With a new decade comes a brand new era of films, creators, and actors entertaining moviegoers around the globe. As Hollywood enters the 2020s, a brand new batch of young performers is primed and ready to take the industry by storm.
Whether they’re in small indie fare, horror dramas, or major superhero blockbusters, these up-and-coming young stars are sure to become the talk of the town. Some of these actors have made their debut on the small screen, which is becoming just as important as cinema in the age of streaming.
Millie Bobby Brown
Millie Bobby Brown gives an outstanding performance as Eleven in season 1 of Stranger Things, and she continues to deliver in seasons 2 and 3. She has since been a part of several film projects, most notably Enola Holmes, which she also produced.
It goes without saying, but Bobby Brown is definitely one to watch out for. She displays an incredible range of emotion and already has such a vast spectrum of projects under her belt. She will be exciting to watch evolve.
Madison Reyes
Newcomer Reyes made her screen debut in 2020 as the star of Julie And The Phantoms. Her talent seems limitless; she was only fifteen-years-old when she scored the leading role. This is impressive on its own, but this role is more demanding than it seems.
Under the watchful eye of Kenny Ortega, Reyes stepped into her first acting role ever, recorded songs for an album to accompany the musical show, learned dance numbers, and even co-wrote one of the songs featured in the series. She had never even been in front of a camera before, but viewers wouldn’t know it - she’s a natural.
Alex R. Hibbert
Alex R. Hibbert portrays “Little” in the Academy Award-winning film, Moonlight. Little is the first iteration of the main character, Chiron, who grows from a child to a teenager to an adult.
The young actor gives an unbelievable performance in the emotional role, working alongside actors like Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris. He fits right in with the talented cast and has since gone on to participate in The Chi and Black Panther. At the age of sixteen (as of January 2021), he still has so much ahead of him.
Isla Johnston
Isla Johnston portrays young Beth in The Queen’s Gambit. Her performance introduces viewers to the character, the themes of the show, and kicks off Beth’s journey in a memorable, captivating way.
Johnston is perfect for the role and portrays all of Beth’s nuances perfectly, while also embodying the youthful curiosity of a child. Beth isn’t an easy character to play, but Johnston projects Beth’s strange temperament expertly.
Sunny Pawar
Sunny Pawar was only eight years old when he appeared in Lion. The critically-acclaimed 2016 film is based on the true story of Saroo Brierley’s adoption by Australian parents and his journey to reconnect with his biological mother.
Pawar carries the first act of the film as Saroo is separated from his older brother and ends up on a train to the other side of India. He is subsequently sent to an orphanage, then flown to Australia. Pawar’s performance is so convincing as to feel real, and the emotion of his fight to get back home is touching.
Millicent Simmonds
Millicent Simmonds is well known for her role in John Krasinski’s 2018 horror-thriller A Quiet Place, playing the role of Regan. One of the few famous disabled performers working today, Simmonds is pushing past pre-conceived notions of deaf performers and is working in exciting, buzzworthy projects.
She is set to return alongside Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place Part II in 2021, continuing the post-apocalyptic story of this family. Her acting chops have also secured her two roles on a couple of developing TV pilots as well. If Simmonds’ powerful yet understated performances are any indication, she is bound to continue her fantastic acting journey.
Archie Yates
Archie Yates’ first role was in Taika Waititi’s 2019 coming-of-age satire Jojo Rabbit. While not everyone loved the overall film, viewers would be hard-pressed to find anyone who didn’t instantly fall for Yates’ adorable performance as Yorki.
While his debut is still rather recent, his success and potential have already been sought after. Disney has tapped Yates to star in a reboot of the Home Alone franchise, leading to what will be a major release for their streaming service.
Jack Dylan Grazer
Eddie Kaspbrak himself, Jack Dylan Grazer is already becoming a well-known face, especially over at Warner Bros. Starring in both the horror hit It, as well as the DCEU sleeper Shazam!, Grazer is picking a plethora of exciting and lovable roles.
One of his recent projects is the HBO series, We Are Who We Are, a coming-of-age drama set on a U.S. army base in Italy. This more mature fare showcases Grazer’s incredible range and cements him as a powerhouse young actor.
Elsie Fisher
Elsie Fisher has been booking back-to-back roles for a few years now. She has starred in the hugely popular Despicable Me franchise as the little sister, Agnes. Without a doubt, though, her turn in Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade made her a lead to watch.
Fisher has now starred as a series regular in the most recent season of Hulu’s Castle Rock, expanding her repertoire into streaming. As a voiceover artist and live-action performer, Fisher is bound to become an even bigger name than she already is.
Storm Reid
Storm Reid made a powerful ally in Ava DuVernay, landing herself the lead role in Disney’s adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time. While the film received a bit of lukewarm response, Reid was hailed as the highlight, serving a strong and poignant performance.
Since then she has continued working alongside DuVernay in the mini-series When They See Us, as well as appearing opposite Zendaya in HBO’s Euphoria. If Reid keeps the connections she has made and continues to choose interesting material, she is sure to become a huge star.
Noah Jupe
This young British performer has appeared in many indie projects, as well as a few blockbusters. He joined his co-star Millicent Simmons in A Quiet Place and will return in the sequel.
Jupe appeared in some of the most critically acclaimed films of 2019. He starred in Ford v Ferrari and Honey Boy, two drastically different projects and roles. His choices as a performer are obviously iron-tight, choosing only projects that seem to excite him. Jupe has the potential to become a fantastic lead if he continues his track.
Julian Dennison
Few young actors are able to be genuinely funny and endearing. Julian Dennison somehow does both. This New Zealand-born actor has worked alongside some of the most sought-after directors today.
His debut performance in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople remains his best work, but he has done exceptionally well in other films, including Deadpool 2. Set to star in Godzilla vs Kong and The Christmas Chronicles 2, Dennison is sure to become one of the most popular performers of his age.
Marsai Martin
Marsai Martin is one of the most impressive young performers, and now producers, in Hollywood. The young star began her career on the ABC series Black-ish and has since gone on to star in multiple TV series and films such as Black Lady Sketch Show and Little.
Martin is not just an accomplished young actress, though. With the wide release of the comedy Little, Martin became the youngest executive producer in the history of Hollywood. If a young actress turned producer can accomplish that at 15, imagine what she will do as an adult.
Brooklynn Prince
Brooklynn Prince became an immediate favorite after her performance in Sean Baker’s heartbreakingly beautiful The Florida Project. This film’s picture of childhood wonder set against the harsh realities of poverty was an underrated gem come awards season, but Prince’s hard work certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Prince has since headlined the horror-drama The Turning alongside Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard. This is one of Prince’s first films after the release of The Florida Project and is sure to be one of many more that will allow her repertoire to flourish.
Mckenna Grace
Mckenna Grace has been quietly banking huge roles in the past couple of years. Her filmography includes the likes of I, Tonya, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, The Haunting of Hill House, Captain Marvel, and the Annabelle franchise.
She has also booked a leading role in Ghostbusters: Afterlife as well as the animated Scooby-Doo reboot, Scoob!. Grace’s already large filmography is obviously a testament to her talent and work ethic. In the next few years, she is sure to become one of the biggest names in the business.
