15 Young Actresses Who Could be the Next Meryl Streep

There is a new wave of performers building careers with deep range, serious training, and a steady run of roles across film and television. Many already carry leading projects, switch accents with ease, and move between independent productions and studio releases. The path looks familiar to anyone who followed the early arc of Meryl Streep, with stage work, international backgrounds, and fluent command of character detail showing up again and again.

This list highlights young actresses whose résumés already include major awards recognition, genre breadth, and notable collaborations with top directors and writers. Each profile focuses on roles, craft, and milestones that point to long careers with room for drama, comedy, and everything in between.

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan earned Academy Award nominations for roles in ‘Atonement’, ‘Brooklyn’, ‘Lady Bird’, and ‘Little Women’. She has worked with directors like Joe Wright, John Crowley, Greta Gerwig, and Peter Jackson, and she shifts from Irish to American dialects with precision.

Her stage credits include work in New York and London, and she continues to balance period pieces with contemporary stories. Lead billing across literary adaptations and original scripts shows sustained trust from studios and independent producers.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh broke through with ‘Lady Macbeth’ and followed with central roles in ‘Midsommar’, ‘Fighting with My Family’, and ‘Little Women’. She received an Academy Award nomination for supporting actress and has continued to anchor prestige dramas alongside franchise work.

She is known for intensive preparation, including physical training and in depth accent work. Credits that range from psychological horror to historical drama illustrate comfort with varied tones and long shooting schedules.

Zendaya

Zendaya won two Primetime Emmys for lead actress in a drama for ‘Euphoria’. Her feature work includes major roles in ‘Dune’ and the 2024 release ‘Challengers’, and she carries producer credits that reflect involvement beyond performance.

She began as a recording artist and television lead and then expanded into complex adult roles. Extensive press and fashion work supports international reach while her slate keeps a balance between auteur directors and large scale releases.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor Joy won a Golden Globe for ‘The Queen’s Gambit’ and earned acclaim for ‘The Witch’, ‘Emma’, and ‘Furiosa’. She grew up between Argentina and the United Kingdom and works in both English and Spanish.

Her filmography shows early trust from studios with demanding period diction and contemporary minimalism. She continues to alternate limited series work with theatrical features, keeping visibility across platforms.

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer won an Emmy and a BAFTA for ‘Killing Eve’ and later earned a Tony Award for ‘Prima Facie’. She has also led television drama in ‘Help’ and appeared in feature films that showcase comedic timing and action choreography.

She is from Liverpool and is noted for facility with accents across regions and countries. The move from television to the West End and Broadway demonstrates strong live performance technique and stamina.

Kaitlyn Dever

Kaitlyn Dever moved from ensemble comedy to lead roles in ‘Booksmart’, ‘Unbelievable’, and ‘Dopesick’. She earned major award nominations for limited series work and headlined the science fiction thriller ‘No One Will Save You’.

Her credits show steady collaboration with top writers of both comedy and drama. She also works in music, which supports rhythm and breath control that carry into performance on set.

Thomasin McKenzie

Thomasin McKenzie is from New Zealand and gained international attention with ‘Leave No Trace’. She followed with key roles in ‘Jojo Rabbit’ and ‘Last Night in Soho’, taking on contrasting periods and tonal shifts.

Her training includes theatre roots and close mentorship within a filmmaking family. She consistently plays American characters with precise dialect, which broadens casting opportunities across markets.

Taylor Russell

Taylor Russell earned festival honors for ‘Bones and All’ and drew critical notice with ‘Waves’. She has also worked in theatre and fashion, extending her profile outside screen roles.

Her career shows deliberate script selection with an emphasis on intimate drama and character study. International festival exposure has brought collaborations with European and American directors early in her filmography.

Rachel Zegler

Rachel Zegler won a Golden Globe for ‘West Side Story’. She then led ‘The Hunger Games The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ and joined a major studio musical adaptation of ‘Snow White’.

She is a trained vocalist with extensive stage experience, which supports demanding film musical schedules. She was discovered through an open casting call, and she continues to record and perform live while taking on high profile screen roles.

Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega became a global name with ‘Wednesday’, which set viewership records for streaming. Her film credits include horror entries like ‘Scream’ and the independent feature ‘X’.

She started in television and moved into lead film roles while maintaining steady series work. She often serves as an executive producer on projects, guiding tone and creative direction.

Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney earned Emmy nominations for ‘Euphoria’ and ‘The White Lotus’. She led the real time drama ‘Reality’ and headlined the psychological thriller ‘Immaculate’.

Her preparation process includes detailed character notebooks and fight training when needed. She has also launched a production banner that develops literary adaptations and original screenplays.

Letitia Wright

Letitia Wright won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and plays Shuri in ‘Black Panther’ and its sequel. She earned recognition for ‘Small Axe Mangrove’ with nominations from major television academies.

She was born in Guyana and raised in London, and she trained through British television before moving into features. Her work includes technology driven action and courtroom centered drama, which points to versatile casting.

Ayo Edebiri

Ayo Edebiri won major television awards for ‘The Bear’. Her film credits include ‘Bottoms’ and voice work in ‘Inside Out 2’, alongside writing and producing experience from earlier in her career.

She came up through stand up and writers rooms, which contributes to timing and collaboration skills on set. Movement between voice acting, independent features, and television ensembles shows range across formats.

Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee Steinfeld received an Academy Award nomination for ‘True Grit’ at a young age. She has since led ‘Dickinson’, starred in ‘Bumblebee’, and joined a major Marvel series with ‘Hawkeye’.

She also records and tours as a singer, which builds stage presence and breath control. Her projects cross period comedy, action adventure, and intimate drama with consistent box office and streaming results.

Alia Bhatt

Alia Bhatt is a leading star in India with awards for ‘Raazi’, ‘Gully Boy’, and ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. She made her English language debut in ‘Heart of Stone’ and continues to headline large scale Hindi language productions.

She trained in dance and voice and works across languages within the Indian film industry. Her filmography includes biographical drama, crime saga, and musical romance, which supports international crossover appeal.

Share who you would add to this list in the comments and tell us which performances impressed you most.