30 Under 30: The New Hollywood Elite

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30 Under 30: The New Hollywood Elite
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The entertainment industry is filled with gifted performers all looking for their big break on screens big and small. Given that the path to stardom is so crowded and treacherous, it’s always fascinating when a talent rises above the rest and finds success at a young age. But who are the up-and-coming stars currently packing cinemas and taking Tinseltown by storm? Here’s our rundown of the breakout performers who have become household names before their 30^th birthday, as well as those you are about to hear a lot more from.

By Victoria Luxford

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30 Under 30: The New Hollywood Elite.
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Tom Holland – We start with the man who has the world at his feet. As the Marvel Universe’s Spider-man, his movies have risen to number one at the worldwide box office for four of the last six calendar years. The success of December’s Spider-man: No Way Home confirmed the charming British star’s status as a leading man, and his 2022 blockbuster Uncharted (based on the video game) may confirm him as one of the biggest stars in the world.

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Zendaya – Of course, we can’t mention Mr. Holland without his equally talented and promising co-star – and real-life partner – Zendaya. At just 25, she has a CV that would evoke envy in actors twice her age. As well as the Spider-man films, she was part of The Greatest Showman phenomenon, co-starred in smash hit Dune, and wowed critics with tense drama Malcolm & Marie. On the small screen, she won an Emmy for the outstanding teen drama Euphoria, and is reported to be wanted by Francis Ford Coppola for the Godfather director’s dream project, Megalopolis. With so much talent and success, the sky’s the limit for the California native.

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30 Under 30: The New Hollywood Elite.
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McKenna Grace – One of 2021’s big events was the return of Ghostbusters, but all the ‘80s nostalgia was overshadowed by the performance of McKenna Grace in the lead, a young girl with a connection to the original cast. Despite this breakthrough, the 15-year-old has been acting for a decade in shows such as horror hit The House on Haunted Hill and movies like I, Tonya. Busting ghosts is likely to make the transition into more grown-up roles smooth for the Emmy nominee.

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30 Under 30: The New Hollywood Elite.
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Finn Wolfhard – Finn Wolfhard is well known to TV fans as part of the young ensemble cast of Netflix’s Stranger Things, one of the major television events of the previous decade. However, the teenager has also been forging a fine movie career as part of The Addams Family as well as Stephen King adaptation It, and alongside McKenna Grace in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. With a natural on-screen presence, the Canadian will enter his twenties this year confident of a great future ahead.

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30 Under 30: The New Hollywood Elite.
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Hero Fiennes Tiffin – So, you’re the son of an award-winning director, and your uncle is an acting icon? Some may wilt under that pressure, but Hero Fiennes Tiffin has thrived. The son of Martha Fiennes played Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, a character who would grow up to become Voldemort, played by his uncle Ralph Fiennes. Now 24, he became the lead in the After We Fell trilogy of romantic dramas, which concludes this year, as well as appearing in upcoming drama The Woman King starring Viola Davis.

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Thomasin McKenzie – Barely into her twenties, New Zealander Thomasin McKenzie has been everywhere in the last few years. The child actor who appeared in The Hobbit trilogy came of age as an actor in 2019, appearing in The King with Timothée Chalamet, and in Taika Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit. She frightened audiences as the lead in Last Night in Soho, and is currently part of an Oscar favourite in the Benedict Cumberbatch western The Power of the Dog.

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Kelvin Harrison Jr – He may specialise in low-budget dramas like the incredible Luce and award-winning Mudbound, but anyone who has been lucky enough to catch Kelvin Harrison Jr on screen knows what a star he is set to become. Next seen working with Peter Dinklage in the musical Cyrano, he will be in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic playing blues legend B.B. King – as well as voicing the young Scar in the follow up to 2018’s The Lion King. Be prepared for big things from this actor!

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Florence Pugh – Just five short years after her first starring role in Lady Macbeth, English star Florence Pugh teamed up with Scarlett Johansson to become part of the Marvel Universe in 2021’s Black Widow. Of course, many interesting performances came in between, including working with Dwayne Johnson in Fighting with My Family, and the already iconic horror Midsommar. This year sees her branch out again, starring opposite Harry Styles in psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling.

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Barry Keoghan – The Irishman only just makes it on this list, turning 30 in October, however few would argue that he’s not on the cusp of greatness. Making his name in independent dramas like American Animals and The Killing of a Sacred Deer, he became a Marvel superhero in November as a highlight of Eternals. He’s next seen in The Batman, but could rumours about him playing The Joker be true? The Dubliner certainly has the skills to pull it off.

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Anya Taylor-Joy – With an unmistakable look matched by remarkable talent, Anya Taylor-Joy had a handful of standout movie performances before landing the lead in hit series The Queen’s Gambit. Born in Florida to Argentinian and British parents, Taylor-Joy’s childhood was spent in Buenos Aires and London, before breaking through into acting in her late teens. Having also played a chess prodigy, a comic book mutant, a ‘60s club singer and a Jane Austen heroine, the Emma star continues to astonish audiences.

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Timothée Chalamet – The name on many movie fans’ lips last year, Timothée Hal Chalamet established himself as part of the A-list with lead roles in Dune and Wes Anderson’s The French Dispatch, and Don’t Look Up opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. A Hollywood star in the classic mould, he stunned the world at just 22 with Call Me By Your Name, and was careful to pick thoughtful roles as his reputation grew. He is currently filming a Willy Wonka prequel, stepping into the shoes of movie legends.

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Maya Hawke – What do you do when your mum is Uma Thurman and your dad is Ethan Hawke? If you’re Maya Hawke, you strike out and make a name for yourself! In just four years, the 23-year-old has worked with Quentin Tarantino and become a fan favourite as quick-witted ice cream server Robin in Stranger Things. Exuding charisma and star quality, she is doing things her own way and drawing the attention of the industry’s biggest names.

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Mason Alexander Park – Acting can be a hard profession, and it’s even harder for those who don’t fit within society’s boundaries. That’s why many celebrated Mason Alexander Park’s casting in the forthcoming series Sandman, based on the Neil Gaiman comic. The non-binary actor, who uses they/them pronouns, gained the coveted role of Desire after a successful stage career and appearances in shows like Cowboy Bebop. Their success is a triumph for an industry where everyone should feel seen.

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Kaitlyn Dever – Making a name for herself in the sharp and underrated 2017 comedy Booksmart, Dever has proven herself a versatile performer, capable of broad comedy in TV sitcoms as well as hard-hitting dramas, such as Netflix miniseries Unbelievable and her most recent appearance in the hit show Dopesick. She can be seen next offering a new twist on Romeo and Juliet in the rom-com Rosaline, and with George Clooney in comedy Ticket to Paradise.

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Beanie Feldstein – We just had to follow up with Dever’s Booksmart co-star, the immensely talented star of Lady Bird and British comedy How to Build a Girl. The 28-year-old’s greatest challenge came last year when she played Monica Lewinsky in Impeachment: American Crime Story. She’ll spend much of 2022 starring on Broadway in a revival of Funny Girl, after a successful run in Holly, Dolly that prompted proud brother Jonah Hill to get a tattoo saying “Hello Beanie!”

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Jeremy Pope – After wowing on stage, Jeremy Pope put on a brace of impressive performances in Netflix’s Hollywood and the Emmy award-winning Pose. Choosing roles that push boundaries and defy expectations, the actor will next be seen playing two cultural icons: on screen as Sammy Davis Jr in biopic Scandalous, and on stage as artist Jean-Michel Basquiat in London play The Collaboration.

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Rachel Zegler – Few actors can boast a Golden Globe for their very first acting gig, but then Rachel Zegler isn’t like most stars. An open casting call saw YouTuber Zegler plucked from relative obscurity to star in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story, for which the first-time film actor won a Golden Globe. Proving it’s no one-off fluke, the Colombian-American is moving straight to the superhero genre as part of 2023’s Shazam sequel. Not bad for someone who just turned 20!

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Jharrel Jerome – Part of the talented cast that made Moonlight a Hollywood moment, Jerome has moved on to great things since appearing in the film as a college student (his first professional acting role). He has collaborated with Ava DuVernay on the hit show When They See Us, which made him an Emmy winner, and shared the screen with Idris Elba in western Concrete Cowboy. Moonlight director Barry Jenkins wasn’t lying when he described his acting as simply “amazing”.

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Hailee Steinfeld – One of the most experienced names on this list, Steinfeld was nominated for an Academy Award at 13, having starred in the Coen Bros western True Grit with Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon. While for many that would be a career peak, she has gone on to star in the Pitch Perfect, Transformers and Into the Spiderverse franchises, in addition to recording an album, appearing in a Taylor Swift video… oh, and she’s currently one of TV’s most talked-about stars in Marvel show Hawkeye!

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Lucas Hedges – An actor who has packed so much into a short time, it’s difficult to believe that he is only 25. Making a breakthrough in Wes Anderson’s Moonrise Kingdom, he’s the go-to casting choice for troubled teenage characters. He took the lead in Ben Is Back with Julia Roberts, and conversion therapy drama Boy Erased with Nicole Kidman. He was also part of the ensemble in hits Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Manchester by the Sea. The latter earned him the first of what we think will be many Oscar nominations.

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Amandla Stenberg – An exciting actor to watch ever since their debut as Rue in 2011’s The Hunger Games, 23-year-old Amandla Stenberg has forged a stunning path. Winning critical acclaim for 2018’s The Hate U Give, the bon-binary actor (who uses both she and they pronouns) also appeared opposite the music goddess Beyoncé in the infamous “Lemonade” video, and in 2023 will be heading to a galaxy far, far away in the Star Wars TV show The Acolyte.

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Noah Centineo – Few people get the opportunity to play a superhero once in their careers, let alone have to choose between two. A popular actor thanks to his roles in the TV show The Fosters and the To All The Boys… movie trilogy, Noah Centineo was faced with the interesting conundrum of whether to play He-Man in the new Masters of the Universe adaptation, or join the world of DC comics opposite Dwayne Johnson in the forthcoming movie Black Adam. He chose the latter, playing the character Atom Smasher in the 2022 summer blockbuster, which will surely see his stock rise further.

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Kiernan Shipka – Having moved to California aged six to pursue acting, now at just 22 Kiernan Shipka has played a big role in two TV smash hits: she played the young daughter of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) in Mad Men, as well as the title role in spooky teen drama The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. This year she’ll move into prestige drama with the film Wildflower, an ensemble piece about a family negotiating the ups and downs of life through the years.

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Charlie Plummer – An extraordinary character actor, Charlie Plummer is used to playing people who are pushed to their limits. In 2017, he starred as the subject of a kidnapping in Ridley Scott’s All the Money in the World, and won critical adoration for his lead in drama Lean on Pete, about a grieving young man who forms a bond with a racehorse. 2022 sees him step into blockbuster territory, helping Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson stop the end of the world in disaster movie Moonfall.

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Kiersey Clemons – Clemons may have appeared to come from nowhere, but the 28-year-old has fought hard for her seat at the Hollywood table. Enduring the disappointment of being cut from 2017’s Justice League, her scenes as Iris West were restored in last year’s ‘Snyder cut’ of the movie, leading to her casting in this summer’s superhero spin-off The Flash. It’s long-overdue acknowledgement for the actor, who has been brilliant in independent films like 2015’s Dope and horror movie Antebellum with Janelle Monae.

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Halle Bailey – It takes a special kind of talent to play a beloved Disney Princess, and there was widespread approval when Halle Bailey was picked for the role of Ariel in the remake of The Little Mermaid. Such pressure is nothing new to her, however, as part of the Grammy nominated music duo Chloe X Halle with her sister, and having been acting since the age of 3. Her performance under the sea could make her a global superstar when the film arrives next year!

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Phoebe Dynevor – While she only made her film debut last year in British drama The Colour Room, this Manchester-born actress is known to millions as Daphne Bridgerton, lead in the Netflix series that captured the world’s imagination. This breakthrough is the culmination of years working on UK television series, and looks to be rewarded with her first starring movie role in the forthcoming thriller I Heart Murder, as well as a role in the much-anticipated season two of Bridgerton.

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Angourie Rice – This Australian actress is perhaps best known as Betty Brant, the roving reporter in the Spider-man films, but Rice’s other performances put her on the map long before Marvel. She upstaged both Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in 2014’s The Nice Guys, as well as sharing the screen with Nicole Kidman in The Beguiled, not to mention starring in an episode of Netflix’s Black Mirror. Big things are set to come for the 21-year-old, who was most recently seen in HBO’s highly buzzed-about show Mare of Easttown.

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Sophia Lillis – Another graduate of the It horror films, Lillis was the star of the cult superhero series I Am Not Okay with This, bringing a different perspective to a well-worn genre. She has also played a young Amy Adams in drama show Sharp Objects. Her offbeat sensibilities make her the perfect lead for diverse and interesting roles, including the forthcoming Dungeons & Dragons movie where she will be starring alongside Chris Pine.

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Ansel Elgort – The Divergent trilogy, Baby Driver, The Fault in Our Stars, West Side Story… there’s a chance you’re already very familiar with Ansel Elgort’s work, despite the fact that he only started acting in 2012. A promising stage debut led to a role in 2013 horror Carrie, and from there the statuesque leading man has caught the eye of directors like Steven Spielberg and Edgar Wright. In 2022 he became a player behind the scenes, producing his own crime drama, Tokyo Vice.

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