Hollywood’s Top Young Actresses
These actresses are the current and future leading-ladies in Hollywood. They represent the best young talent Tinseltown has right now, and they should eventually replace the Nicole Kidmans, Charlize Therons, and Halle Berrys of the world. Not all of them are going to rake in the big bucks, but like a Meryl Streep or a Hilary Swank, they will be well respected, both in terms of critical acclaim and audience recognition.
The résumés of all these actresses includes a combination of looks, acting talent, and overall star power. Appearing in TV is okay, but this is a list about film stars, so these ladies have all appeared in movies. Let me warn you that not any characteristic alone is enough to get on the list. So sorry Jessica Alba, you’re really hot, but it’s not enough. I need to see some acting chops before you crack this top ten. Many on this list have already made a mark in Hollywood, but all have a bright future ahead and should be recognized for years to come. For purposes of this list, we will define young as anyone under thirty years old. So here they are, the Top Ten Young Actresses of Hollywood, let’s take a look at these young stars of today and the future:
You can also check out our Top Up and Coming Hollywood Actresses for those that didn’t make this list but still have bright futures or our Top Television Actresses Destined for Movie Work.
10. Rachel McAdams
McAdams barely cracks this list in two ways, first by being number ten and second by being born on November 17, 1978. At 29 years and change, she just fits under the age limit. No matter, McAdams has a bright future ahead of her with her good looks and choice of diverse roles. This Canadian has already show success in both the comedy and drama genres.
Breakout Role: The Notebook, where she plays the young Allie Hamilton in the adaptation of the Nicholas Sparks tearjerker. Mean Girls actually came out first and helped McAdams gets noticed, but The Notebook made her an instant sensation among young women and garnered her a record five nominations and three wins at the MTV Movie Awards.
Biggest Hit: Wedding Crashers, where she plays Owen Wilson’s love interest in the 2005 hit comedy.
Unappreciated Gem: Slings and Arrows, where she plays Kate McNab, an aspiring actress, in the Canadian TV series. The show revolves around a high brow theater company, and McAdams has a featured role in Season 1 of the series. If TV doesn’t float your boat, I’ll still put forth Mean Girls, a reasonably popular, but still under appreciated film, where she plays the leader of the titular “mean girls” opposite Lindsay Lohan in the Tina Fey penned comedy.
Upcoming Feature: State of Play, an adaptation of the popular British crime drama mini-series hits theaters in the spring of 2009.
McAdams plays OWEN Wilson’s love interest in Wedding Crashers , not Luke Wilson’s.
Ziyi Zhang?! Are you high? I didn’t even know her NAME before this post :\
Also I can’t believe you didn’t mention that article where Anne Hathaway admitted to doing anal. That alone should make her number 1.
I think Goya’s Ghosts is Natalie Portman’s most underestimated film. Loved it!
Megan Fox? She could be the hottest girl ever.
Kirsten Dunst? Are you insane? She looks like her whole face has been deep-fried. Terrible choice…
McAdams is aight…i dont really like how she does her makeup though. she’d be better off going with a more natural look.
In terms of Evan Rachel Wood, “King of California” is another great movie.
Michael Christopher needs to watch more movies.
what the hell? where are jessica biel and jessica alba? this list is garbage.
your list is skewed, my friend.
Another vote for Megan Fox, can’t believe she was left from the list.
Scarlett Johansson’s breakout Role should be ‘horse wisperer’.
Apart from Ziyi Zhang, nice list.
>>callcenterguy Nov 11th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
>>what the hell? where are jessica biel and jessica alba? this list is garbage.
It’s a list of *actresses*, not pinups, callcenterguy.
where the hell is Megan Fox…seriously seriously…this list is crap (not really), but yea she should totally be on this list
It’s the author’s opinion, of course your list will be different. Instead of complaining, try giving constructive reasons why the list should be different.
Hehe they said good lookin girls with acting skills… biel, fox and alba are hot but they aren’t up there in acting..i wouldn’t call transformers and fantastic 4 golden global/oscar worthy… they’re still hot though.
Megan Fox has had one roll.
This list isn’t just a list of the hottest young actresses but the best. Megan Fox isn’t a good actress, though i’ll concede she’s hot as hell.
Dude, Elisha Cuthbert should be up there somewhere. The Girl Next Door? She’s hot as hell in that movie!
you nailed it by saying Scarlett Johansson is number one. Besides being a damn fine looking woman she is one of the smartest and most thoughtful actresses of any age.
Her work in “Girl with the pearl earring” and “Lost in traslation” was superb.
Not entirely sure that I agree with the entire list, but I love the #1 choice. Scarlett Johansson is the real deal.
Im a big fan of Rachael McAdams. Still not quite sure why she hasn’t become a big name star in the business!
Chuck
While my opinions do not agree with this list, I do not think it’s garbage at all. Some of the comments I am reading seem to equate looks with acting, which is not what I believe the man is going for. I agree with the fact that Zhang Ziyi should not really be on the list, as far as Hollywood movies are concerned. She is listable if we were talking Asian cinema. Kirsten Dunst is not the best looking, and I am not a fan of hers in Spider-man, but she has without a doubt been one of the top young actresses for a while in Hollywood. I do believe that Jessica Biel should’ve taken someone’s spot on this list, but Jessica Alba, while hot and popular, isn’t exactly one of the best actresses or even close. As for Megan Fox, maybe in a few years, when she stars in a couple more movies where she could do a little more acting, instead of just standing around as eye candy.
Keep it up dude, let’s hope you do another list soon.
No love for Mila Kunis?
No Mila?
what a terrible fucking list.
go watch some decent movies before making a list.
Sadly, Stealth > Rush Hour 3 and Jessica Biel doesnt even make the list.
EPIC FAIL
Summer Glau. Get your radar checked.
What about Hayden Panettiere ?
Kirsten Dunst is the most annoying actress in the history of film. I want to stab her to death with a spork infected with super aids.
Not a bad list, why are people hating on Kristen Dunst she looks like a girl next door type.
Replace Nicole Kidman? These new actresses are young
so may have a point because people do get old.
thanks from tony
Estoye: I’ve seen a TON of the movies she was in and I STILL didn’t know her name.
How is Natalie Portman NOT Number 1? She doesnt need make up to look good. End.
No Michelle WIlliams?? She’s one of the best young actresses working today.
[...] I’ll amend over time, and probably add some runner’s up.. but for now this list started from here. [...]
I wish Christina Ricci was in the list.. Why?. She is both damn talented and beautiful((
christina ricci is a fucken bitch
Fuck dat!!! the numba 1 hottest young hollywood girl is Megan Fox not Scarlet J
joe jonas is so cute
WOW LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE WENT OUT THEIR WAY TO NOTTT LIST ANY YOUNG HOT AFRICAN AMERICAN ACTRESSES!
Looking forward to a follow up
I added this page to my Stumbleupon account
jonas brothers ugly but you should have charlize theron she is very pretty and most talented natalie portman rocks and kristen dunst isn’t my fav but i like her and i agree with adding christina ricci and jessica alba and mabye jolie.
I want to be an actress in hollywood. I’m 15 age now .
I dont know , how to be an actress in hollywood ? I come from indonesia .
If you know , please reply it .
I will love to be a young actress but how!
briliant!!!!!!!!
She is hot!