The 25 Hottest Actors Under 25
Fame and success can be fleeting in Hollywood -- just ask the Coreys. So which young stars of 2008 will still be entertaining us in 2018, or even 2028? Moviefone presents our second annual list of the 25 hottest actors under the age of 25. From the super-famous (Keira Knightley, Shia LaBeouf) to stars just on the rise (Amanda Seyfried, Anton Yelchin), see who's making waves today, who made our list last year and who's proving they've got the talent to prosper well past tomorrow.
WireImage / Getty Images (3)
Megan Fox
Age: 22
Years on List: 2007-2008
What She's Done: Besides heating up the screen in 'Transformers,' Fox has positioned herself as a saucy sex symbol -- her Maxim cover was a scorcher.
What's Next: This fall's comedy 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People'; 'Whore' (really), 'Jennifer's Body' (a comedy horror penned by 'Juno' scribe Diablo Cody); and 'Transformers 2.'
Industry Buzz: "I honestly believe that Megan is here to stay, says Robert Weide, director of 'How to Lose Friends.' She'll constantly surprise people by her range. Anyone who thinks she's just a pretty face is going to be surprised in the same way they were when Michelle Pfeiffer proved she really was an actress."
Jason Merritt, FilmMagic.com
Michael Cera
Age: 20
Years on List: 2007-2008
What He's Done: Cera made the leap from TV star ('Arrested Development') to box office draw with the raunch-fest 'Superbad' and the Oscar-nominated 'Juno' in '07.
What's Next: He'll follow up October's 'Superbad' with starring roles in 'Year One,' 'Youth in Revolt' and 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.'
Industry Buzz: "With 'Arrested Development,' 'Superbad' and 'Juno,' he always came across as an appealing, funny kid," says Entertainment Weekly's Dave Karger. "But in 'Nick & Norah,' he's really emerging as a young man, and a very likable one."
Munawar Hosain, Getty Images
Emma Watson
Age: 18
Years on List: 2008
What She's Done: As Hermione in five 'Harry Potter' pics, Watson has blossomed in front of eyes, from cute kid to -- dare we say it -- hot young adult.
What's Next: She'll voice Princess Pea in this winter's 'The Tale of Desperaux,' then really break out of the 'Potter' mold in '09's 'Napoleon and Betsy.' Of course she also has three more 'Potter' hits on the way.
Industry Buzz: "She is one of the brightest people I have ever met, with a razor-sharp mind," says 'Harry Potter' producer David Heyman. "After seeing her work in 'Half-Blood Prince,' I can assuredly say she can do it all. She is a great comedienne, and brings real gravitas to the dramatic scenes."
Jon Furniss, WireImage
Dakota Fanning
Age: 14
Years on List: 2008
What She's Done: The mature-beyond-her-years teen has done blockbusters ('War of the Worlds'), Oscar bait ('I Am Sam') and edgy indie fare ('Hounddog').
What's Next: She appears in fall's 'Secret Life of Bees' before next year starring in (and swearing in!) the sci-fi thriller 'Push' and voicing the title character in Henry Selick's stop-motion animated 'Coraline.'
Industry Buzz: "Dakota's talent is limitless," 'Secret Life of Bees' director Gina Prince-Bythewood tells us. "She has crazy chops, great instincts, a ridiculous work ethic, a true love of acting and a great family. There will be no missteps. She will be one of the great ones -- Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Dakota Fanning."
Carlo Allegri, AP
Amanda Seyfried
Age: 23
Years on List: 2008
What She's Done: Made polygamy palatable in HBO's 'Big Love'
and ABBA au courant as the lead in this summer's 'Mamma Mia!'
What's Next: She co-stars with
Megan Fox in 'Jennifer's Body' and just landed opposite Channing Tatum in Lasse Hallstrom's adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel, 'Dear John.'
Industry Buzz: "This doe-eyed lovely whose singing voice was one of the surprising joys of 'Mamma Mia!' seems to be on her way, headlining as a high school avenger in the girl-power horror comedy 'Jennifer's Body,'" says
Susan Wloszczyna, film reporter for USA Today.
Jamie McCarthy, WireImage
Shia LaBeouf
Age: 22
Years on List: 2007-2008
What He's Done: The Beef made the leap from Disney tween ('Even Stevens,' 'Holes') to blockbuster action star ('Transformers,' 'Indiana Jones') in what seemed like a week (actuality: four years).
What's Next: He reunites with 'Disturbia' director D.J. Caruso in this month's thriller 'Eagle Eye' while filming next summer's 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.'
Industry Buzz: "Shia is genuine, and very real," says Caruso. "He's the good-looking guy next door, he's your best friend next door, he's a little bit of everything. He's been blessed with that."
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
Keira Knightley
Age: 23
Years on List: 2007-2008
What She's Done: She's equally adept at action flicks (the 'Pirates' series) and period dramas (including an Oscar-nominated turn in 'Pride and Prejudice' and stunning leads in 'Atonement' and her latest, 'The Duchess').
What's Next: She continues to be the go-to gal for highbrow drama with 'King Lear.'
Industry Buzz: "She's accomplished so much already that it's easy to forget that she's only 23," says Dave Karger or Entertainment Weekly. "'The Duchess' requires her to age from 17 to 27 and she's equally believable at both ages."
Matt Carr, Getty Images
Daniel Radcliffe
Age: 19
Years on List: 2007-2008
What He's Done: Best known as the beloved boy wizard from the 'Harry Potter' films, he's also made headlines by going full frontal for the London stage revival of 'Equus.'
What's Next: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' is due in theaters next summer, and -- after putting his "wand" on display in the Broadway run of 'Equus' -- he'll return to London to begin filming the two-part 'Potter' finale, 'The Deathly Hallows.'
Industry Buzz: "As you can see by the work he has done outside of 'Potter,' he embraces challenges," says 'Potter' producer David Heyman. "He is a remarkably curious young man who is eager to be the very best at whatever he does, yet retains great humility and decency."
Seth Wenig, AP
Kristen Stewart
Age: 18
Years on List: 2007-2008
What She's Done: A lot of daughter roles (Jodie Foster's in 'Panic Room,' Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone's in 'Cold Creek Manor,' Tim Robbins' in 'Zathura'), and she's held her own with the 'rents each time.
What's Next: She's Bella in 'Twilight,' the teen vampire flick widely touted to be the next 'Harry Potter.'
Industry Buzz: "Kristen has a depth and dedication and toughness that I've rarely encountered," 'Twilight' director Catherine Hardwicke tells us. "Her career could be an amazing collection of characters. She has no limits ... If the stars line up, Kristen could be winning the highest of accolades."
Steve Granitz, WireImage
Reader Comments (119)
Mel at 6:12PM on Sep 24th 2008
Kristen and Rob definitely deserve to be on here (:
mae at 1:54AM on May 23rd 2009
yeah rob and kristen are more deserving ..............
June at 4:18PM on Jun 17th 2009
How does kristen stewart, who blinks and stutters her way through EVERY movie she's in, deserve to be put ahead of Ellen Page, who's versatile and actually talented?
Mandi at 8:05PM on Sep 24th 2008
The nerd from superbad?
Are you freaking serious?
None of these people are noteworthy, besides maybe Dakota Fanning. But she was in I am Sam, and she made me cry in that movie.
Otherwise, these new stars are nothing more than cookie cutter teeny boppers who try to make themselves look above average with expert stylists and gobs of makeup.
Drive-by comment at 8:10PM on Sep 24th 2008
There's no way that picture of Kat Dennings does her justice
Artemis at 8:11PM on Sep 24th 2008
I agree, Kristen and Rob do deserve to be on there. :D
And almost everyone else.
ymayg91 at 8:16PM on Sep 24th 2008
Hayden Panettiere is not even on the list??
archerandlion at 8:18PM on Sep 24th 2008
Megan Fox has that Gypsy Woman look! Yoy, she can put a hex on me anytime...
Aaron at 8:26PM on Sep 24th 2008
all the guys on that list are a joke. im 20 and im better looking than anyone one of them. wow if i lived anywhere other than the middle of no where in pa people wouldnt know what to do with themselves. please someone come find me so we people dont have to suffer any longer haha
Brian at 8:37PM on Sep 24th 2008
Wow, Hollywood is still a Lilly White Institution. I find it hard to believe that in a country where people of color make up the majority of the population that this list which comprises the future of the cinema has no asians, hispanics and just one token black. Wow, Hollywood a great place to find Diversity.
Alejandra at 10:13PM on Sep 24th 2008
Rob and Kristen are the most hottes, they are the best!!!
Rocky at 9:45PM on Sep 24th 2008
Out of the ones in the list shown here I would say that six have talent and the others need to get it. Those five are Megan, Amanda, K. Knightly, Emma, Zac, and Scarlett.
rich_ps2master at 8:56PM on Oct 2nd 2008
megan fox is deffinitley #1 to me
Jim at 9:31PM on Sep 24th 2008
Some of these people are children. And they are HOT? That is borderline pedophile. Someone should be arrest for this. Disgusting. ewwwwwwwwwwwww
CeCe at 9:36PM on Sep 24th 2008
Brian, ya gotta have to get it!
Laurie at 9:37PM on Sep 24th 2008
For the most part, these "kids" are one-hit-wonders. No depth, no credibility, just lucky young folks that found their way into the right place at the right time. The Brits might have more longevity because they actually take the craft of acting more seriously-- the American personality performers will burn out sooner than later.
Best bets for longer careers---Megan Fox who already looks like an older Angelina Jolie. Dakota Fanning, though her looks might not be "film-a-genic" enough for the long haul. And Ellen Page, though she may not mature into something as interesting as her precocious smart-talking teen. The boys are all boring...very dull, very little charisma...excuse me, Michael Cera as an adult...snooze-fest!!!!!!!!!
mtsuperstar624 at 9:53PM on Sep 24th 2008
Are you serious Micheal Cera, Kristen Stewert, Emma Stone, Josh Peck? I mean how about Selena Gomez, Sprouse twins, Hayden, Josh Hucherson, Nathan Kress, Rihanna? At least they didnt include the jonas brothers!
ng7 at 9:55PM on Sep 24th 2008
they obviously don't mean hot as in apperanace, but their are still some hot ladies in there..Nothing wrong with megan fox, blake lively, or scarlet johanson
WonderBoy at 10:03PM on Sep 24th 2008
Megan Fox............what is WB/DC Comics waiting for..........make her star in a big screen WONDER WOMAN film already !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rjah at 10:09PM on Sep 24th 2008
with all that plastic surgery she did to redo her face, Megan fox looks more like 36 yearsold. She's nothing but a big fake and looks like a stripper, doesn't deserve all this attention for her fake looks.