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Naomi Ackie
Eric Ray Davidson
The force is strong:“My initiation into the cast was everyone pulling me aside and telling me how amazing it’s going to be and giving me tips,” she says. “There was huge amounts of encouragement.”
02of 18Kelvin Harrison Jr.Sami DrasinWhy he’s hot:The New Orleans native, 25, was a jazz musician before starting to act. “I was sneaking around to auditions,” he says. He’s since starred inLuceandGodfather of Harlem,plus the upcoming Oscar-buzzy dramaWaves.Random fans:“I was ordering Taco Bell, and I had a delivery person come up to me and go, ‘I sawIt Comes at Night!’ ”
02of 18
Kelvin Harrison Jr.
Sami Drasin
Why he’s hot:The New Orleans native, 25, was a jazz musician before starting to act. “I was sneaking around to auditions,” he says. He’s since starred inLuceandGodfather of Harlem,plus the upcoming Oscar-buzzy dramaWaves.
Random fans:“I was ordering Taco Bell, and I had a delivery person come up to me and go, ‘I sawIt Comes at Night!’ ”
03of 18Kim PetrasThom KerrWhy she’s hot:The 27-year-old German singer-songwriter — who has a cult following thanks to hits like “I Don’t Want It at All” — is on tour for her debut album,Clarity.A voice for change:“I was told that I’d always be a niche act because I’m transgender,” says Petras, who transitioned as a teenager. “I don’t want my career to be about my gender — I’ve worked too hard for that.”
03of 18
Kim Petras
Thom Kerr
Why she’s hot:The 27-year-old German singer-songwriter — who has a cult following thanks to hits like “I Don’t Want It at All” — is on tour for her debut album,Clarity.
A voice for change:“I was told that I’d always be a niche act because I’m transgender,” says Petras, who transitioned as a teenager. “I don’t want my career to be about my gender — I’ve worked too hard for that.”
04of 18Sophia LillisJon Kopaloff/GettyWhy she’s hot:The New Yorker, 17, starred in bothItfilms and played a young version of Amy Adams' character in HBO’sSharp Objects.“Maybe I’ll grow up and be an identical version of Amy Adams!” she says. She’ll face evil again in 2020’s filmGretel & Hanseland lead Netflix’s young adult seriesI Am Not Okay with This.Her chosen path:“My twin brother is going through the college process, and it seems stressful,” she says. “I’m happy I’m not doing that.”
04of 18
Sophia Lillis
Jon Kopaloff/Getty
Why she’s hot:The New Yorker, 17, starred in bothItfilms and played a young version of Amy Adams' character in HBO’sSharp Objects.“Maybe I’ll grow up and be an identical version of Amy Adams!” she says. She’ll face evil again in 2020’s filmGretel & Hanseland lead Netflix’s young adult seriesI Am Not Okay with This.
Her chosen path:“My twin brother is going through the college process, and it seems stressful,” she says. “I’m happy I’m not doing that.”
05of 18Lauren RidloffCurtis BrownWhy she’s hot:The Chicago-bornWalking Deadactress and Tony nominee, 41, will be the first deaf actor to play a Marvel superhero, oppositeAngelina JolieinThe Eternals.A moving mission:“I act to educate, to tell my story, to show that there is a beautiful signing community that is intersectional and imperfect and important,” she says.
05of 18
Lauren Ridloff
Curtis Brown
Why she’s hot:The Chicago-bornWalking Deadactress and Tony nominee, 41, will be the first deaf actor to play a Marvel superhero, oppositeAngelina JolieinThe Eternals.
A moving mission:“I act to educate, to tell my story, to show that there is a beautiful signing community that is intersectional and imperfect and important,” she says.
06of 18CNCOCNCO.Steven TaylorWhy they’re hot:The Latino quintet — comprising Christopher Vélez, 23, Zabdiel de Jesús, 21, Erick Brian Colón, 18, Richard Camacho, 22, and Joel Pimentel, 20 — is being called the new One Direction.Craziest encounter:“We looked up and saw fans in an air vent. It was super creepy, but we love that they took the risk to get a simple ‘hi,’ ” says Camacho.
06of 18
CNCO
CNCO.Steven Taylor
Why they’re hot:The Latino quintet — comprising Christopher Vélez, 23, Zabdiel de Jesús, 21, Erick Brian Colón, 18, Richard Camacho, 22, and Joel Pimentel, 20 — is being called the new One Direction.
Craziest encounter:“We looked up and saw fans in an air vent. It was super creepy, but we love that they took the risk to get a simple ‘hi,’ ” says Camacho.
07of 18Faithe HermanBirdie ThompsonThe San Diego native, now 11, first broke out as Sterling K. Brown’s daughter inThis Is Us,then the movieShazam!Next up is HBO’sWatchmen.When not on-set, she loves “baking with my sisters — cupcakes and cake and stuff!”
07of 18
Faithe Herman
Birdie Thompson
The San Diego native, now 11, first broke out as Sterling K. Brown’s daughter inThis Is Us,then the movieShazam!Next up is HBO’sWatchmen.When not on-set, she loves “baking with my sisters — cupcakes and cake and stuff!”
08of 18Manuel Garcia-RulfoJeff Lipsky/NetflixWhy he’s hot:He’s a star in his native Mexico, but Guadalajara-born Garcia-Rulfo, 39, says he isn’tfamousfamous there. “They only care about the soap stars,” he says. “Maybe I need to do a soap!”Action hero:With his U.S. career taking off, he joins Ryan Reynolds in the Michael Bay thriller6 Underground,out in December. “It was so fun,” he says. “Explosions everywhere!”
08of 18
Manuel Garcia-Rulfo
Jeff Lipsky/Netflix
Why he’s hot:He’s a star in his native Mexico, but Guadalajara-born Garcia-Rulfo, 39, says he isn’tfamousfamous there. “They only care about the soap stars,” he says. “Maybe I need to do a soap!”
Action hero:With his U.S. career taking off, he joins Ryan Reynolds in the Michael Bay thriller6 Underground,out in December. “It was so fun,” he says. “Explosions everywhere!”
09of 18
Nesta Cooper
Heather Gildroy
Meeting the big guy:A hugeGame of Thronesfan, she admits she was “nervous” to work with Momoa — until they met. “He’s like a human teddy bear,” she says. “He gave me a big hug, and after that it was all good.”
10of 18Roman Griffin DavisCeleste SlomanThe British 12-year-old makes his big-screen debut as Scarlett Johansson’s son in the Oscar hopefulJojo Rabbit,a dark comedy about Nazi Germany. “He’s just a great kid,” says Johansson.
10of 18
Roman Griffin Davis
Celeste Sloman
The British 12-year-old makes his big-screen debut as Scarlett Johansson’s son in the Oscar hopefulJojo Rabbit,a dark comedy about Nazi Germany. “He’s just a great kid,” says Johansson.
11of 18
Ari Lennox
Eva Zar
Leap of faith:Lennox quit her job at a public storage facility to take a meeting with rapper J. Cole in L.A. She’s now signed to his Dreamville label. “It’s been great,” she says. “I’m so inspired.”
12of 18Hero Fiennes-TiffinSwan Gallet/WWD/ShutterstocWhy he’s hot:The British actor, 21, played a young Voldemort inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,and starred in the romanceAfter,with a sequel due out next year.Famous family:His uncles, veteran stars Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, “are always busy acting so I barely see them much, but they are so supportive,” he says.
12of 18
Hero Fiennes-Tiffin
Swan Gallet/WWD/Shutterstoc
Why he’s hot:The British actor, 21, played a young Voldemort inHarry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,and starred in the romanceAfter,with a sequel due out next year.
Famous family:His uncles, veteran stars Ralph and Joseph Fiennes, “are always busy acting so I barely see them much, but they are so supportive,” he says.
13of 18
Sherry Cola
Shanna Fisher
Living her dream:“Comedy was always a passion,” says Cola, whose family emigrated from China. “But I didn’t see myself represented, so I didn’t see it as a possible career at first.”
14of 18Anthony RamosEric JohnsonWhy he’s hot:The Brooklyn native, 27, was in the original Broadway cast ofHamiltonand playedLady Gaga’s best friend inA Star Is Born. Now his debut album,The Good & The Bad,drops Oct. 25 — and he’ll star in the film adaptation of theLin-Manuel MirandamusicalIn the Heights,due out next year.Stage to screen to studio:“Hamiltonwas a huge turning point for me,” he says. “I met my fiancée [actress Jasmine Cephas Jones], and that’s where my music really started to take off. I’m thankful to have different avenues where I can combine my acting with my music. Acting is always going to be a huge part of my life, but right now music is my focus — I love it.”
14of 18
Anthony Ramos
Eric Johnson
Why he’s hot:The Brooklyn native, 27, was in the original Broadway cast ofHamiltonand playedLady Gaga’s best friend inA Star Is Born. Now his debut album,The Good & The Bad,drops Oct. 25 — and he’ll star in the film adaptation of theLin-Manuel MirandamusicalIn the Heights,due out next year.
Stage to screen to studio:“Hamiltonwas a huge turning point for me,” he says. “I met my fiancée [actress Jasmine Cephas Jones], and that’s where my music really started to take off. I’m thankful to have different avenues where I can combine my acting with my music. Acting is always going to be a huge part of my life, but right now music is my focus — I love it.”
15of 18Quinta BrunsonThe Riker BrothersWhy she’s hot:She’s been a popular Buzzfeed comic for years, but HBO’sA Black Lady Sketch Showis earning Philadelphia-born Brunson, 29, new fans. “People now see I can also act,” she says.Born funny:“I was the youngest of five. Growing up with older siblings makes you a quippy kid!”
15of 18
Quinta Brunson
The Riker Brothers
Why she’s hot:She’s been a popular Buzzfeed comic for years, but HBO’sA Black Lady Sketch Showis earning Philadelphia-born Brunson, 29, new fans. “People now see I can also act,” she says.
Born funny:“I was the youngest of five. Growing up with older siblings makes you a quippy kid!”
16of 18Morgan WallenJohn ShearerWhy he’s hot:The Sneedville, Tennessee, native, 26, has notched two No. 1 country hits: “Whiskey Glasses” and theFlorida Georgia Linecollab “Up Down.”Mullet man:“When my dad was my age, he had a mullet, and I wanted to try it,” he says of his trademark haircut. “Now dudes show up to my concerts with mullets and cutoff flannels!”
16of 18
Morgan Wallen
John Shearer
Why he’s hot:The Sneedville, Tennessee, native, 26, has notched two No. 1 country hits: “Whiskey Glasses” and theFlorida Georgia Linecollab “Up Down.”
Mullet man:“When my dad was my age, he had a mullet, and I wanted to try it,” he says of his trademark haircut. “Now dudes show up to my concerts with mullets and cutoff flannels!”
17of 18Florence PughSwan Gallet/WWD/ShutterstockWhy she’s hot:After breaking out earlier this year with her filmsFighting with My FamilyandMidsommar,the Brit, 23, will play Amy March in the Oscar contenderLittle Womenand star with Scarlett Johansson in 2020’sBlack Widow.“I was always loud and loved attention,” she says of getting into acting.Feisty femme:She adored playingLittle Women’s Amy. “There’s a little devil in me that always loves a slightly bratty, annoying sibling role,” she says. “She’s so delicious and naughty — I had a lot of fun with her.”
17of 18
Florence Pugh
Swan Gallet/WWD/Shutterstock
Why she’s hot:After breaking out earlier this year with her filmsFighting with My FamilyandMidsommar,the Brit, 23, will play Amy March in the Oscar contenderLittle Womenand star with Scarlett Johansson in 2020’sBlack Widow.“I was always loud and loved attention,” she says of getting into acting.
Feisty femme:She adored playingLittle Women’s Amy. “There’s a little devil in me that always loves a slightly bratty, annoying sibling role,” she says. “She’s so delicious and naughty — I had a lot of fun with her.”
18of 18Noah JupeStefanie Keenan/Getty ImagesHe’s only 14, but the British actor has already worked with A-listers including George Clooney inSuburbicon,Julia Roberts inWonderand Emily Blunt and John Krasinski inA Quiet Place.Up next?Ford v Ferrariwith Matt Damon and Christian Bale.
18of 18
Noah Jupe
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images
He’s only 14, but the British actor has already worked with A-listers including George Clooney inSuburbicon,Julia Roberts inWonderand Emily Blunt and John Krasinski inA Quiet Place.Up next?Ford v Ferrariwith Matt Damon and Christian Bale.
source: people.com
