Top 25 Actors Under 35: Part I
Coming up with a Top list is always going to be controversial especially when it comes to something as subjective as gauging acting talent. Certainly, there will be a lot of argument about whether so and so is worthy of such a spot or why a certain actor was omitted from the list. You should know right away that although I tried to be objective, this is only MY list (with added input from Red).
Note: Red had computer issues so he wasn’t able to contribute to this post.
Factors I took into account:
- Filmography: How the actor has performed over the course of his/her career is obviously the main factor
- Length of career: I’m a true believer that actors who have been putting good performances over a longer period of time should get the respect they are due. This is not a most promising young actor list and this is one of the aspect I have been clashing up with my good friend Red.
- Consistency: Any competent actor can give a great performance in the right situation and every actor goes through his/her ups and downs. I belong to the school of thought that a great actor can overcome poor material and come out looking at least competent every single time. Consistency is an important factor of great talent and this is heavily reflected in the ranking as well.
- Quality of Material: The flash in the pan filter. I have always put extra weight on actors who can take sub-par material and turn in a good performance because this is where “flash-in-the-pan actors” always show their limitations. I strongly believe it is a better gauge of talent than this collective “Ooohh!” and “Awwww!” when an actor does well in a showy role that is obviously oriented toward getting awards.
- Other factors: Box office success and critical reception are some of the other factors I may look at.
- Brownie points: Some actors are cooler than others, they get brownie points.
Go to The Top 25 Actress Under 35 >>
[25-21]
25. Sam Worthington
Castor: 2009 definitely was a good year for Sam Worthington, who became an overnight household names after starring in Terminator: Salvation and the highest grossing movie of all-time, James Cameron’s Avatar. Worthington will also star later this year in the thriller The Debt across Helen Mirren and the romantic drama Last Night with Keira Knightley where we should get a better gauge of his acting abilities outside action movies. In all, things are looking up for Mr. Worthington but will it last? The key for him will be to build a niche for himself, most likely as an action/thriller hero and become a reliable box office earner. He will also need to try to stretch his acting abilities outside the studio system and see if he can cut it as an actor and not a movie star if things don’t pan out.
24. Chris Evans
Castor: To be honest, I was a little stumped as to who I was going to put at #24 so why not have the upcoming Captain America here! Chris Evans has been around Hollywood for a few years now and although he hasn’t really made much of an impact so far, his star is starting to rise this year with movies like The Losers and Scott Pilgrims vs. The World giving him some much welcome exposure. Chris also appeared in both Fantastic Four movies and was arguably the best aspect of those mediocre movies. However, Evans’ big opportunity will be in Captain America: the First Avenger and Marvel is betting big that he will be able to shoulder the load on their upcoming flagship franchise (as many as 9 movies!). I think that Chris has a certain charm and charisma that should allow him to thrive in the role but it’s hard to judge how well he will fare since he never had the chance to really spread his wings.
23. Anton Yelchin
Castor: Having a hand in two of the biggest blockbusters of 2009 has catapulted Anton Yelchin’s stock to the moon. What is truly promising is that he was two completely different characters in each movies. In Star Trek, he was mostly used as comic relief using his boyish charm and Russian heritage to make his character unique and funny. In Terminator: Salvation, he had to play Kyle Reese and emulate Michael Biehn’s performance in The Terminator (1984). The big key for such a young actor as Yelchin will be for him to mature as an actor by taking on increasingly demanding roles outside the studio system while keeping his name in the spotlight with fares like the Star Trek sequel. It seems like this is the path he is taking so expect big things from 21-yr old Anton Yelchin.
22. Jim Sturgess
Castor: I came across Jim Sturgess back in 2007 with the musical Across the Universe. In it, he really gave the type of underrated performance that doesn’t come along very often. He sang, he danced, and he acted and there is very few actors who can do all three well in the business. More importantly, he showed excellent range within the movie, he was funny, charming, romantic, plucky, serious and soul-searching and that is what you want to see from a young actor. Best of all, he followed that up with a jarring performance in Fifty Dead Men Walking and a phenomenal turn in the middling horror drama Heartless. Jim Sturgess has a very bright future ahead of him especially if he can make the transition to Hollywood later down the road.
21. Seth Rogen
Castor: For a young up-and-coming actor, Seth Rogen does have an impressive resume. He has already been in a lot of movies in the last 3 years since his star-making roles in Knocked Up and then Superbad. Seth’s biggest strength has always been his extremely dry wit as a comedian. We have come to expect him to be this average-Joe who rarely ever takes himself seriously and is constantly aware that he is telling a joke. This is also his biggest weakness because he has to keep it fresh or audiences will eventually get tired of his repetitive shtick. So far, he has done a relatively good job of doing so, playing the straight man to Adam Sandler’s character in Funny People and James Franco’s eccentric character in Pineapple Express. One thing that would help Rogen would be for him to take on some dramatic roles and try his hands at something different. Nevertheless, niche comedians like Seth Rogen usually have a relatively long career so expect this Canadian actor to be around for a while!
27 Comments
This is going to be VERY interesting, because you’ve listed five who wouldn’t even be in my top 100. I think all five have promise (especially Sturgess) but I’ve never been wholly moved by a performance from any.
Ahaha well, happy to make it interesting Andrew
I have to say I was surprised that all these movie stars are nearly all in their 40′s.
I think all of these ar great except for Worthington… and they’ve all cemented themselves as successful working actors except for Sturgess. I don’t think he’s quite up to the level of his company yet!
None of these would make my top 100 either. I thought Seth Rogan was like 40 so that’s an eye opener.
I’m still hopeful for Worthington, but I want to see more expressions from his face… he’s too stoic from what I’ve seen so far. Sorry, no love for Rogen for me… in fact, I kind of avoid his movies (yes, even Knocked Up!) and that Green Hornett thing, blech. Why does Christoph Waltz have to be involved in it??
I only listed Yelchin on my list of under 25. And I did consider Evans for my list of under 30, but didn’t include him.
I agree with your comment above saying that movie stars are nearly all in their 40s, I feel I haven’t seen a young actor with that “Ooh, he’s going to be a movie star” quality that the batch of young actresses have.
Is this and the Top Actresses lists going to be a daily or a weekly thing?
it’s going to be completely random just to keep you on the edge of your seat!!!!!!!
LOL. Well, that’s a good plan. xP
Evans and Rogen both should probably be higher up, but I’m thrilled to see Yelchin get some deserved love for his most recent efforts. I can’t wait to see him in more films as his career advances.
Worthington for me hasn’t had that breakout career-defining performance yet, and he’s had a number of blockbusters in which to do that. Maybe he’s waiting for the right material. I certainly hope so.
Right now, the actress list is looking much, much stronger than the actor one.
And that’s because it is. It’s weird how actors take a lot more time to establish themselves. I never thought about it until now but when you see all those on-screen couple, there is often 10 or 15 years in age difference! Creepy lol
I hate to say it but the women are just better…damn them. People say it’s a gender bias though. Notice with award shows the women win young and the men win when they’re old.
I think it’s both Andrew. One part of me says it’s easier for women to emote and hence they are “better” but the reality is that there is strong gender bias in the industry. There is a lot fewer actresses older than 35 who are still getting consistent work.
Sam Worthington? Really?
Jim Sturgess is okay, but Anton Yelchin is adorable.
I love Anton Yelchin and Jim Sturgess, but don’t really rate the others… but then again I haven’t actually thought about who would be in my list, and my criteria is a lot more personal taste so I’ll probably come up with all these really obscure people who aren’t really top at all except in my books. LOL
Top 25 based on talent? Cuz then Sam Worthington shouldn’t be on here!
I have to agree with Kai. Worthington has yet to prove that he can really deliver on the acting front.
I take it you are not going to be happy to see Channing Tatum at #1
Nah, that’s cool. He was in Step Up 2 the Streets. haha… God, I Love that movie.
I love Jim Sturgess!
The jury is still out for me regarding Chris Evans. I admit he has a screen presence and is often entertaining but I want to see more work of his.
I love Chris Evans… he’s the poor man’s Ryan Reynolds!
For someone who says longer periods of time is the key, you sure have a lot of up-and-comers in your first post
Sure does and that should say something about how many male actors under 35 are out there who are already established movie stars. Very few…
Hmmm………..
I like the addition of Sam Worthington. He’s so new and so damn likable to me, that even putting out more crap like Clash Of The Titans won’t dissuade me from paying money to see him.
Chris Evans hasn’t been in anything remarkable, but I always like him. I loathed PUSH, but I made it through most of the film because he was damn charming.
Even though a lot of people didn’t like Terminator Salvation it was proof that Yelchin had a bright career ahead of him, and he redeemed himself from a less than awesome performance as Checkov in Star Trek………..which I suddenly feel compelled to watch right now.
I know nothing of Sturgess so he gets a pass by me on your impeccable taste, and I’m going right with Seth Rogen, and say wihtout any real concern for getting bashed that he is highly overrated, and just like Will Ferrell is best suited for a supporting role. I sincerely hope he proves me wrong with the Green Lantern, because I really do dig the guy, and I might be the only person who actually thought Observe and Report was hilarious.
I’m going to disregard your Worthington comments and assume your bipolar is acting up again! haha
Guess how many? Aw, come on, man, can’t I just have some?
Seth Rogen is a funny guy – when he’s playing a certain type of loser-come-slob. Can he play other types of roles, I’m not too sure.
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