20 Young Actors Who Are Destined To Win An Oscar

From festival standouts to breakout leads in acclaimed dramas, a new wave of young actors keeps collecting nominations, critic prizes, and high profile roles with major directors. The names below already have serious awards traction or fast rising résumés built on craft training, strong festival showings, and smart project choices. Each one has delivered performances that earned attention at the guilds or big festivals and many have Academy recognition already. Here is a snapshot of why they keep turning up in awards conversations and what on their track records points to future Oscar nights.

Timothée Chalamet

He earned an Academy Award nomination for his lead turn in ‘Call Me by Your Name’ and later picked up supporting recognition from major critics groups for ‘Beautiful Boy’. His filmography stacks auteur collaborations that the Academy often notices, including work with Greta Gerwig, Denis Villeneuve, and Wes Anderson. He trained at LaGuardia High School of Music and Art which has produced multiple Oscar nominees. He continues to anchor large scale releases while returning to character driven dramas.

Paul Mescal

He was nominated for Best Actor for ‘Aftersun’ after a Cannes debut that drew widespread critical attention. Stage work at the Abbey Theatre and acclaimed runs in London underline a strong classical base that often translates well to awards friendly films. He has lined up roles with directors known for Oscar track records and prestige festival premieres. His film choices show a pattern of intimate character studies that play well with voters.

Austin Butler

His Best Actor nomination for ‘Elvis’ followed a Best Actor win at the Golden Globes and recognition from SAG and BAFTA. Training began in television before a move to demanding film roles that emphasize physical transformation and musical performance. He continues to join ensembles led by directors with strong Academy histories. Large scale period and biographical projects remain a key part of his slate.

Barry Keoghan

He received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ after earlier festival breakthroughs in ‘The Killing of a Sacred Deer’. His work often premieres at Cannes, Venice, or Toronto which are reliable launch pads for awards runs. He selects roles that mix unsettling character work with prestige ensembles. National and regional critics groups have repeatedly singled out his performances.

Dev Patel

He earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for ‘Lion’ and earlier starred in Best Picture winner ‘Slumdog Millionaire’. His projects frequently combine literary adaptations and socially engaged stories that appeal to Academy voters. He has expanded into producing and directing while maintaining leading roles in prestige fare. British independent awards and global critics circles have regularly recognized his work.

Lakeith Stanfield

He received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ after earlier recognition for ‘Short Term 12’ and ‘Sorry to Bother You’. His credits span ensemble heavy awards contenders like ‘Get Out’ and character centric indies that dominate critics lists. He continues to work with filmmakers whose films premiere at top tier festivals. Music related and historical projects in his filmography align with categories that often see Oscar attention.

John Boyega

He won a Golden Globe for his performance in ‘Small Axe’ and collected significant festival and critics recognition for films like ‘Detroit’ and ‘Breaking’. His training at the Identity School of Acting has produced multiple awards contenders. He balances franchise visibility with roles in grounded dramas that showcase range. British and American industry bodies have both honored his work which supports future Oscar campaigns.

Lucas Hedges

He is a Best Supporting Actor nominee for ‘Manchester by the Sea’ and followed with lauded turns in ‘Lady Bird’ and ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’. His run of stage appearances on Broadway and Off Broadway reinforces technique valued by awards voters. He frequently chooses intimate scripts from writer director voices that travel well across festivals. Multiple guild and critics nominations demonstrate consistent industry support.

Tom Holland

He won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and has headlined global box office hits while taking on character pieces like ‘The Devil All the Time’ and ‘Cherry’. Early career training at the West End in ‘Billy Elliot’ set a foundation in demanding performance disciplines. He continues to mix large franchises with dramatic vehicles aimed at fall festival slots. International appeal and cross genre experience give future campaigns strong visibility.

George MacKay

He led the awards season contender ‘1917’ which earned multiple Oscar wins and extensive guild attention. British stage and screen training includes work with the National Theatre and BAFTA recognition. He selects physically rigorous roles and historical subjects that frequently intersect with Academy interests. European festivals have regularly programmed his films which supports sustained critical coverage.

Jack O’Connell

He won the BAFTA Rising Star Award after a breakout with ‘Starred Up’ and a lead role in ‘Unbroken’. His filmography often features intense character studies and real life inspired stories that draw awards attention. He has balanced television prestige projects with festival driven films. Collaborations with established directors continue to position him in awards season conversations.

Kelvin Harrison, Jr.

He earned widespread acclaim for ‘Luce’ and ‘Waves’ and later portrayed music icons in biographical dramas. Festivals like Sundance and Telluride have premiered several of his films which helps build early awards momentum. He has received nominations from major industry bodies including BAFTA Rising Star. Musical and historical roles in his slate fit categories that often see Academy recognition.

Will Poulter

He won the BAFTA Rising Star Award and drew strong notices for ‘The Revenant’ and ‘Detroit’. His projects frequently arrive from directors with awards pedigrees and from festivals that supply Oscar shortlists. He has moved between independent dramas and large scale productions that maintain industry profile. Training in British film and television established early credibility with casting directors for prestige titles.

Tye Sheridan

He received the Marcello Mastroianni Award for emerging talent at Venice for ‘Joe’ and built credits with auteurs like Terrence Malick and Jeff Nichols. His roles often center on coming of age narratives and rural dramas that perform well with critics. He balances genre films with character forward projects that play on the fall circuit. Early festival recognition continues to support his positioning in awards seasons.

Jacob Elordi

He gained major festival attention with ‘Priscilla’ and ‘Saltburn’ after early visibility from ‘Euphoria’. His recent film choices skew toward director led projects that target Venice, Telluride, and London slots. Fashion and global press coverage provide broad platforming for campaigns. He continues to add complex roles that foreground transformation and control of tone.

Harris Dickinson

He earned a BAFTA nomination for the EE Rising Star Award and starred in Palme d’Or winner ‘Triangle of Sadness’. His résumé includes collaborations with European auteurs and British indies that premiere at Cannes and Berlin. He often anchors satirical or psychologically layered scripts that resonate with critics. Casting in prestige ensembles keeps him present in awards oriented releases.

Diego Calva

He received a Golden Globe nomination for ‘Babylon’ and earlier built a profile in acclaimed Mexican television and film. His fluency in Spanish and English opens roles across American and Latin American markets. He continues to join films from directors with strong festival track records. Early career recognition from international press bodies supports future awards runs.

Gabriel LaBelle

He led ‘The Fabelmans’ for Steven Spielberg and won breakthrough honors from the National Board of Review. His performance gathered notices from multiple critics associations and industry press. He has followed with roles that keep him in prestige oriented productions. Work with top tier directors at a young age establishes a strong foundation for future campaigns.

Jeremy Pope

He is a two time Tony nominee and received Golden Globe and Critics Choice nominations for ‘The Inspection’. His background spans Broadway, television prestige projects, and independent film. He often selects stories centered on identity and artistic struggle which perform well in awards season. Strong critical reception and guild attention continue to build momentum.

Charles Melton

He won major critics awards for supporting performance in ‘May December’ and received nominations from key regional groups. The film premiered at a top festival and maintained steady presence through awards season screenings. He has added roles in auteur driven projects that emphasize subtle character work. Continued collaboration with prestige directors positions him for future Academy consideration.

Share the names you would add to this list in the comments so we can keep the watchlist growing.