Top 35 Talented Actors 35 and Under: 35-31
The idea of this list was to objectively attempt to list the 35 most talented actors and actresses working today who are 35 or under. To make an objective list is impossible; I know this. Saying that one person is more talented than another is a possible opinion to have but to try picking the 35 most talented? And then ordering them? Impossible; I know. The point of it is a fun experiment; a broad ordering that I tried as hard as I could to get into any sort of functioning order. Every day my opinion changes and arguments could be made for taking people off and putting others on. Not having seen every performance these actors and actresses have given makes it additionally difficult to judge their careers'. Also, some of these people have not gotten the chances others have had to show what they can do in the work they are given. Also, there is almost certainly a level of subjectivity going on. Unfortunately, this list will not feature many international actors. Typically, actors become famous at an older age than actresses and thus most of my favorite international actors are all older than 35. Keeping that in mind, anyone who actually takes the time to read this; just have fun with it because I certainly did. I plan on slowly posting this list in five spot increments.
35. Zachary Quinto
Age: 33
Seen Him In: 1 episode of "Six Feet Under", 23 episodes of "24", 10 episodes of "So NoTORIous", 2 seasons of "Heroes" (I quit after that; man, what an awful show), Star Trek
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Star Trek
Quinto has an elusive face; his performances as Spock and Sylar are both about controlling emotions and maintaining an air of mystery. For Spock it is because the Vulcan does not emote and is all about reason and learning. For Sylar it is because he is a killer whose goal is to attain power. Before his signature roles in film and television, he was on a show called "So NoTORIous", a vehicle which allowed Tori Spelling to satirize herself. The show was better than it would seem but still not good. However, he was the best thing on it, playing her gay friend with a sense of humor and comedic ability that seems out of left field in comparison with his other work. Between this, his portrayal of an iconic television character in the Star Trek reboot and add to these his work on "Heroes" (a show that needed him to be even passable entertainment more than he needed it) and we have an actor who brings something special to his roles. He can do a lot in the future and is extremely talented with a considerable range.
34. Seth Rogen
Age: 28
Seen Him In: "Freaks and Geeks", Donnie Darko, "Undeclared", Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Shrek the Third (voice), Knocked Up, Superbad, Horton Hears a Who! (voice), Kung Fu Panda (voice), Pineapple Express, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Observe and Report, Funny People
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Funny People
I have several of comedians on the bottom half of this list. A lot of people might say these actors do the same thing in every role. I say differently. First of all; comedy is different than drama in the casting sense. Where certain actors known for their work in serious roles are known for their ‘powerhouse’ performances, comedic actors become known for a very specific kind of character. It has been done since the silent era. Chaplin had one character he repeatedly played. Bill Murray became known for his dry wit and played the same type of character in his early career. Others from different eras include Jacques Tati, Jerry Lewis, W.C Fields and Will Ferrell. All very different comedians but they all sold an individualistic brand of humor. It does not mean these actors cannot do more. However, when creating a persona for oneself in comedy, people come to expect something; it ensures a film with them makes money and that is what the studios want. So all this is to say that while people like Seth Rogen and others may seem an odd choice to populate this list, what they do is hard and to carve out a character type seems quite difficult in and of itself, let alone discovering new ways to keep it fresh.
Seth Rogen also has a very dry wit about him. His driest character was his first, as Ken on the now legendary “Freaks and Geeks”. Since then, he has carved out a character type who is always aware he is telling a joke and is especially aware of how dirty he can be. His work has evolved though and he is able to play an eccentric sidekick, as in The 40 Year Old Virgin and easily become the straight man to James Franco’s eternally stoned Saul in Pineapple Express. With The Green Hornet and his recent casting in Sarah Polley’s new directorial effort Take This Waltz, we will continue to see just how much Seth Rogen is capable of.
33. Jonah Hill
Age: 26
Seen Him In: I Heart Huckabees, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Funny People, The Invention of Lying, How to Train Your Dragon (voice), Get Him to the Greek
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Get Him to the Greek
Another comedic actor on this list; lo and behold! Hill is very young and has already carved out a specific character type; that of the anxious and overly enthusiastic man-child. He is good at it; frighteningly good. He makes me laugh more than most comedic actors today mainly because of his pitch-perfect line delivery. Often times, the line does not have to be funny but it can still make me laugh coming from him. He is working with a group of comedians who are much older and much more experienced but he has moved up the ranks incredibly quickly. Only 5 years ago he had been delegated to bit parts in films such as I Heart Huckabees and The 40 Year Old Virgin. Two years later came Superbad. He adds a little spice to his character type from time to time by adding a level of creepiness which he does wonderfully in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and clearly will in Cyrus (which I have not seen but it is hard not to deny the creepiness exuded from the trailer). Additionally, he has handled the ‘dramatic’ material from his films (Get Him to the Greek is a surprisingly sad affair) with success. It is hard to be funny; very hard. Many of out A-list stars who try it out fail. Jonah Hill, at least for me, is a talented young comedian who will hopefully have enough interesting roles in the future; the upcoming Moneyball is certainly proof enough for that.
32. Michael Cera
Age: 22
Seen Him In: "Arrested Development", 1 episode of "Veronica Mars", Juno, Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Best Performance: "Arrested Development"
Another person I feel the immediate need to defend since so many people are 'over him'. I agree to a point with most of the complaints surrounding him. However, anyone who watched "Arrested Development" cannot deny that Cera is downright hilarious. The way he played off the material he was given on that show is a large part of what made it the funniest American made show of the past ten years. George Michael Bluth; there are so many priceless moments from Cera’s work on "Arrested Development". He gets more flack than most for always playing the same character just because he sticks out like a sore thumb. I agree that I am hoping to see something different from him soon.
However I DO think he brought something different to Juno and made Bleeker a specific character; it is easily the most underrated performance in that film. The less can be said about his characters Superbad and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. I think he was great in the former and decent in the latter but I agree those characters did not have enough variety. I think a lot of this can be blamed on the roles he might be getting offered. He is low on this list because I do see a lot of the same from him in each role. We have to keep in mind though that he is only 22! People are already waiting for something new from him when he is still establishing an adult career.
He IS on the list because at 14 he was stealing scenes on a regular basis from everyone on "Arrested Development". To have that kind of comedic timing and delivery at such a young age and on such a wonderfully bizarre show is a gift; and he gets to be on the list for that.
31. Daniel Radcliffe
Age: 21
Seen Him In: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 1 episode of "Extras", "Equus" on Broadway
Best Performance: "Equus"
The main achievement of Daniel Radcliffe is how much he has grown as an actor. In the first few Harry Potter films he did his job well but clearly had a long way to go; the more dramatic scenes were a rough spot. One of the joys of seeing the Harry Potter films is to see the actor who plays the title character grow into a gifted performer who has a huge future ahead of him. He can handle those scenes that he could not before, which is a good thing, considering the rapidly increasing emotional load for the series and character. I have also had the good fortune to see him perform on stage in "Equus" which he did with great courage and energy. He also had one of the best guest spots on Ricky Gervais' "Extras" which showcased his comedic skills. Acting is everything to Radcliffe. He has gone to great lengths to assure himself a career following the end of the series and already has three big projects in the works post-Potter in addition to an upcoming stint on Broadway with a musical. His drive to become better is palpable. He has made great strides within the series and will continue to do so outside of it. His determination and abilities are an exciting thing to witness and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for him.
35. Zachary Quinto
Age: 33
Seen Him In: 1 episode of "Six Feet Under", 23 episodes of "24", 10 episodes of "So NoTORIous", 2 seasons of "Heroes" (I quit after that; man, what an awful show), Star Trek
Quinto has an elusive face; his performances as Spock and Sylar are both about controlling emotions and maintaining an air of mystery. For Spock it is because the Vulcan does not emote and is all about reason and learning. For Sylar it is because he is a killer whose goal is to attain power. Before his signature roles in film and television, he was on a show called "So NoTORIous", a vehicle which allowed Tori Spelling to satirize herself. The show was better than it would seem but still not good. However, he was the best thing on it, playing her gay friend with a sense of humor and comedic ability that seems out of left field in comparison with his other work. Between this, his portrayal of an iconic television character in the Star Trek reboot and add to these his work on "Heroes" (a show that needed him to be even passable entertainment more than he needed it) and we have an actor who brings something special to his roles. He can do a lot in the future and is extremely talented with a considerable range.
34. Seth Rogen
Age: 28
Seen Him In: "Freaks and Geeks", Donnie Darko, "Undeclared", Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Shrek the Third (voice), Knocked Up, Superbad, Horton Hears a Who! (voice), Kung Fu Panda (voice), Pineapple Express, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Observe and Report, Funny People
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Funny People
I have several of comedians on the bottom half of this list. A lot of people might say these actors do the same thing in every role. I say differently. First of all; comedy is different than drama in the casting sense. Where certain actors known for their work in serious roles are known for their ‘powerhouse’ performances, comedic actors become known for a very specific kind of character. It has been done since the silent era. Chaplin had one character he repeatedly played. Bill Murray became known for his dry wit and played the same type of character in his early career. Others from different eras include Jacques Tati, Jerry Lewis, W.C Fields and Will Ferrell. All very different comedians but they all sold an individualistic brand of humor. It does not mean these actors cannot do more. However, when creating a persona for oneself in comedy, people come to expect something; it ensures a film with them makes money and that is what the studios want. So all this is to say that while people like Seth Rogen and others may seem an odd choice to populate this list, what they do is hard and to carve out a character type seems quite difficult in and of itself, let alone discovering new ways to keep it fresh.
Seth Rogen also has a very dry wit about him. His driest character was his first, as Ken on the now legendary “Freaks and Geeks”. Since then, he has carved out a character type who is always aware he is telling a joke and is especially aware of how dirty he can be. His work has evolved though and he is able to play an eccentric sidekick, as in The 40 Year Old Virgin and easily become the straight man to James Franco’s eternally stoned Saul in Pineapple Express. With The Green Hornet and his recent casting in Sarah Polley’s new directorial effort Take This Waltz, we will continue to see just how much Seth Rogen is capable of.
33. Jonah Hill
Age: 26
Seen Him In: I Heart Huckabees, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Superbad, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Funny People, The Invention of Lying, How to Train Your Dragon (voice), Get Him to the Greek
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Get Him to the Greek
Another comedic actor on this list; lo and behold! Hill is very young and has already carved out a specific character type; that of the anxious and overly enthusiastic man-child. He is good at it; frighteningly good. He makes me laugh more than most comedic actors today mainly because of his pitch-perfect line delivery. Often times, the line does not have to be funny but it can still make me laugh coming from him. He is working with a group of comedians who are much older and much more experienced but he has moved up the ranks incredibly quickly. Only 5 years ago he had been delegated to bit parts in films such as I Heart Huckabees and The 40 Year Old Virgin. Two years later came Superbad. He adds a little spice to his character type from time to time by adding a level of creepiness which he does wonderfully in Forgetting Sarah Marshall and clearly will in Cyrus (which I have not seen but it is hard not to deny the creepiness exuded from the trailer). Additionally, he has handled the ‘dramatic’ material from his films (Get Him to the Greek is a surprisingly sad affair) with success. It is hard to be funny; very hard. Many of out A-list stars who try it out fail. Jonah Hill, at least for me, is a talented young comedian who will hopefully have enough interesting roles in the future; the upcoming Moneyball is certainly proof enough for that.
32. Michael Cera
Age: 22
Seen Him In: "Arrested Development", 1 episode of "Veronica Mars", Juno, Superbad, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
Best Performance: "Arrested Development"
Another person I feel the immediate need to defend since so many people are 'over him'. I agree to a point with most of the complaints surrounding him. However, anyone who watched "Arrested Development" cannot deny that Cera is downright hilarious. The way he played off the material he was given on that show is a large part of what made it the funniest American made show of the past ten years. George Michael Bluth; there are so many priceless moments from Cera’s work on "Arrested Development". He gets more flack than most for always playing the same character just because he sticks out like a sore thumb. I agree that I am hoping to see something different from him soon.
However I DO think he brought something different to Juno and made Bleeker a specific character; it is easily the most underrated performance in that film. The less can be said about his characters Superbad and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist. I think he was great in the former and decent in the latter but I agree those characters did not have enough variety. I think a lot of this can be blamed on the roles he might be getting offered. He is low on this list because I do see a lot of the same from him in each role. We have to keep in mind though that he is only 22! People are already waiting for something new from him when he is still establishing an adult career.
He IS on the list because at 14 he was stealing scenes on a regular basis from everyone on "Arrested Development". To have that kind of comedic timing and delivery at such a young age and on such a wonderfully bizarre show is a gift; and he gets to be on the list for that.
31. Daniel Radcliffe
Age: 21
Seen Him In: Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, 1 episode of "Extras", "Equus" on Broadway
Best Performance: "Equus"
The main achievement of Daniel Radcliffe is how much he has grown as an actor. In the first few Harry Potter films he did his job well but clearly had a long way to go; the more dramatic scenes were a rough spot. One of the joys of seeing the Harry Potter films is to see the actor who plays the title character grow into a gifted performer who has a huge future ahead of him. He can handle those scenes that he could not before, which is a good thing, considering the rapidly increasing emotional load for the series and character. I have also had the good fortune to see him perform on stage in "Equus" which he did with great courage and energy. He also had one of the best guest spots on Ricky Gervais' "Extras" which showcased his comedic skills. Acting is everything to Radcliffe. He has gone to great lengths to assure himself a career following the end of the series and already has three big projects in the works post-Potter in addition to an upcoming stint on Broadway with a musical. His drive to become better is palpable. He has made great strides within the series and will continue to do so outside of it. His determination and abilities are an exciting thing to witness and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead for him.
