Hollywood’s Next Big Things: Introducing the 12 Stars of Our Young Hollywood Issue
Hair Stylist: Holli Smith for Wella Professionals
Makeup: Karan Franjola at Management + Artists
Nails: Christina Aviles using Dior Vernis
Set Design: Gille Mills
Production: Suzy Kang for GE Projects
1/14Young Hollywood represent.
2/14Riding in cars with boys.
3/14Stacy Martin
AGE: 25
HOMETOWN: Paris
ROLE WITH IT “I never considered acting as a profession,” says Stacy Martin, the stunning starlet whose incredible breakout performance in Lars von Trier’s drama Nymphomaniac earned international recognition that would skyrocket her career. “Even knowing that’s my reality now is quite strange.”
MODEL BEHAVIOR Since appearing in the film, she’s nabbed roles in Tale of Tales (a fantasy that recounts dark versions of classic fairy tales), The Childhood of a Leader (a mystery drama set in early-1900s France), and High-Rise (the movie adaptation of J.G. Ballard’s thriller novel of the same name). Stacy has also fronted major ad campaigns for Rag & Bone and Miu Miu. “Working as an actress and model has shown me how linked cinema and fashion can be,” she states. “It’s quite fascinating!” —ARIANA MARSH
4/14Jacob Lofland
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Briggsville,Arkansas
__WILD CARD__ “My mom basically bribed me into it,” Jacob Lofland says of his first-ever audition for director Jeff Nichols’s chilling 2012 drama Mud. “I was homeschooled at the time, so we filled out an application after she found out about the opportunity. Somehow I got the part.” Jacob, whose acting background had been limited to participation in a few elementary school Christmas plays, was willing to get down and dirty for his role alongside Oscar winner Matthew McConaughey, which required motorcycle stunts and pistol handling.
HUMBLE PIE Next up for Jacob is Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, the sequel to the highly successful action movie The Maze Runner, starring Dylan O’Brien. “I try to be as natural as possible and look at it as having fun with people on set rather than acting,” he reveals. “Developing lifelong friendships is definitely one of the reasons why I love doing this.” With additional performances in the indie film Little Accidents, opposite Elizabeth Banks, and the Texas Rising TV miniseries on History, it’s clear that Jacob’s well on his way. —NOOR BRARA
5/14Tony Revolori
AGE: 19
HOMETOWN: Anaheim, California
CHECKING IN Tony Revolori’s big break came courtesy of Wes Anderson, who cast him as Zero, the lobby boy in the Oscar- winning movie The Grand Budapest Hotel. “To have dinner every night with Jude Law, Ralph Fiennes, and Jeff Goldblum was amazing,” Tony says. “I relate to every character I play,” adds the performer, whose Sundance films have included Dope and Umrika. “I find the easiest thing to connect with and then work at making that idea bigger, until I become that person. Just call ‘action’ and I’m there.”
PARTY OF FIVE Tony’s next role is a field medic called Dumbo in the highly anticipated sci-fi thriller The 5th Wave. “I had a lot of fun training with the Army on set,” he shares. “It gave me a new appreciation for our troops and the other people who risk their lives protecting us.” —MAXWELL LOSGAR
6/14Mackenzie Foy
AGE: 14
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles
MISS MOVIN’ ON Mackenzie Foy is past being known as “the kid from Twilight.” At 14, the SoCal beauty’s résumé holds much more now than a singular role as Edward and Bella’s daughter, Renesmee. “I had an incredible experience with Twilight,” she says. “I was lucky to be part of it, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.”
A LITTLE PRINCESS Following a short break after starring in the Academy Award–winning Interstellar, Mackenzie jetted off to the Cannes Film Festival, where her movie The Little Prince received a standing ovation. “It was magical,” she exclaims. “I got to put my French lessons to use.”
COOL KICKS When Mackenzie’s not on set, she’s practicing her tae kwon do skills: “I train four days a week.” With many achievements already stashed under her first-degree black belt, her future looks bright. —TEHRENE FIRMAN
7/14Hayley Kiyoko
AGE: 24
HOMETOWN: Westlake Village, California TRIPLE THREAT “I’m having the time of my life” gushes Hayley Kiyoko, who this year alone has played a web tech on CSI: Cyber, been cast in the upcoming Netflix film XOXO, and codirected a music video for her own unapologetic pop anthem, “Girls Like Girls.”
ALL ABOUT THAT BASS Hayley’s bringing her musicality to the big screen as Aja — whom she describes as a “moody badass who plays bass” — in Jem and the Holograms, alongside Hollywood legends Molly Ringwald and Juliette Lewis. Hayley praises the pair as “incredible female-empowerment gals.” She adds, “It was so cool to be costarring with them.” We’re sure the feeling’s mutual. —HANNAH WEINTRAUB
8/14Patrick Schwarzenegger
AGE: 22
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles
IT’S RELATIVE “I fell in love with going to set with my dad,” Patrick Schwarzenegger reveals of a childhood spent accompanying mega star slash former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to work. “The best thing about acting is portraying a character that has a different life than yours.” And who knows? Following in his father’s footsteps might also segue to public office — in a way, at least. “Maybe I’ll be a politician in a movie!” he says with a laugh.
TAKE THE LEAD Patrick is set to play a mischievous jock in Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse, followed by his first top billing, in the YA romance Midnight Sun, which he appears in opposite longtime pal Bella Thorne. “I texted her and was like, ‘Hey, do you want to go run some lines?’ An hour later we went into our chemistry test, and it was great.” —HANNAH WEINTRAUB
9/14Antoine Olivier Pilon
AGE: 18
HOMETOWN: Montreal
__MAMA’S BOY__ Although he’s never had an acting lesson, Antoine Olivier Pilon’s award-winning performance as Steve, a troubled teenager with anger-management issues in Xavier Dolan’s Mommy, ignited his career. “We’re both sensitive — we have that in common,” he says of his character. “But I’m capable of filtering my emotions, and he doesn’t know how to process his. It’s a privilege to portray someone extreme, who is so far from your normal life.”
CHILD’S PLAY “When I was 8, I saw some kids on TV around my age and wondered how they got there,” Antoine Olivier shares. That turned out to be a defining moment, which fueled an undying need to act. He adds, “I thought, Why them and not me?” —MAXWELL LOSGAR
10/14Karidja Toure
AGE: 21
HOMETOWN: Paris
MAGICAL BEGINNINGS “When I was little, acting was my dream. I wanted to be in Harry Potter,” says Karidja Touré, whose first credit — as the star of the French drama Girlhood — entailed no wands or wizards. The film, set in the poor suburbs of Paris, follows teenager Marieme’s attempt to live an all-around richer life. “I recognize myself in her a little bit,” Karidja admits. “She was the perfect character for me to play.”
ROLLER COASTER RIDE So how did Karidja snag the role of a lifetime? “I was scouted at an amusement park,” she reveals, still with an air of surprise. “I never thought I’d be nominated for a César award for Most Promising Actress two years later!” Seems like dreams do come true. —ARIANA MARSH
11/14Courtney Eaton
AGE:19
HOMETOWN: Bunbury, Australia
__BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL__ Agents scoured the globe for the perfect actress to play Cheedo the Fragile in this year’s epic action movie Mad Max: Fury Road before discovering Courtney Eaton. The ingenue’s innocent on-screen appeal convinced audiences she was born to do the project. Director George Miller premiered it at the Cannes Film Festival, where Courtney was catapulted into the spotlight. “George is really specific with his characters — they come to him in his dreams,” says Courtney, who got the audition through her modeling agency (and went to it with some encouragement from her dad). After three callbacks, her life changed for good.
HELLO, HOLLYWOOD When the young model found out she had scored the coveted role, she switched gears and dove headfirst into an acting career, subsequently landing a part in Alex Proyas’s adventure fantasy Gods of Egypt with Gerard Butler. “I don’t want to get stuck in one genre and be known as ‘the action girl,’” she says. “I want to do an indie next.” —MAXWELL LOSGAR
12/14Tom Phelan
AGE: 18
HOMETOWN: Pasadena, California
READY, SET, GO After years spent acting with a local theater company, Tom Phelan’s affinity for the craft was obvious to his mother, who informed him of an audition for ABC Family’s popular show The Fosters. He landed the part of Cole, whose foster-kid hardships were amplified by the struggle of being a transgender teen. “As a trans person, I’m really lucky to have supportive parents, which is definitely something Cole doesn’t have,” Tom says. “But I relate to him through the universal problems that all trans people go through. On that level it’s been amazing to watch him transition, essentially, as I’ve transitioned.”
EMPIRE STATE OF MIND This fall, Tom will be returning to his stage roots for his first Off-Broadway play, Hir. He exclaims, “It’s so exciting and so crazy.” —NOOR BRARA
13/14Shameik Moore
AGE: 20
HOMETOWN: Atlanta
THAT’S DOPE Shameik Moore’s acting career started with a bang, when he landed the role of a ’90s-hip-hop-obsessed teen in this year’s breakout Sundance hit Dope. His electrifying performance, and the film’s runaway critical acclaim, had all of Hollywood talking but came as no surprise to the actor: “As soon as I auditioned, I set my intentions — if I am blessed with the opportunity to be the lead in this movie, it’s my job to make it great.” Shameik’s talent is matched only by his amazing attitude. “I hope people are affected by my work in a positive way,” he notes. “I want audiences to leave with a smile.”
JACK OF ALL TRADES The multitalented artist (he is also a standout musician and dancer) caught the attention of Baz Luhrmann, who cast Shameik in his original series for Netflix, The Get Down, which tells the story of hip-hop’s early beginnings in the 1970s. “I’m playing one of the founders of the genre, so there is definitely pressure to get it right,” Shameik explains. “I think everyone is going to fall in love with the character and the show.” We have a feeling he’s right. —ALEXANDRA THURMOND
14/14Maddie Ziegler
AGE: 12
HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh
__HOT COMMODITY__ “It’s cool that I get work without being asked to audition” says Maddie Ziegler, whose participation in Sia’s iconic music video for “Chandelier” — and subsequently “Elastic Heart” and “Big Girls Cry”—came about after the Australian singer-songwriter made Maddie a firm offer on Twitter. “I feel like people trust me and believe I’m capable of putting in the work,” she says.
PRIMA BALLERINA The young dancer, who first entered the spotlight on the controversial reality show Dance Moms, is spreading her wings beyond movement: “I really want to focus on acting and even sing a little bit so I can be a triple threat. I definitely want to do a movie or a scripted TV show.” With previous guest spots on Drop Dead Diva and Pretty Little Liars, anything is possible. —MAXWELL LOSGAR
