Shadow and Bone cast ages: How old are the actors in real life?

After nearly two years since the premiere of Shadow and Bone on Netflix, the second season arrives in March 2023 with the second chapter of Alina’s story as the Sun Summoner. Likewise, the fan-favorite Crows are also back for more scheming.

Based on the series of Grishaverse novels written by Leigh Bardugo, who also executive produces the series, the young adult novels center on Alina, Mal, and the Crows as teenagers. However, the actors that play these characters in the series aren’t the same age as their characters.

Is Alina actually 17 years old in Shadow and Bone? How old is The Darkling in the series, and are the Crows the same age as they are in the books? Below we’re sharing the ages of the hit series’ main cast members compared to their characters, including Jessie Mei Li, Ben Barnes, Kit Young, and more!

How old is Jessie Mei Li in Shadow and Bone?

Jessie Mei Li was born on Aug. 27, 1995, making the Alina Starkov portrayer 27 years old as of the second season’s release in March 2023. In the books, the Sun Summoner is about 17 years old, though she’s been ambiguously aged up in the series to her 20s.

How old is Archie Renaux in Shadow and Bone?

Archie Renaux was born on Nov. 22, 1997, making the Mal Oretsev actor 25 years old as of March 2023. Just like Alina, Mal was about 17 or 18 years old in the book trilogy, though he’s also been seemingly aged up in the Netflix series adaptation.

How old is Freddy Carter in Shadow and Bone?

Freddy Carter, who plays the leader of the Crows in the series, was born on Jan. 27, 1993. The Kaz Brekker actor celebrated this 30th birthday ahead of the release of season 2 in March 2023. In the Six of Crows books, Kaz was 17 years old. Cleary, he’s meant to be older in the series.

How old is Ben Barnes in Shadow and Bone?

Ben Barnes was born on Aug. 20, 1981, making the General Aleksander Kirigan/The Darkling actor 41 years old in March 2023. Between the books and the series, The Darkling’s age has been estimated to be about 500 years old, but presents as 30s/40s.

How old is Amita Suman in Shadow and Bone?

Amita Suman was born on July 19,1997, making the Inej Ghafa actress 25 years old at the time of the second season’s release in March 2023. In the Six of Crows books, Inej was written as a 16-year-old girl, though she appears to have also been ambiguously aged up.

How old is Kit Young in Shadow and Bone?

Kit Young was born on Oct. 24, 1994, making the Jesper Fahey actor 28 years old in real life ahead of the second season’s release. Like his fellow Crows Kaz and Inej, Jesper was also a teenager in the books at 17 years old, and he’s also been aged up in the Netflix series.

Don’t miss Shadow and Bone season 2 beginning on Thursday, March 16 on Netflix!