Top 35 Talented Actresses 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. If this were preferential however, several other actresses, such as Christina Ricci and Thora Birch to name a couple, would be on here. The ordering would be very different and of course some of these women would not be on here. It just so happens though that many of the young actresses who happen to be my favorites are also extremely talented; otherwise they would not be on here. 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. Sarah Polley
Age: 31
Seen her in: "Ramona", The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Sweet Hereafter, eXistenZ, Go, Dawn of the Dead, Splice
Best Performance from What I've Seen: The Sweet Hereafter
Sarah Polley has had a lucky career. Starting out as a child actress, she has never pigeon-holed herself into any specific type of role. Her choice of characters has been diverse which has allowed her to explore many different types of characters. She has the ability to express a lot with her face and works best with little dialogue. She has shown herself to be a part of many solid Canadian productions and has become a refreshing change of pace with what she brings to the horror films’ female protagonist as opposed to the talentless pretty faces the genre usually brings. Her ability to bring fully fledged characters to life with apparent ease makes me excited or what more she will bring to an already diverse and long-lasting career.
34. Amy Adams
Age: 35
Seen her in: Drop Dead Gorgeous, Psycho Beach Party, 1 episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", Catch Me if you Can, Junebug, 3 episodes of "The Office", Enchanted, Charlie Wilson's War, Doubt, Julie and Julia
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Junebug
We have come to expect a certain type of character from Amy Adams; the bubbling optimist or the hopeful and naïve idealist. Either way, Amy Adams has a knack for playing positive characters. She certainly has the range in her to play another type of role. The fact that most of her characters have been this type is what gets her a low spot on this list. I believe she can play other characters because the diversity she has brought to similar roles has been no less than impressive. Her performance in Junebug is an astounding achievement and if I had not seen her work in said film, she might not have made the list. In conclusion, Adams is great at what she does and brings more to her roles than most would but she has yet to make a break from her character type which signifies her place on this list.
33. Greta Gerwig
Age: 26
Seen her in: House and the Devil, Greenberg
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Greenberg
I have not seen any of Greta Gerwig’s mumblecore roles but I have seen her in two films which have made me place great confidence in not only her talent but her future career in film. She brings a heightened natural quality to her acting and a type of offbeat presence that is hard to ignore. She is the type of actress who gives performances that require repeat viewings to catch all of the subtleties. She had a supporting role in last years’ impressive horror film House of the Devil which alluded to her immense presence but her work in Greenberg is what establishes her as a true find.
32. Rebecca Hall
Age: 28
Seen her in: The Prestige, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Frost/Nixon, Red Riding Trilogy
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Red Riding Trilogy
Rebecca Hall has many great performances ahead of her. Her potential is endless. I have been following her career since seeing her in The Prestige which she gave emotional weight to. She also stole scenes in Vicky Cristina Barcelona and expressed a state of desperate sadness in Red Riding Trilogy. With a main role in Ben Affleck’s upcoming The Town, she is sure to continue her streak of noteworthy work.
[B]31. Scarlett Johansson
Age: 25
Seen her in: The Man Who Wasn't There, Ghost World, Lost in Translation, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Spongebob Squarepants Movie (voice), In Good Company, Match Point, The Black Dahlia, The Prestige, The Other Boleyn Girl, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Spirit, Iron Man 2, "A View from the Bridge" (on Broadway)
Best Performance from What I've Seen: "A View from the Bridge"
Scarlett Johansson is capable of great things but needs a great film to funnel her talent into. She has given bad performances most noticeably in The Black Dahlia, Iron Man 2 and especially a ghastly performance in The Spirit that needs to be seen to be believed (along with every other performance in that abysmal film). Despite all of this, she is a good actress and is capable of being a great one. I had the opportunity to see her on stage in her Tony Award winning performance in "A View from the Bridge". It was the best performance I have seen her give. It proves her talent. She has also given diverse and impressive performances in Ghost World, Lost in Translation, Girl with a Pearl Earring and Match Point which I believe pushed her farther than she has gone on film before. She needs more roles that push her forward as an actress. If she can do that and succeed, then she will one day move higher up on this list. She certainly has the potential to.
35. Sarah Polley
Age: 31
Seen her in: "Ramona", The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The Sweet Hereafter, eXistenZ, Go, Dawn of the Dead, Splice
Best Performance from What I've Seen: The Sweet Hereafter
Sarah Polley has had a lucky career. Starting out as a child actress, she has never pigeon-holed herself into any specific type of role. Her choice of characters has been diverse which has allowed her to explore many different types of characters. She has the ability to express a lot with her face and works best with little dialogue. She has shown herself to be a part of many solid Canadian productions and has become a refreshing change of pace with what she brings to the horror films’ female protagonist as opposed to the talentless pretty faces the genre usually brings. Her ability to bring fully fledged characters to life with apparent ease makes me excited or what more she will bring to an already diverse and long-lasting career.
34. Amy Adams
Age: 35
Seen her in: Drop Dead Gorgeous, Psycho Beach Party, 1 episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", Catch Me if you Can, Junebug, 3 episodes of "The Office", Enchanted, Charlie Wilson's War, Doubt, Julie and Julia
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Junebug
We have come to expect a certain type of character from Amy Adams; the bubbling optimist or the hopeful and naïve idealist. Either way, Amy Adams has a knack for playing positive characters. She certainly has the range in her to play another type of role. The fact that most of her characters have been this type is what gets her a low spot on this list. I believe she can play other characters because the diversity she has brought to similar roles has been no less than impressive. Her performance in Junebug is an astounding achievement and if I had not seen her work in said film, she might not have made the list. In conclusion, Adams is great at what she does and brings more to her roles than most would but she has yet to make a break from her character type which signifies her place on this list.
33. Greta Gerwig
Age: 26
Seen her in: House and the Devil, Greenberg
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Greenberg
I have not seen any of Greta Gerwig’s mumblecore roles but I have seen her in two films which have made me place great confidence in not only her talent but her future career in film. She brings a heightened natural quality to her acting and a type of offbeat presence that is hard to ignore. She is the type of actress who gives performances that require repeat viewings to catch all of the subtleties. She had a supporting role in last years’ impressive horror film House of the Devil which alluded to her immense presence but her work in Greenberg is what establishes her as a true find.
32. Rebecca Hall
Age: 28
Seen her in: The Prestige, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Frost/Nixon, Red Riding Trilogy
Best Performance from What I've Seen: Red Riding Trilogy
Rebecca Hall has many great performances ahead of her. Her potential is endless. I have been following her career since seeing her in The Prestige which she gave emotional weight to. She also stole scenes in Vicky Cristina Barcelona and expressed a state of desperate sadness in Red Riding Trilogy. With a main role in Ben Affleck’s upcoming The Town, she is sure to continue her streak of noteworthy work.
[B]31. Scarlett Johansson
Age: 25
Seen her in: The Man Who Wasn't There, Ghost World, Lost in Translation, Girl with a Pearl Earring, Spongebob Squarepants Movie (voice), In Good Company, Match Point, The Black Dahlia, The Prestige, The Other Boleyn Girl, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, The Spirit, Iron Man 2, "A View from the Bridge" (on Broadway)
Best Performance from What I've Seen: "A View from the Bridge"
Scarlett Johansson is capable of great things but needs a great film to funnel her talent into. She has given bad performances most noticeably in The Black Dahlia, Iron Man 2 and especially a ghastly performance in The Spirit that needs to be seen to be believed (along with every other performance in that abysmal film). Despite all of this, she is a good actress and is capable of being a great one. I had the opportunity to see her on stage in her Tony Award winning performance in "A View from the Bridge". It was the best performance I have seen her give. It proves her talent. She has also given diverse and impressive performances in Ghost World, Lost in Translation, Girl with a Pearl Earring and Match Point which I believe pushed her farther than she has gone on film before. She needs more roles that push her forward as an actress. If she can do that and succeed, then she will one day move higher up on this list. She certainly has the potential to.
Horrorphile
I'm curious, are you going to feature many foreign actors ... I hope so.
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I really like Sarah Polley alot too, her part in Sweet Hereafter is astonishing.
Rebecca Hall has potential and I look forward to seeing more of Greta Gerwig.
For me the winner of the under 35 set would be Evan Rachael Wood, her performance in The Wrestler was amazing. But i know your limiting this list to the 31-35 year old set.
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I really like Evan Rachel Wood in True Blood. Her mistress of the dark, Queen with absolute power corrupted is enjoyably self involved and hedonistic. She has a talent for playing beyond her years that I think is utilized well in the show.
Did you see her in Pretty Persuasion? That was also a fun performance that I found notable too.
Horrorphile