if they don't know much about fashionable clothes. Carrie probably did all those things. Considering all that, she looked just right in this movie.

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I noticed she did not look like a high school student. Numerous 30 year olds play teens and I think it's ridiculous

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I know that older people have often been cast to play teenagers, but this film had gone to ridiculous extremes. If you want an older actor to play a teen, at least find one that looks young. Sissy Spacek was 27 but the important thing was that with her long hair and slender look she was able to pass for someone much younger. Angela Bettis at age 30 looked like 30 and perhaps even a few more years older. With a teen actress as Carrie, Angela Bettis could well have played her mother.

Kandyse McClure at age 33(!) was even worse as Sue Snell. Even more important than looks, neither Angela Bettis nor Kandyse McClure were able to display manners remotely close to those of teenagers.

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As for manners, the story indicates that Carrie would probably have to work hard to act like a "normal" teenager due to her upbringing, and Sue was clearly more mature-thinking than the other girls. They would both act differently than you would expect for girls of their age.

Joshua 1:9 ... unashamed.

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I know what you are saying. She looks old and malnourished which i think is a good thing for the role. Her mother is abusive and all that stress would age her. She doesn't eat much too.

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