i just think that susan sarandon was chosen (well i might add) and the producers changed it up a bit, i.e. "little sister"....i am also of the opinion that they wished to make irulan more believable by her being closer to paul's age....and while i am sure the spice helped slow her aging, that's a stretch too, because she didn't really spend all that much time on dune until after paul was in charge....

Irulan is only like 11-12 years older than Paul, have to agree with Vicki..they chose Susan ... she's a top actress..lol, though she does look more than just 12 years older than Paul OR Irulan.

Ya, take it with a grain of salt....;P

both Winsicia and Irulan are Bene Gesserit Adepts ,so they can manipulate internal chemistry to affect the aging process within limitations. Also......my younder brother happens to dwarf me as far as height and body mass, so even though I am 7 yrs older than he is he still calls me "little brother" remember it may be a stature diminutive and not a chronologic one. There is also the political competativeness factor to tkae into account, Wnicesia, although not married to the Emperoro of the known universe ( Paul) like Irulan is....DOES have the upper hand in that she is a TRUE wife allowed to bear offical heirs while Irulan has a better marriage in political terms but is bared from bearing an Imperial Heir by Paul's preference for Chani. Like all statements with Bene Gesserits the phrase "Little Sister" being used by Winsecia is intended to carry a multiplicity of overtones that can be variously interpurted depending on your perspective. Bene Gesserit do not waste words