From Zendaya to Florence Pugh, Jharrel Jerome to Anya Taylor-Joy, young Hollywood is brimming with actors who know how to captivate audiences with their emotional range and undeniable screen presence. (We dare you to watch “Euphoria,” “Midsommar,” “When They See Us,” or “The Menu” and say you disagree!) If you’re an aspiring actor waiting for your big break, these are the careers you’ll want to follow for inspiration. Here are 10 of the most successful (and promising) performers in their 20s.
1. Timothée Chalamet (28)
Chalamet first broke hearts in “Call Me by Your Name,” a performance that snagged him an Oscar nomination. Since then, he’s been king of intimate character studies like “Lady Bird,” “Little Women,” and the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.” He even donned the top hat as the king of chocolate, Willy Wonka, in “Wonka” and crossed the sands of Arrakis as Paul Atreides in the recent “Dune” film franchise.
2. Tom Holland (28)
After making his film debut in the tsunami drama “The Impossible,” Holland decided to pursue acting full-time. He could have coasted on his breakthrough role as Spider-Man forever, but between web-slinging gigs, he’s been quietly proving he’s got serious acting chops. From the gritty “Cherry” to the creepy “The Devil All the Time,” Holland’s showing that wearing spandex is just one item on his résumé. He’s also the romantic companion to his “Spider-Man” costar Zendaya, another top actor in their 20s. And on that note…
3. Zendaya (28)
Zendaya has come a long way from her Disney Channel days. She’s already made Emmy history twice for her role as Rue on the surreal suburban drama “Euphoria,” becoming the youngest performer to win lead actress in a drama series—not once, but twice. Between swinging through Marvel blockbusters like “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” conquering the deserts of “Dune” alongside Chalamet, and taking on tennis love triangles in “Challengers,” she’s proven she can do it all.
Excited for ‘Dune: Prophecy’? Apply to These Gigs4. Florence Pugh (28)
Whether she’s a somehow-sympathetic man-killer in “Lady Macbeth,” surviving a Swedish cult nightmare in “Midsommar,” or stealing scenes in “Little Women” (hello, Oscar nomination), Pugh brings a fierce authenticity to every role. Now she’s playing in the big leagues in projects such as the Oscar-winning biopic “Oppenheimer,” the sci-fi epic “Dune: Part Two,” and the cancer melodrama “We Live in Time,” proving indie darlings can dominate the mainstream, too.
5. Anya Taylor-Joy (28)
The moment Taylor-Joy appeared in the folk horror film “The Witch,” everyone knew that she would be a star. By the time she had us all obsessed with chess with her Emmy-nominated performance on “The Queen’s Gambit,” she’d proven she could carry any role—which she further locked in with the psychological horror “Last Night in Soho,” the comedy horror “The Menu,” and the dystopian action flick “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” She’s also the fourth actor on this list to appear in the “Dune” franchise!
6. Jharrel Jerome (27)
When Jerome portrayed Korey Wise on the miniseries “When They See Us,” he didn’t just win an Emmy—he reframed a vital piece of American history. The actor, who made his debut in the tearjerker “Moonlight,” has jumped between hard-hitting dramas like “Unstoppable” and fun animated projects such as “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” showing Hollywood that versatility is the name of the game.
7. Dominique Thorne (27)
Thorne had appearances in “If Beale Street Could” and “Judas and the Black Messiah” before her breakthrough role as Riri Williams in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” With her own Disney+ series “Ironheart” on the horizon, she’s a young adult actor to keep your eye on.
Dominique Thorne in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Credit: Eli Adé
8. Amandla Stenberg (26)
Stenberg has grown from the heartbreaking Rue in “The Hunger Games” into a force for change both on and off the screen. Her work in “The Hate U Give” wasn’t just acting—it was activism. Whether she’s tackling social justice in drama, slaying in horror comedies like “Bodies Bodies Bodies,” or portraying good-and-evil twins on the Star Wars series “The Acolyte,” Stenberg proves entertainment and community advocacy can share the spotlight.
9. Jenna Ortega (22)
Next is Ortega, who transformed Wednesday Addams into a TikTok sensation overnight—but don’t let the viral dance fool you. This scream queen can go from slasher fare like “Scream,” “You,” and “X” to family movies such as “Yes Day” without missing a beat—and she even found success combining the two genres with her iconic turn in “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” Her deadpan delivery might be perfect for Wednesday, but it’s her range that’s keeping Hollywood’s attention.
10. Kit Connor (20)
Connor first caught our attention for playing a young Elton John in “Rocketman” and voicing Pantalaimon on “His Dark Materials.” But it’s his portrayal of the sweet, strong, oh-so-snuggly Nick Nelson on the TV adaptation of the LGBTQ+ bildungsroman “Heartstopper” that stopped our collective hearts—and won him the first-ever Children’s & Family Emmy Award for outstanding lead performance. We don’t doubt that Connor’s next 10 years, including starring on Broadway in “Romeo + Juliet,” will be more than worth watching.
Kit Connor in “Romeo + Juliet” Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman
Holland: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock; Pugh: Fred Duval/Shutterstock; Taylor-Joy: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock; Stenberg: Fred Duval/Shutterstock
