4.Zendaya
Age: 25
Notable Role: Rue Bennett (Euphoria)
Most actresses who start out as Disney Channel stars have a very difficult time breaking the mold of “child actor.” They either fizzle out as they age or have a pretty public and rocky transformation, à la Miley Cyrus. It’s also never an assurance that actors who begin their careers as kids are going to continue to grow into successful and serious artists.
Zendaya is the exception to the child star trope. She’s made a seamless transformation from her early days of Shake It Up on Disney to her Emmy Award-winning performance of complicated and drug-addicted teen Rue Bennett in HBO’s Euphoria. She has an innate ability to hop from children’s movies—The Greatest Showman—to huge blockbusters—Spider-Man: Far from Home—back to more artistic films—Malcolm and Marie. She’s effortless and relatable, making her slot perfectly into every fictional situation.
5.Lana Condor
Age: 25
Notable Role: Lara Jean (To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before)
This actress might not have an Emmy or Oscar nomination yet, but you best believe she’s on her way. Known for her portrayal of Lara Jean in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and its follow-up films, she was a winner of the Hollywood Critics Association’s Next Generation of Hollywood Award in 2020. This Vietnamese-born actress got her debut in X-Men: Apocalypse as Jubilation Lee / Jubilee and has been working ever since. She appeared in Moonshot as well, and is set to appear in Girls Night. She was also cast in a lead role in the Warner Bros.’ Looney Tunes live-action / animated film Coyote vs. Acme alongside John Cena and Will Forte. She’s also set to star in and executive produce the action-comedy series Take Out for Hulu. Hopefully, audiences will start to see even more of her in their favorite TV shows and movie franchises as other casting directors begin to recognize her talent for bringing relatable characters to life with subtlety and charm.
6.Letitia Wright
Age: 28
Notable Role: Shuri (Black Panther and other MCU films)
You’ll probably recognize Letitia Wright from her portrayal of Shuri in Black Panther and other Avengers films, but even outside of playing her recurring role, her career has been prolific. You may have also caught her in Doctor Who, Humans, Death on the Nile, or Chasing Shadows to name a few. She was even nominated for an Emmy Award for playing Nish in Black Mirror’s episode “Black Museum.” An Emmy nomination for one episode of a show is pretty incredible and shows that her performance always packs a punch and stays fresh in viewers’ minds. Wright has several upcoming projects coming down the pipeline such as Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Aisha, and Silent Twins. Keep your eyes out for these release dates and make sure to pay attention to her performance.
7.Lucas Hedges
Age: 25
Notable Role: Patrick Chandler (Manchester by the Sea)
Although you can catch Lucas Hedges in fun, small roles in your favorite Wes Anderson films, like The Grand Budapest Hotel and Moonrise Kingdom, you’re much more likely to remember him for his Oscar-nominated role in Manchester by the Sea. Hedges brings an emotionally connected performance to every role he plays. His versatility across genres is one of many reasons he makes this list, so don’t be surprised if you continue to see this promising young actor in a variety of roles in the coming years.
