15 Actors Cast as Family Members Due to Their Striking Resemblance

15 Instances Where Actors’ Family Members Stepped Into Their Roles

 

Have you ever stumbled upon old family photos and noticed a striking resemblance to someone in your family? In the world of entertainment, this phenomenon can actually lead to casting decisions. Here are 15 actors who bore such an uncanny likeness to their relatives that they were cast to portray them on screen.

 

1. Ralph Fiennes is best known for his role as Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter movies from 2005 to 2011. In 2009, his nephew Hero Fiennes Tiffin took on the role of young Tom Riddle, also known as child Voldemort, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

2. Karen Gillan portrayed Amy Pond on Doctor Who from 2010 to 2013. During that same period, her cousin Caitlin Blackwood was cast as younger Amy. The two had not met until a read-through on set, as they grew up in different parts of the UK.

 

3. In 2002, Britney Spears took the lead role in Crossroads as Lucy Wagner. Her sister Jamie Lynn Spears made her acting debut as the younger version of Lucy in the film’s opening scene.

 

4. Demi Lovato starred as Sonny Munroe on Sonny with a Chance from 2009 to 2011. Her little sister Madison De La Garza made a cameo as young Sonny in one episode from 2009.

 

5. Dakota Fanning played the role of Lucy Diamond Dawson in I Am Sam. Her sister Elle Fanning portrayed the character at age two, showcasing their resemblance onscreen.

 

6. The Fanning sisters have collaborated more than once. In the 2002 SYFY miniseries Taken, Dakota played Allie Keys while Elle took on the role of three-year-old Allie.

 

7. Laverne Cox was known for her role as Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black from 2013 to 2019. Her twin brother M. Lamar appeared as Sophia in flashback scenes before her transition, thanks to the insistence of the casting director.

 

8. Georgie Henley portrayed Lucy Pevensie in The Chronicles of Narnia series from 2005 to 2010. Her older sister Rachael Henley played the adult Lucy in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

 

9. Macaulay Culkin starred in Richie Rich as Richie Rich Jr. in 1994. His younger brother Rory Culkin represented the character at a younger age in the film.

 

10. Kieran Culkin played the titular role in Igby Goes Down in 2002, while his little brother Rory portrayed 10-year-old Igby.

 

11. Alaqua Cox took on the role of Maya Lopez, also known as Echo, in the 2021 series Hawkeye. Her cousin Darnell Besaw played young Maya in the upcoming Echo.

 

12. Oscar Isaac starred as Marc Spector, or Steven Grant, in the 2022 series Moon Knight. His younger brother Michael Benjamin Hernandez served as his body double during the dual-role scenes.

 

13. In Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Penélope Cruz played the character Anjelica. When she learned she was pregnant a day before filming began, her sister Mónica Cruz stepped in as her body double.

 

14. Honeysuckle Weeks played Millie in the 1997 miniseries The Rag Nymph, with her sister Perdita Weeks taking on the role of young Millie.

 

15. August Maturo was seen as Auggie Matthews on Girl Meets World from 2014 to 2017. His younger brother Ocean Maturo appeared as the younger version of Auggie in 2016.

 

Which of these family ties do you think showcases the most striking resemblance? Share your thoughts in the comments.