BY JAKE MATHISON
December 12th, 2011
10. Felicity Jones, 28
Best Role: Like Crazy (2011)
Why She's #10: Though she's only recently become known to mainstream American film-goers, bright-eyed Brit Felicity Jones certainly appears to be the whole package. Her earnest performance in the recent indie drama Like Crazy showcased a strong young actress ready to break out across the pond.
9. Elizabeth Olsen, 22
Why She's #9: Liz Olsen broke free from her older sisters' shadow, and seemingly came out of nowhere to become the new "it-girl" of indie-drama. Better yet, her rise in stock is actually well-deserved. She's been willing to go to artistic lengths that many of her peers have not. Her wounded but powerful performance in Martha Marcy May Marlene proves that she puts in the work and takes her craft seriously.
8. Ellen Page, 24
Why She's #8: Page has been mostly off the radar for the last couple of years, but it would be a crime to overlook her visceral breakout performance in 2005's Hard Candy. Page's best asset is her ability to seamlessly transition between gritty, stark dramas and meta-comedies like her Oscar-nominated turn in Juno.
Best Role: Sleeping Beauty (2011)
Why She's #7: Even though Sleeping Beauty turned out to be a pretentious dud, Browning deserves a spot on this list for being absolutely fearless in it. She gave absolutely everything she had in an incredible, gutsy performance-- a role that required not only full dedication, but also full exploitation. If nothing else, it was a calculated risk to get her noticed, and it worked beautifully.
Why She's #6: At 21, Lawrence is the youngest actress on this list, and her Oscar nod for Winter's Bone has seemingly blown the doors of her burgeoning career wide open. And though she may project a sort of heartland strength, she is also more than capable of digging deep and playing off a hidden, quiet sensitivity.
Why She's #5: Anna Kendrick is the new breed of American sweetheart. She's snarky, yet still extremely likable, having used her tremendous sincerity and relatability to garner the first of what should be many Academy nominations. Even with that exposure, she remains underrated, and has the talent to really sneak up on you.
4. Rooney Mara, 26
Why She's #4: David Fincher shocked the industry when he handpicked the relatively unknown Rooney Mara to play the title character in his remake of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo-- but from all early indications, he appears to have hit a home-run. Mara made a big impact with her small amount of The Social Network screentime, putting Jesse Eisenberg's Mark Zuckerberg in his place. She's strong, determined and poised to make a big splash this year.
3. Carey Mulligan, 26
Why She's #3: Carey Mulligan is a gifted emoter. She has an uncanny ability to say everything without saying anything. She's tough, hardened and at her best when playing emotionally damaged and/or vulnerable characters. She's also been experiencing a meteoric rise as of late, and her upcoming performance in the controversial NC-17 piece Shame is sure to garner some Academy attention.
2. Anne Hathaway, 29
Why She's #2: Even though she's the veteran presence of this list, Anne Hathaway is still something of an enigma. Her powerhouse performance in 2008's underrated Rachel Getting Married pushed her career to the brink of greatness, but she has since found herself in the unenviable position of repeating that success. In many ways, her career has mirrored recent Academy darling Natalie Portman. Hathaway's been the rock of a lot of inferior fare, so it's fair to assume that it'll only be a matter of time before she finds her Black Swan.
1. Alison Brie, 28
Why She's #1: Besides being an absolute knockout, Brie's amazing combination of intelligence, physicality and impeccable comedic timing have made her a versatile force to be reckoned with. She's not afraid of taking bold risks or gambling stylistically with her choices, and her instincts almost always pay off with huge dividends. She's a duel threat on TV's Community and Mad Men, shooting to the top of this list because she's a true chameleon, capable of playing any role in any genre.
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