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25 Under 25: Hollywood's Hottest Young Stars

The 25 Hottest Actors Under 25

    Fame and success can be fleeting in Hollywood -- just ask the Coreys. So which young stars of 2008 will still be entertaining us in 2018, or even 2028? Moviefone presents our second annual list of the 25 hottest actors under the age of 25. From the super-famous (Keira Knightley, Shia LaBeouf) to stars just on the rise (Amanda Seyfried, Anton Yelchin), see who's making waves today, who made our list last year and who's proving they've got the talent to prosper well past tomorrow.

    WireImage / Getty Images (3)

    Megan Fox

    Age: 22

    Years on List: 2007-2008

    What She's Done: Besides heating up the screen in 'Transformers,' Fox has positioned herself as a saucy sex symbol -- her Maxim cover was a scorcher.

    What's Next: This fall's comedy 'How to Lose Friends and Alienate People'; 'Whore' (really), 'Jennifer's Body' (a comedy horror penned by 'Juno' scribe Diablo Cody); and 'Transformers 2.'

    Industry Buzz: "I honestly believe that Megan is here to stay, says Robert Weide, director of 'How to Lose Friends.' She'll constantly surprise people by her range. Anyone who thinks she's just a pretty face is going to be surprised in the same way they were when Michelle Pfeiffer proved she really was an actress."

    Jason Merritt, FilmMagic.com

    Michael Cera

    Age: 20

    Years on List: 2007-2008

    What He's Done: Cera made the leap from TV star ('Arrested Development') to box office draw with the raunch-fest 'Superbad' and the Oscar-nominated 'Juno' in '07.

    What's Next: He'll follow up October's 'Superbad' with starring roles in 'Year One,' 'Youth in Revolt' and 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.'

    Industry Buzz: "With 'Arrested Development,' 'Superbad' and 'Juno,' he always came across as an appealing, funny kid," says Entertainment Weekly's Dave Karger. "But in 'Nick & Norah,' he's really emerging as a young man, and a very likable one."

    Munawar Hosain, Getty Images

    Emma Watson

    Age: 18

    Years on List: 2008

    What She's Done: As Hermione in five 'Harry Potter' pics, Watson has blossomed in front of eyes, from cute kid to -- dare we say it -- hot young adult.

    What's Next: She'll voice Princess Pea in this winter's 'The Tale of Desperaux,' then really break out of the 'Potter' mold in '09's 'Napoleon and Betsy.' Of course she also has three more 'Potter' hits on the way.

    Industry Buzz: "She is one of the brightest people I have ever met, with a razor-sharp mind," says 'Harry Potter' producer David Heyman. "After seeing her work in 'Half-Blood Prince,' I can assuredly say she can do it all. She is a great comedienne, and brings real gravitas to the dramatic scenes."

    Jon Furniss, WireImage

    Dakota Fanning

    Age: 14

    Years on List: 2008

    What She's Done: The mature-beyond-her-years teen has done blockbusters ('War of the Worlds'), Oscar bait ('I Am Sam') and edgy indie fare ('Hounddog').

    What's Next: She appears in fall's 'Secret Life of Bees' before next year starring in (and swearing in!) the sci-fi thriller 'Push' and voicing the title character in Henry Selick's stop-motion animated 'Coraline.'

    Industry Buzz: "Dakota's talent is limitless," 'Secret Life of Bees' director Gina Prince-Bythewood tells us. "She has crazy chops, great instincts, a ridiculous work ethic, a true love of acting and a great family. There will be no missteps. She will be one of the great ones -- Meryl Streep, Jodie Foster, Dakota Fanning."

    Carlo Allegri, AP

    Amanda Seyfried

    Age: 23

    Years on List: 2008

    What She's Done: Made polygamy palatable in HBO's 'Big Love'
    and ABBA au courant as the lead in this summer's 'Mamma Mia!'

    What's Next: She co-stars with
    Megan Fox in 'Jennifer's Body' and just landed opposite Channing Tatum in Lasse Hallstrom's adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel, 'Dear John.'

    Industry Buzz: "This doe-eyed lovely whose singing voice was one of the surprising joys of 'Mamma Mia!' seems to be on her way, headlining as a high school avenger in the girl-power horror comedy 'Jennifer's Body,'" says
    Susan Wloszczyna, film reporter for USA Today.

    Jamie McCarthy, WireImage

    Shia LaBeouf

    Age: 22

    Years on List: 2007-2008

    What He's Done: The Beef made the leap from Disney tween ('Even Stevens,' 'Holes') to blockbuster action star ('Transformers,' 'Indiana Jones') in what seemed like a week (actuality: four years).

    What's Next: He reunites with 'Disturbia' director D.J. Caruso in this month's thriller 'Eagle Eye' while filming next summer's 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.'

    Industry Buzz: "Shia is genuine, and very real," says Caruso. "He's the good-looking guy next door, he's your best friend next door, he's a little bit of everything. He's been blessed with that."

    Kevin Winter, Getty Images

    Keira Knightley

    Age: 23

    Years on List: 2007-2008

    What She's Done: She's equally adept at action flicks (the 'Pirates' series) and period dramas (including an Oscar-nominated turn in 'Pride and Prejudice' and stunning leads in 'Atonement' and her latest, 'The Duchess').

    What's Next: She continues to be the go-to gal for highbrow drama with 'King Lear.'

    Industry Buzz: "She's accomplished so much already that it's easy to forget that she's only 23," says Dave Karger or Entertainment Weekly. "'The Duchess' requires her to age from 17 to 27 and she's equally believable at both ages."

    Matt Carr, Getty Images

    Daniel Radcliffe

    Age: 19

    Years on List: 2007-2008

    What He's Done: Best known as the beloved boy wizard from the 'Harry Potter' films, he's also made headlines by going full frontal for the London stage revival of 'Equus.'

    What's Next: 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' is due in theaters next summer, and -- after putting his "wand" on display in the Broadway run of 'Equus' -- he'll return to London to begin filming the two-part 'Potter' finale, 'The Deathly Hallows.'

    Industry Buzz: "As you can see by the work he has done outside of 'Potter,' he embraces challenges," says 'Potter' producer David Heyman. "He is a remarkably curious young man who is eager to be the very best at whatever he does, yet retains great humility and decency."

    Seth Wenig, AP

    Kristen Stewart

    Age: 18

    Years on List: 2007-2008

    What She's Done: A lot of daughter roles (Jodie Foster's in 'Panic Room,' Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone's in 'Cold Creek Manor,' Tim Robbins' in 'Zathura'), and she's held her own with the 'rents each time.

    What's Next: She's Bella in 'Twilight,' the teen vampire flick widely touted to be the next 'Harry Potter.'

    Industry Buzz: "Kristen has a depth and dedication and toughness that I've rarely encountered," 'Twilight' director Catherine Hardwicke tells us. "Her career could be an amazing collection of characters. She has no limits ... If the stars line up, Kristen could be winning the highest of accolades."

    Steve Granitz, WireImage

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