10 Young TV Actors with the Potential to Become Massive Movie Stars
Television today is not what it was when the world of the rich and famous first began to saturate American culture. The realm of TV isn’t necessarily considered lesser to the glory of the silver screen anymore. Rather, TV is a place for actors, young and old, to hone specific skills, accentuate their talent’s strengths, and build particular fan bases on a weekly basis. The kids on Glee tap into their singing abilities and embrace their quirks to inspire young viewers to continue to be themselves. The stars of supernatural hits like Arrow or The Vampire Diaries, which is currently about to air its 100th show, face unknown challenges episode by episode, never knowing just what the writers will throw at them. Taking part in a successful television series is a unique opportunity in that characters aren’t simply “born” at the start of the story only to “die” after a two-hour block of entertainment. We’re introduced to characters on TV shows, and we watch them grow over several years’ of hours and hours of development and storytelling, for better or worse.
Still, sometimes I find myself feeling selfish in that there's a double-edged sword to talents showcased on TV. I want to keep them all to myself as part of a small group of core viewers, yet I feel like their x-factor should be shared with the greater audience. There doesn’t seem to be a comparison when it comes to the platform afforded. The global superstars of today are mostly A-list movie stars who’ve used their platforms to make positive ripples in society. Making it to The Academy Awards is still the Holy Grail of Hollywood.
Today, it’s not every young actor’s personal goal to break into blockbuster movies or to become a global superstar among the likes of Clooney and Jolie, but here are ten young Hollywood stars with the potential to conquer the big screen as future A-listers if they continue on their paths. Obviously, some have already dabbled in movies, but I tried to stick to actors better known for their roles on TV.
Of course, I can't watch everything, and I limited my list to just ten! Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment section below to keep the conversation going!
Dylan O’Brien (Teen Wolf):
MTV "Teen Wolf"There was no way Teen Wolf could not make Season 3b the season of Stiles Stilinski. O’Brien’s work on the series is a reason to tune in to begin with, but the fans crave more Stiles. It takes a special young actor to take a sidekick part on a supernatural show like Teen Wolf into leading role territory. As the Beacon Hills pack continues on, Stiles stands as an equal partner to the Teen Wolf, Scott McCall. O’Brien could totally function as new kind of a leading man in the contemporary entertainment industry.
Naya Rivera (Glee):
Fox "Glee"Glee is coming to an end after just one more season, and I think the best thing they could do at this point is to simply ax the Lima storyline in favor of filming purely in Manhattan in an effort to focus on the talents there. Glee has left its mark on pop culture, and while many critics feel it lost some sparkle following its debut season, you can’t argue that it hasn’t introduced us to some incredible talent. Naya Rivera is the prime example of someone who came into her own on the Fox hit. Not only has she excelled while paired with some massive talents, but she’s allowed her x-factor to take center stage. I can see her as the leading lady in a blockbuster action film.
Jeremy Allen White (Shameless):
Showtime "Shameless"I’m not sure whether Shia Labeouf has actually written off Hollywood or if the industry simply got tired of his antics. If we need someone to fill the hole left behind, Jeremy Allen White of Shameless fame has the acting chops and that particular presence to play those kinds of roles. I also like that he’s done a commendable job of staying almost entirely out of the media. It says he takes his work seriously.
Nina Dobrev (The Vampire Diaries):
The CW "The Vampire Diaries"If there’s one thing that playing a doppelganger (or three) incredibly well proves, it’s that a young actor has the abilities to morph in and out of characters with ease. The Vampire Diaries actress shifts from girl next door Elena to egomaniacal vixen Katherine and even to ancient beauty Amara. Half of this series has become a one-woman show! Plus, just plug “Nina Dobrev Emmys 2011” into your search engine and tell me that’s not a movie star.
Colton Haynes (Arrow):
The CW "Arrow"When I heard Colton Haynes was allegedly leaving MTV’s Teen Wolf due to failed negotiations, I was worried. Thankfully, Arrow scooped up the young heartthrob and has allowed him to thrive in his scene-stealing role as Roy Harper. While Arrow and Teen Wolf are both awesome shows, the setting of Arrow, the DC Universe, is massive. It’s a sink or swim kind of an environment, especially considering the fact that Green Arrow has had fans for decades. The fact that Haynes has managed to grow as an actor speaks volumes, and his star quality has already brought in droves of his own fans.
Joseph Morgan (The Originals):
The CW "The Originals"If someone behind a production even considers moving ahead with a spinoff series based on a particular character, it’s a testament to both the writers’ work and the actors tremendous talent. As the Original hybrid, Klaus, on The Vampire Diaries, Morgan’s character was introduced as the ultimate villain and never truly made amends for any of his dastardly deeds. In the end, we all simply fell in love with Klaus due in part to Morgan's talents, our interests carrying us down to the French Quarter in The Originals. Quite honestly, I’m not sure which series is more compelling at this point. Joseph Morgan has all the right quirks to make him one of a kind.
Emma Roberts (American Horror Story: Coven):
FX "American Horror Story"Say what you will about two-time Teen Choice Award winner Madison Montgomery, but she’s the definition of scene-stealer on AHS: Coven. Emma Roberts does a perfect job of playing a troubled Hollywood starlet who never stops acting even when the cameras turn off, and the more sadistic post-death Madison has forced Roberts to delve deeper and darker. It’s not easy to emote when your character is incapable of feeling! Plus, wouldn’t the recently engaged Emma Roberts and Evan Peters make an amazing modern Hollywood power couple?
Jonathan Groff (Looking):
HBO "Looking"Lena Dunham (GIRLS):
HBO "GIRLS"Like Jonathan Groff, I don't think that Lena Dunham personally craves the Hollywood limelight, but I think she's someone with big voice. Someone with something to say covets a larger platform, and breaking into movies, via acting/ writing/ directing, could grant Lena Dunham power beyond the audience of GIRLS. GIRLS is a show with a very, very specific target demographic. It's fans are rabid, but so are its detractors. That's not to say that Lena Dunham isn't incredibly talented or downright funny regardless.
Troian Bellisario (Pretty Little Liars):
ABC Family "Pretty Little Liars"Season 3 of ABC Family’s hit guilty pleasure put Spencer Hastings’ mental breakdown at the forefront, and Bellisario more than rose to the occasion. Her role on the show transcends that which is required of her, and actually adds even more depth to a murder mystery that is already complex as it is. Troian Bellisario’s awesome acting work as Spencer leaves us with even more juicy questions, perhaps sometimes leaving us wondering about things we might not want to know. Did Spencer Hastings murder her best friend? I hate that I even have that thought percolating in my brain, and I totally blame the talents of Troian.
Do you have any young Hollywood stars whom you'd like to see take a shot at the silver screen?