Don’t know where to start with your own nostalgia night? Nostalgic movies and TV shows from our childhood are analogous to that favorite fuzzy blanket or old hoodie you want to wrap yourself in whenever you feel lonely, exhausted, or anxious about everything going on in the world. They provide an escape to a simpler, more enjoyable, and familiar time, full of predictability and happy endings.
What could be better than seeing our favorite actors improve themselves and get success day by day while keeping a strong connection to the role we both adore? From Mary Poppins, a magical nanny, to Elle Woods, a professional lawyer, these characters have provided us with hours of great entertainment. With nostalgic eyes, we revisit the movies that touched us as kids many years ago. The actors who played our favorite characters, like us, hold a particular place in their hearts for these iconic roles.
Do you think these characters are iconic? Can you share the film or TV show makes you nostalgic every time you see it?
#1 Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Terminator
Source: © schwarzenegger / Instagram
“This is the character that changed my life,” Arnold Schwarzenegger says. His love for the role shines through on his social media. The actor is often sharing behind-the-scenes images from the set with his fans.
In 2019, the release of Terminator made fans so happy because they could see our favorite characters back on the big screen.
#2 Bryan Cranston and Hal Wilkerson from Malcolm in the Middle
Source: © Malcolm in the Middle / Satin City Productions and Co-producers, © bryancranston / Instagram
In 2020, the amazing cast of Malcolm in the Middle gathered in a video chat to read the pilot of the popular TV series. The reunion helped mark the twentieth anniversary of the series premiere, and Bryan Cranston expressed his appreciation on Instagram, writing, “Thanks for embracing that crazy family of mine.”
#3 Christa Allen and Jenna Rink from 13 Going on 30
Source: christaallen
“I want to be 30, flirty, and thriving,” Jenna said to herself in the legendary film. Now, the actress who played Jenna in her youth reflects on how she grew up.
“For those of us closer to 30. It got better, didn’t it? I am certainly kinder to myself now than I was back then. I wish I could give younger me about 700 hugs and tell her things would get easier,” she posted on Instagram.
#4 Fran Drescher and Fran Fine from The Nanny
Source: officialfrandrescher
Last year, actress Fran Drescher shared a nostalgic photo of The Nanny from back then and now. Fran’s great fashion sense in the program has undoubtedly remained intact, even after all these years.
#5 Hilary Duff and Lizzie McGuire from The Lizzie McGuire Movie
Source: © The Lizzie McGuire Movie / Walt Disney Pictures and Co-producers, © hilaryduff / Instagram
It’s no surprise that Hilary Duff was preparing a reboot of her most iconic and adored role, Lizzy McGuire. Unfortunately, the project was terminated, and we never got another chance to see Lizzy’s beautiful clothes. Instead, we were left with the sweetest reunion photos of the McGuire family.
#6 Jesse Tyler and Mitchell Pritchett from Modern Family
Source: © Modern Family / 20th Century Fox Television and Co-producers, © jessetyler / Instagram
The cast of Modern Family has kept in touch over the years. Jesse Tyler, who portrayed Mitchell, and Eric Stonestreet, who played Cam, remained close friends after acting as a couple in the series. Recently, the adorable cast reunited for Sarah Hyland‘s wedding ceremony, proving their friendship is still alive.
#7 Julie Andrews and Mary Poppins
Source: © Mary Poppins / Walt Disney Productions, Priscilla Grant / Everett Collection / East News
Julie Andrews has done a lot of key roles throughout her career. She has played from a nanny with magical powers to the Queen of Genovia.
This year, the actress discussed how her grandson found she played Mary Poppins and how it was a sweet moment between them. “He gave me a knowing look. Like, I know what you do.”
#8 Michael J. Fox and Marty McFly from the Back to the Future trilogy
Source: © Back to the Future II / Universal Pictures and co-producers, © realmikejfox / Instagram
Back to the Future trilogy is a fantastic classic that audiences enjoy. The film has been designated as “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant,” and has thus been preserved. The cast got many avid fans thanks to the movie‘s success.
Over the last few years, actor Michael J. Fox has pleased his fans with photos of annual cast reunions.
#9 Reese Witherspoon and Elle Woods from Legally Blonde
Source: © Legally Blonde / Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) and co-producer, © reesewitherspoon / Instagram
Reese Witherspoon surprised her most diehard fans with a Halloween costume similar to the one Elle wore to a party in the film last October. Due to the film’s twentieth anniversary, Witherspoon even wrote a touching post on her social media. “Playing Elle Woods was the role of a lifetime, and I’m so honored to have been a part of sharing her story with you all,” the actress tweeted.
#10 Selena Gomez and Alex Russo from Wizards of Waverly Place
Source: © Wizards of Waverly Place / It’s a Laugh Productions, © selenagomez / Instagram
Actors who have been portraying a character for a long period may develop a bond with their co-stars. This certainly happened to Selena Gomez and the Wizards of Waverly Place cast. Gomez shared some sweet photos of David Henrie‘s wedding in 2017 with the caption, “Very much in my feelings about my big brother getting married. Even though we for sure knew it would be him first.”
#11 Tom Cruise and Maverick from Top Gun
Tom Cruise is one of the most famous actors in the world. Cruise was inspired to make the next Top Gun movie by his love for his character, Maverick, and his fans’ desire for a sequel. And it was a huge box office triumph.
#12 Tom Felton and Draco Malfoy from the Harry Potter franchise
Source: © t22felton / Instagram, © t22felton / Instagram
You can see Tom Felton‘s fondness for the Harry Potter films and his character by scrolling through his social pages. To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the original film’s release, Felton did the sorting hat quiz and was sadly sorted as a Gryffindor. The actor takes every opportunity to show how much of a fan he is.
