There’s no thrill quite like seeing a new crop of talent on center stage. Whether through emotional indies, fearless blockbusters, or genre-defying TV, these young actors are not simply acting out characters; they’re rewriting what great acting is. Below are 10 standout performances that attest the future of film and television is brighter (and braver) than ever.
10. Maisy Stella – My Old Ass
Maisy Stella’s performance as Elliot in My Old Ass is witty, emotional, and full of charm. Playing opposite Aubrey Plaza (her older version), Stella infuses a natural combination of sarcasm, self-discovery, and subdued emotional depth. She embodies the eccentric beauty of adolescence with remarkable authenticity, and Elliot is one of the most relatable coming-of-age characters in recent times. Don’t be amazed if she becomes everyone’s new indie favorite.
9. Dallas Liu – Avatar: The Last Airbender
To take on Prince Zuko in Netflix’s live-action remake of Avatar was a pressure-packed role, but Dallas Liu nailed it. He overlays Zuko’s anger and hurt with authentic emotional fragility, adding new depth to the fan favorite. Liu’s acting brings with it both the rage and the sweetness of a boy so needy for redemption. With future seasons ahead, his full circle from villain to hero could prove to be one of television’s greatest arcs.
8. Lily Collias – Good One
In Good One, Lily Collias demonstrates that subtlety is as strong as spectacle. As a teenager, Sam, caught between two emotionally immature adults on a camping trip, exhibits stunning restraint and warmth. Her quiet strength commands each scene without having to shout. It’s a performance that shows us how stillness can say so much, and how one indie gem can start a career.
7. D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai – Reservation Dogs, Warfare
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is one of the most significant new LGBTQ+ voices in Hollywood. His breakthrough on Reservation Dogs, a series that revolutionized Indigenous representation on television, won him critical recognition and an Emmy nomination. Now, with parts in Warfare and Caught Stealing, Woon-A-Tai keeps injecting authenticity and heart into each role. He is not only an actor, but a movement in motion.
6. Anna Sawai – Shōgun & Pachinko
Anna Sawai is a revelation in Shōgun, bringing Lady Mariko to life with beauty, toughness, and emotional acuity. Her turn combines poise with a simmering internal storm of turmoil, making every scene electrifying. Tack on her complicated turn in Pachinko, and it’s apparent Sawai is staking a claim as one of the most compelling and authoritative performers of her era.
5. Fred Hechinger – Gladiator II, Thelma
Fred Hechinger has become the go-to actor you can’t quite place in the best sense. He’ll be a crazy emperor in Gladiator II, but he also provides tenderness and nuance in Thelma. What sets him apart is emotional vulnerability; his characters are always so profoundly human, whether they’re crazy or not. Hechinger’s range is the kind most actors pursue a career to achieve.
4. Aaron Pierre – Rebel Ridge, Mufasa: The Lion King
Aaron Pierre’s screen presence cannot be denied as authoritative yet compassionate. In Rebel Ridge, he’s irresistible as a man torn between morality and survival. Next, he’ll be playing Mufasa in The Lion King prequel and assuming the role of John Stewart in DC’s Green Lantern. With each performance, Pierre layers his talent further, demonstrating that he’s not merely one to watch, he’s one to follow closely.
3. Lola Petticrew – Say Nothing
Lola Petticrew gives one of the year’s most chilling performances as Dolours Price in Say Nothing. Portraying a real-life individual caught between idealism and radicalism, Petticrew conveys the tension and turmoil of her character’s transfiguration. It’s an audacious, nuanced performance that refuses to turn away from the audience. Her name will feature prominently in awards chatter shortly.
2. Preeti Panigrahi – Girls Will Be Girls
Preeti Panigrahi’s debut in Girls Will Be Girls is pure magic. As Mira, she moves effortlessly between shyness, desire, and rebellion, creating a portrait of adolescence that feels startlingly real. Her performance is tender, raw, and full of quiet strength. After taking home a Special Jury Award at Sundance, it’s safe to say Panigrahi has arrived, and she’s just getting started.
1. Jessica Gunning – Baby Reindeer
Jessica Gunning’s performance as Martha in Baby Reindeer is one for the ages. She takes a role that might have been a caricature and makes it heartbreaking, a stalker who’s both terrifying and tragic, and somehow sympathetic. Gunning’s skill at changing tone and mood in an instant makes her performance unforgettable. As she herself said, “If I never work again, I get to say I played Martha.” And what a legacy that would be.
From indies to streaming hits, these actors aren’t the future of Hollywood; they’re its present. They imbue each frame with vulnerability, authenticity, and fire, reminding us why emerging voices are important. If this is the next wave, then buckle u, the olden age of story is already underway.