30 Under 30 - Young Hollywood's Finest

by Chuck Walton

They're bold, they're beautiful, and they're really, really young. You never know who will be the next Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts, but one thing's for sure: the industry always has plenty of heir apparents clamoring for the throne. Here's a look at 30, under 30, of Young Hollywood's current reigning royalty.

Megan Fox, Age: 22

She was the hottie in Transformers, and she'll be making lots of viewers salivate again in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Michael Bay's direction for her...look hot. Somehow, we're sure that won't be a problem.

Keira Knightley, Age: 23

She's tried her hand at the big blockbusters with three Pirates under her belt, but seems most comfortable in period pieces like Pride and Prejudice, Atonement and the upcoming The Duchess. That's fine by us. We'll watch her in any era.

Jim Sturgess, Age: 27

It never hurts to be the next Paul McCartney. Just ask Jim Sturgess, who sang the Fab Four's tunes in Across the Universe, became a teen sensation, and hit it again in 21 (pun intended). Up next: the all-star ensemble (including Sean Penn and Harrison Ford) Crossing Over.

Hayden Panitierre, Age: 18

Don't let her age fool you. Hayden, the cheerleader star of Heroes, has been acting, modeling and singing for years. She was even nominated for a Grammy in 1999 for A Bug's Life Readalong.

Channing Tatum, Age: 28

Tatum's more than mere beefcake. The guy's got serious acting chops, too, on full display in A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints and last spring's underappreciated war drama Stop Loss.

Ellen Page, Age: 21

She's everyone's favorite impending teen mommy, but Juno star Page is also a hard-core thespian, one who eschews dresses for jeans, wears sneakers over pumps, and has four movies coming out in the next two years.

Michael Cera, Age: 20

Is Michael Cera really that good, or is he just playing himself? Whatever it is, he's fascinating to watch. As the nerd hero in Superbad and Juno, Cera broke the mold for what's 'cool' in leading teen dudes. This fall, catch him as another likeable loser in Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist.

Abigail Breslin, Age: 12

Kit Kittredge wasn't exactly a blockbuster up against big Will in Hancock, but don't count out youngster Abigail Breslin just yet. She held her own opposite Jodie Foster in the family adventure Nim's Island and was, after all, nominated for an Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine.

Daniel Radcliffe, Age: 18

After five Harry Potter films, who knows if audiences will ever see Daniel Radcliffe as anything other than their favorite wizard with a fancy birthmark. But, Radcliffe still has plenty of time to enjoy the ride. The next installment flys into theaters just in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

Blake Lively, Age: 20

She's currently the toast of the gen next town as the star of TV's Gossip Girl, but the big screen's no stranger to Lively either, who co-starred in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, and returns to the role in the upcoming sequel.

Shia LaBeouf, Age: 22

Young Hollywood's reigning superstar, LaBeouf hit it big last year in Disturbia and Transformers. This year, he was Indy's son in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, and appears in this fall's spy thriller Eagle Eye. The appeal: he looks as comfortable starring in an A-list project as he would updating his MySpace page.

Camilla Belle, Age: 21

Just because she starred opposite Daniel Day-Lewis a few years back in the weeper The Ballad of Jack and Rose doesn't mean she's a stuck-up indie snob. Camilla Belle also put in time in the teen slasher pic When a Stranger Calls and Roland Emmerich's popcorn caveman flick 10,000 B.C.

Emile Hirsch, Age: 23

O.k., so Speed Racer bombed. But was that really Emile Hirsch's fault? For those who still think the Into the Wild star delivers the goods, look for him next alongside Wild director Sean Penn in the Harvey Milk biopic, Milk.

America Ferrera, Age: 24

First on the scene in the indie gem Real Women Have Curves, Ferrera has since used her charm and talents to make a big splash in the industry, earning a Golden Globe for her performance on TV's Ugly Betty, and a spot on Time Magazine's 2007 list, "The 100 Most Influential People in the World."

Vanessa Anne Hudgens, Age: 19

She's an actress and singer who starred in the Disney Channel's High School Musical movies. In other words, if you're 19 or younger, you've heard of her. Up next, a (surprise!) starring role in High School Musical 3.

Jay Baruchel, Age: 26

He's usually the lanky, goofy sidekick kid in movies like Million Dollar Baby. But he showed leading man depth in I'm Reed Fish, and has been a regular part of the Apatow crowd in the TV series Undeclared and the hit comedy Knocked Up. See Jay run, and do other things, in Tropic Thunder.

Jonah Hill, Age: 24

Jonah Hill, in Superbad, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, and The 40 Year Old Virgin proves two things. He's mega funny. And just because you don't look like a movie star doesn't mean you aren't one.

Amanda Bynes, Age 22

She's been a staple on TV since the mid 1990s, and made a successful crossover to movies as loyal friend Penny Pingleton in Hairspray. She also provided a vocal recently to the ultra-cool cartoon Family Guy.

Zac Efron, Age: 20

He's been on the cover of Rolling Stone and made a splash at the box office as cool kid Link Larkin in Hairspray. But for those in the know (i.e. - anyone who's still reading this), Efron is first and foremost the star of High School Musical. On October 24, 2008, get ready. Millions of screaming pre-teens will be raiding your movie theater to witness High School Musical 3: Senior Year.

Scarlett Johansson, Age: 23

She may be in her early '20s, but Scar-Jo has already built up an impressive resume (except for possibly that singing career). She's one of the most in-demand actresses of any age group, and is a regular muse for director Woody Allen. Up next: Allen's three-way comedy Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and the Frank Miller-directed, comic book adaptation of Will Eisner's The Spirit.

Brittany Snow, Age: 22

Another Hairspray alum (she played the villainous Amber Von Tussle), Snow scored a surprise number one opener with last spring's slasher flick remake Prom Night. Currently on deck for this Tampa Bay native is the indie flick The Vicious Kind.

Michael Angarano, Age: 20

Some might remember him as Sid in Lords of Dogtown. Others may recall the little kid version of William Miller in Almost Famous. Nowadays, Angarano's busy dating fellow YH phenom Kristen Stewart, and filming Gentlemen Broncos for Napoleon Dynamite helmer Jared Hess.

Kristen Bell, Age: 27

Real-life TV star Kristen Bell was spot-on as fictional TV star Sarah Marshall, playing an actress worried about her transition to the big screen. The real actress doesn't need to worry. She's already locked up roles in two rom coms...Meg Ryan's Serious Moonlight and the Dax Shephard- Will Arnett project When in Rome.

Emma Roberts, Age: 17

Julia's niece has already taken a few steps in her famous aunt's direction. After starring in the Nickelodeon series Unfabulous, Roberts appeared in both Aquamarine and Nancy Drew. She also released an album called Unfabulous and More. Dad is actor Eric Roberts. Stepdad is bassist Kelly Nickels, formerly of the '80s hair metal band L.A. Guns.

Milo Ventimiglia, Age: 31

Technically, Milo shouldn't be on this list, but our 29th pick includes multiple celebs, and Milo just turned 31, so there you go. Besides playing Peter Petrelli on NBC's Heroes, you might recognize Milo as 'ol Rock's son, in Rocky Balboa. Currently, Ventimiglia's on location shooting the actioner Armored with another former Young Hollywod great-Matt Dillon.

Kristen Stewart, Age: 18

Like Abigail Breslin, Kristen Stewart has also starred opposite Jodie Foster (in the thriller Panic Room). Since then, she's kept busy in several films, most notably playing a hippie teen in Into the Wild. Her career is likely to keep heating up with the release of this winter's Twilight, based on the bestselling vampire love story.

Miley Cyrus, Age: 15

Singer/actress Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, ranks right up there with NKOTB and the Cabbage Patch Dolls as a genuine "tween phenomenon." Her Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert played in theaters, so we suppose she's also a movie star, too. Or at least, a star in movie theaters.

The Jonas Brothers, Ages: 15 - 20

Since The Jonas Brothers opened up for Miley for the show that played in theaters, we'll throw them in here, too. Disney has contracted them to act in several Disney Channel Original Movies, so the line between TV, concerts, and big screen movies will only be more and more blurred. Welcome to the new multimedia, multi-platform generation.

Olivia Thirlby, Age: 21

You loved her sass in Juno, and you've already heard good buzz about her role as the pot-smoking girl from New York in The Wackness. More good news: Thirlby's set to reunite with Juno star Ellen Page in the upcoming project, Jack and Diane.

Joseph-Gordon Levitt, Age: 27

Once upon a time, he was the little kid opposite grown-up alien John Lithgow in 3rd Rock from the Sun. A decade later, he's turned into one of indie films' greatest actors, playing his characters and the material just right in projects like Brick, Mysterious Skin and The Lookout. Levitt's also got a high profile role upcoming...that of ultimate terrorist bad guy, Cobra Commander, in the big-screen G.I. Joe. Go Joe! Or was it Yo Joe?