# Actors (either gender) under 40 who can be considered A-List **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 23, 2015, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697 "2015-01-23T18:15:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/61 "2015-01-25T02:33:22Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Perhaps modifiable to “Best performance by a forest product _with nice limbs_.” 😉 Scarlett was perfectly cast in _Under the Skin_, playing a character struggling to understand and mimic human emotions. . ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/62 "2015-01-25T03:35:02Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > While the term A-List used to be for party invites, that’s not how people currently use the phrase and it’s definitely not how it’s described in that book. One definition I’ve heard is that an A-List star is somebody who can get a movie made just be agreeing to star in it. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/63 "2015-01-25T05:37:41Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > seems a little bit light for movies. does that mean that the cast of the Big Bang Theory qualifies? A million seems a bit light for, like, Schwarzenegger, Stallone or Willis in their prime (20-30 years ago), but B- and C-listers routinely show up for a lot less. And I suspect that a lot of the “big names” attached to **The Expendables** 1, 2 and 3 did it for six figures and were damned happy to be there. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2015, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/64 "2015-01-25T05:53:16Z")
The newest Hollywood power couple comes close on both fronts: Mila Kunis Ashton Kutcher Mila more than Ashton, I think, and even she might fall a bit short. But not by much. We’ll see how big her star is when _Jupiter Ascending_ opens next month. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/65 "2015-01-26T10:38:27Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > While we’re at it, the other two Marvel Chrises, Evans and Pratt, are also under 40. I don’t know if Evans is quite A-list, but Pratt starred in not one but two of the most profitable movies of 2014, which seems like a pretty solid qualification. I’m gonna second Pratt here. A lot of people might say “A comic book superhero movie doesn’t count, those sell on the basis of the character alone.” But _Guardians of the Galaxy_ isn’t exactly a household name comic book, and lots of characters that are–_Hulk, Punisher, Catwoman_–can’t seem to get out of first gear. Pratt was definitely a big selling point to _Guardians_ and has gotten quite a fan base as a result of it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/66 "2015-01-26T16:39:29Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **IvoryTowerDenizen** : > > Winter’s Bone was her first lead role, prior to X-men (so then, prior to Hunger Games). Silver Linings Playbook (she won an Oscar for that) came out the same year as the first Hunger Games movie. She was already branched out before Hunger Games took off. It’s just that, whenever there’s a news story or something about her, she’s introduced as “Jennifer Lawrence, star of _The Hunger Games_”, or the like. Her other roles don’t seem to be mentioned as much. I mean, I guess I can understand why, given that that’s the role that has been seen by gazillions of people and made ten gazillion dollars, but it seems to give short shrift to her other roles. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/67 "2015-01-26T18:40:22Z")
I don’t know about that. I think I hear her referenced as “Oscar Winner Jennifer Lawrence” almost as much as “Star of Hunger Games…” Another name I thought of is Keira Knightley. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/68 "2015-01-26T23:14:42Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > That link includes a “Look Inside” option, here’s what you can see for free: > > **A+ List** > > 1. Julia Roberts > 2. Tom Hanks > 3. Tom Cruise > 4. Mel Gibson (how old is this thing?) > > The rest can be put together by viewing the [Paperback “Look Inside” link](http://www.amazon.com/James-Ulmers-Hollywood-Hot-List/dp/0312253958). Julia Roberts is on page 14 and everyone else falls in line after that. The Mel Gibson part is funny, he is actually 59, looks terrible though. Julia Roberts is the youngest on that list, and she is close to 50. Hanks is also about to turn 60 next year, and Cruise is 52. But you knew that already. I agree those are A List celebs no doubt about it. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/69 "2015-01-26T23:18:25Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > The newest Hollywood power couple comes close on both fronts: > > Mila Kunis > Ashton Kutcher > > Mila more than Ashton, I think, and even she might fall a bit short. But not by much. We’ll see how big her star is when _Jupiter Ascending_ opens next month. I don’t know about that, pretty famous but does Mila Kunis have any memorable movies to her credit? She and her husband are the most successful of the “That 70’S Show” cast, but I would not place Kunis at A List just yet. Ashton would be bigger, but other than the Steve Jobs role, nothing really sticks recently. He used to do many comedies. Neither are A List. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/70 "2015-01-26T23:21:07Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > The ones who meet that and the three other conditions, sure. I’m sure there’s a Kaley Kuoco rom-com in the works. Kaley Kuoco(correct spelling or is it with a “C”) is NOT A list, at least not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/71 "2015-01-27T16:31:14Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > I don’t know about that, pretty famous but does Mila Kunis have any memorable movies to her credit? Black Swan? But I would agree she is a bit short of A list. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/72 "2015-01-27T17:14:36Z")
When I think of Black Swan, I always think of Portman, not Kunis. I’m not sure which of the two was actually the lead, but if it was Kunis, she (or her publicists) must not have done a good enough job at it. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/73 "2015-01-27T17:33:50Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When I think of Black Swan, I always think of Portman, not Kunis. I’m not sure which of the two was actually the lead, but if it was Kunis, she (or her publicists) must not have done a good enough job at it. Natalie Portman was the lead in “Black Swan”. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/74 "2015-01-27T20:08:09Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > I think the defining elements of an A-lister are: > –$1million or more per picture > –Over-the-title billing > –Movies do or don’t get made largely on the actor’s involvement > –The actor’s phone calls to major directors and producers are taken or returned promptly > > Which of these elements doesn’t apply to Emma Watson? Even DeNiro makes the occasional _Stardust_. I’d say Emma Watson’s on a trajectory to be A-list, but maybe isn’t there right yet. She’ll have to be leading lady in a few successful films first, and hasn’t really done that just yet. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/75 "2015-01-27T21:31:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When I think of Black Swan, I always think of Portman, not Kunis. I’m not sure which of the two was actually the lead, but if it was Kunis, she (or her publicists) must not have done a good enough job at it. Without a doubt, Portman was the lead. But the question was if Kunis had any memorable movies to her credit. I should have mentioned that it was in a supporting role, but still, Black Swan is a pretty good movie. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/76 "2015-01-27T21:45:03Z")
imho being A-list is not some sort of award you get for being the lead in an x number of successful films - you’re on it when studios _want_ you to headline their +100 million dollar movies, specifically because you’re perceived as the main marketing draw. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/77 "2015-01-27T23:04:20Z")
But those two are closely tied together: If you’re in a bunch of really successful movies, it won’t take long for the Hollywood powers that be to decide that maybe there’s a reason those movies were successful. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/78 "2015-01-29T10:21:03Z")
> [@Nema98](#): > > I don’t know about that, pretty famous but does Mila Kunis have any memorable movies to her credit? She and her husband are the most successful of the “That 70’S Show” cast, but I would not place Kunis at A List just yet. > > Ashton would be bigger, but other than the Steve Jobs role, nothing really sticks recently. He used to do many comedies. > > Neither are A List. Mila Kunis was in one of those “lad mags” (either **Stuff** or **Maxim** ) once, like 15 years ago, and she seemed poised for greater things even then. She may have hung on the vine too long. They said that because of her slight Ukrainian accent, she’d be great as a Bond girl. I guess if great things were gonna happen with her, they’d have happened by now. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/79 "2015-01-29T11:01:03Z")
i think being the lead in a multi-million dollar movie is greater than being featured as a Bond Girl… ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697/80 "2015-01-29T11:26:39Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > Mila Kunis was in one of those “lad mags” (either **Stuff** or **Maxim** ) once, like 15 years ago, and she seemed poised for greater things even then. She may have hung on the vine too long. They said that because of her slight Ukrainian accent, she’d be great as a Bond girl. I guess if great things were gonna happen with her, they’d have happened by now. She’s headlining a $175 million sci-fi “blockbuster” (at least the studio sure hopes it is) from the Wachowski brothers (er, siblings?) opening next Friday called Jupiter Ascending. Early reviews from Sundance aren’t good, but even if (when) it tanks, just her being the headliner in such a major motion picture puts her close to the A-List. When it bombs, though, we coule probably cross her name off the list. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/actors-either-gender-under-40-who-can-be-considered-a-list/710697.md?page=5)