# What under-30 actors will still be working a decade from now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 18, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210 "2015-08-18T20:34:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/41 "2015-08-20T19:46:01Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > … and that’s not working how, exactly? I was kind of interpreting the OP as meaning “A-list” work. Because, if you think about it, how many 20-something actors and actresses have literally fallen off the face of the earth? If we went back 10 years, to actors/actresses born between 1975 and 1985, the vast majority are still working in some capacity. From what I can tell, the question ought to be “Who WON’T be working?” It’s really hard, even looking at actors known for a single performance who are in their 40s, to find some that just literally dropped off the face of the earth. Most who were of any repute, who fell out of the limelight ended up going into film character acting, or doing supporting or character roles on TV. ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/42 "2015-08-20T19:59:23Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > I still can’t decide whether Kristen Stewart is a good actress or not. See _The Runaways_. She shouldn’t be blamed for the fact that her character in those \*Twilight \*movies was so poorly written, ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2015, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/43 "2015-08-20T20:07:26Z")
> [@bump](#): > > It’s really hard, even looking at actors known for a single performance who are in their 40s, to find some that just literally dropped off the face of the earth. Most who were of any repute, who fell out of the limelight ended up going into film character acting, or doing supporting or character roles on TV. Yeah, that’s be a shorter list: super-talented people who dropped out. Joe Pesci, for example. For the younger crowd, Jack Gleeson. ---
**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:** [August 20, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/44 "2015-08-20T23:27:01Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > I still can’t decide whether Kristen Stewart is a good actress or not. She seems to have talent, but she appears so uncomfortable with it. I figure she’ll either find that perfect role that earns her an Oscar nod or she’ll disappear to Alaska and never be heard from again. > [@gaffa](#): > > See _The Runaways_. She shouldn’t be blamed for the fact that her character in those \*Twilight \*movies was so poorly written, She was also excellent in _Welcome to the Rileys_. And while I haven’t seen it, she won a Cesar (the French equivalent of the Oscar) for her role in _Clouds of Sils Maria_. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/45 "2015-08-21T03:28:58Z")
The first American actress to do so, I believe. I didn’t care for Sils Maria all that much, but the the best things about it were Stewart and the scenery. KS definitely belongs on this thread’s list. She made enough money from Twilight that she can take whatever roles she wants and work with anyone she wants. She has several upcoming films, none will make much money, none will be widely seen, but she’ll be envied and admired like crazy. She’s working again with Olivier Assayas, will be in the next Ang Lee, Kelly Reichardt, and Woody Allen films, as well as an indie with Nicholas Hoult, Guy Pearce, Jacki Weaver and another up & comer, Bel Powley, who has just started her own promising film career with Diary of a Teenage Girl (which I wasn’t crazy about, but she was great in it, a very charismatic presence). Kristen has a long line of people she wants to work with, and an even longer line of people who want to work with her. I’d say both lists would be even longer 10 years from now. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2015, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/46 "2015-08-21T13:57:19Z")
Scarlett Johansson, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, Selena Gomez and lots more but my phone is on 15% power. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/47 "2015-08-22T19:12:55Z")
Also, a part of me would like to think Katy Perry, but that’s mostly because a part of me would like to think Katy Perry. Emma Watson, but Dear Og I’d hate to loose a Great UN Spokesperson just because I was selfish and wanted to see her in film. Also, why can’t I say Amy Adams? It’s a fun name to say… it rolls off the tongue : Amy Adams. C’mon, say it with me now: Amy…Ad…ams… ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/48 "2015-08-22T19:38:23Z")
> [@Count\_Blucher](#): > > Also, why can’t I say Amy Adams? I love Amy Adams. Great example of someone who started out doing bit “cute girl” parts who grew into a versatile, top-notch actor ( or at least worked hard enough her talent was finally allowed to be seen ). But c’mon man - she’s in her forties :). ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/49 "2015-08-22T19:53:54Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > But c’mon man - she’s in her forties :). Oh, don’t think of her as in her forties. Think of her as having done her twenties… and now she’s doing them all again… Backwards…! :eek: 😃 * * * PS- Can’t Believe No one said Kat Dennings. Funny, talented, genius whose damn sexy\*. \*when you say “damn”, you’re probably looking at her… ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/50 "2015-08-23T04:26:31Z")
I’ll take a flyer on [Eden Sher](http://cdn01.cdn.justjaredjr.com/wp-content/uploads/pictures/2012/11/eden-amas/eden-sher-2012-amas-06.jpg). Given that Sue from _The Middle_ is something of a caricature, the fact that she’s been able to convey some real character development shows decent acting chops. I could be wrong, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see her in a less-mannered role as she gets a little older. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/51 "2015-08-23T04:29:37Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Is she the little girl who got burned at the stake? Reported as a violation of the GoT spoiler rules. > [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Use your own judgment, man. I am not the boss of you. Since when? Other than that I have nothing for this thread. I must see some more-recent movies because I haven’t seen very nearly any of these actors. I recall seeing Jennifer Lawrence on some game show and falling in love, though. Emma Watson still looks like she’s Jeremy Irons’ daughter, but I only saw her elsewhere in that stupid end of the world movie. I haven’t gotten used to Daniel Radcliffe when he doesn’t wear glasses; some people have faces made for eyewear. All I know about Kristen Stewart is how vacuous she looked in Twilight and the surrounding interview shows; **SaharaTea** may have nailed it mentioning her discomfort. And Hailee Steinfeld was a wonder in True Grit. Definite staying power. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/52 "2015-08-23T19:57:00Z")
I think Jenna Coleman (Clara on _Doctor Who_) will be around a while. She’s a pretty good actress, she’s adorable, and British TV seems a lot more forgiving of actresses getting older. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/53 "2015-08-23T20:28:31Z")
After seeing American Ultra last night I’m even more firmly convinced that Kristin Stewart will be around for a long, long time. She was fantastic, in the kind of role I’d not seen her in before. We loved the movie. Btw, she WAS vacuous as Bella in Twilight, but that’s because BELLA, as written, was vacuous. No other actress could have breathed more life into that character because until the last movie, the character was devoid of life, and was rarely anything but a whiny little bitch. It took her becoming a vampire, an undead, to find her spark of life. I actually liked Bella in the last Twilight whereas before that I continually wanted to slap some sense into her, slap her awake (Bella, not Kristin, who I’ve always liked and the only reason I suffered through the Twilight movies in the first place). ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2015, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/54 "2015-08-23T21:20:44Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > **Saoirse Ronan** without a doubt will continue to work. She is just amazing. She was my first thought at seeing this thread. She’s terrific. She tends to choose interesting roles. She’s been in some good movies and some pretty awful ones (_The Host_–another abomination from the author of _Twilight_), but she’s worth watching. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/55 "2015-08-27T09:36:02Z")
Jennifer Lawrence, she is a fine actress, but too much a flavour of the month type for me, in an era where quirky, emo, pretty girls seem to be in. Thats also her range. Will it be common in 2025? I actually think Blake Lively might still get good work. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210/56 "2025-12-08T14:11:07Z")
Bumping this because it’s 2025 and the Golden Globe nominations just got announced, and so that’s, what, Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone, and Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, and Jesse Plemons and Michael B. Jordan, and Amanda Seyfried and Jeremy Allen White, and so on, and it seemed like this was as good a time as any to dust off this thread… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-under-30-actors-will-still-be-working-a-decade-from-now/728210.md?page=2)