Several young actors have formed an imprint on the film landscape over the last couple of years, as is the norm.
But two actors immediately stand apart from their peers and must be acknowledged.
Honourable Mentions - Lucas Hedges, Haley Lu Richardson, Tom Holland, Kaitlyn Dever
They are both prodigiously talented, have found tremendous success at a young age, and they were both in Greta Gerwig’s Little Women.
They are Florence Pugh and Timothee Chalamet. Take note, because you’ll be seeing and hearing those names for many years to come.
It feels nearly unlawful to talk of Greta Gerwig, Little Women and Chalamet without having Saoirse Ronan in the mix – but she’s 25.
Pugh, who first came to my attention in a modest yet meaningful part in 2018’s historical drama Outlaw King, has just had a breakout year to end all breakout years.
She began 2019 with a pugnacious performance in Fighting with My Family, a biographical sports dramedy about the former WWE wrestler Paige.
Pugh carried the film on her petite shoulders. The charming film was greeted with glowing reviews and was a sleeper hit.
And then came the one-two punch of Midsommar and Little Women, and things took a turn.
Pugh went from ‘good young actress’ to ‘Goodness, are you seeing this woman perform? She’s incredible!’
Over those 12 months, one thing became amply clear – Florence Pugh is a bit special.
I’m as ardent an admirer of Saoirse Ronan as they come, but I felt Pugh gave the best performance in Little Woman – she was a supernova.
Florence Pugh will return in Black Widow – a film that is likely to signal her break into mainstream superstardom. Pew Pew Pew!
Timothee Chalamet has been earmarked as the next Leonardo DiCaprio.
He gave, in my opinion, the best performance of 2017 - he was breathtakingly brilliant in Call Me by Your Name.
He was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for that performance at 22, making him the youngest nominee since 1939.
And to think just 4 years ago he was playing Matthew McConaughey’s son in Interstellar.
Chalamet continued his hot streak with the likes of Lady Bird, Beautiful Boy and Little Women.
His shot at superstardom will hopefully arrive later this year. He is leading one of 2020s most anticipated movies – Denis Villeneuve’s Dune.
To echo my opening thoughts, there are a lot of young actors who probably deserve to be named. But Pugh and Chalamet are a league above.
Their raw talent is unmistakable and perhaps more pertinently, they make the right choices and star in films that let them flaunt their gifts.
Remember their names.
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