- INSIDER chose 45 rising stars under 30 years old who had an exceptional 2018 – and will only continue to dominate Hollywood.
- 25-year-old songstress Ariana Grande took the top spot.
- “Black Panther” actress Letitia Wright and “Call Me By Your Name” actor Timothée Chalamet rounded out the top three.
Huge stars like Drake, Lady Gaga, Emily Blunt, and Lupita Nyong’o dominated headlines in 2018 with record-breaking album releases, ground-breaking film roles, and awards season buzz – but who are the young stars ready to rise to their level?
The INSIDER entertainment team nominated musicians, actors, and celebrities under 30 years old who had an exceptional 2018 and whose acclaim will only continue to grow. We then voted and ranked the rising stars in accordance with their already-thriving careers or talent potential.
Here are the 45 stars under 30 who we believe will be the next generation of Hollywood.
45. Iain Armitage
If you don’t recognize his name, Armitage, 10, is one of the biggest young stars on TV, starring on “Big Bang Theory’s” successful spin-off, “Young Sheldon.” Armitage isn’t only known for the CBS series. We expect to see him back on the next season of “Big Little Lies” when that comes to HBO in 2019. – Kirsten Acuna
44. Kristine Froseth
Kristine Froseth, 20, made waves this year as one of Netflix's breakout stars: as mean girl Veronica in "Sierra Burgess Is a Loser" and as Ffion in Blumhouse's thriller "Apostle."
Despite being relatively new to acting, the former model has now been cast in one of the most highly anticipated young adult stories of the past decade: John Green's beloved novel "Looking For Alaska," which will be adapted as a Hulu limited series after floundering in development for 13 years.
Froseth will play the titular Alaska - and considering how past Green adaptations became star-making vehicles for "The Fault in Our Stars" actors Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, plus "Paper Towns" star Cara Delevingne, we're expecting to see much more of Froseth in the future. - Callie Ahlgrim
43. Jessica Barden
If you're an avid fan of the film studio A24, you may vaguely recognize Jessica Barden from the 2016 thriller "The Lobster." But it was the "The End of the F---ing World," one of Netflix's best-reviewed shows of 2018, that catapulted Barden from near oblivion to stardom - and if not stardom quite yet, then certainly intrigue.
The 25-year-old actress topped IMDB's "Top Breakout Stars" of 2018, which lists celebrities who've ranked highest on the site's STARmeter throughout the year, but also who broke into IMDb's Top 100 for the first time in their careers.
Barden has only continued to prove her acting chops. Critics largely agree that she single-handedly elevated the 2018 Canadian romcom "The New Romantic," playing a hopeless romantic turned sugar baby.
With the second season of "The End of the F---ing World" already in the works, we're anxious to see how Barden continues to grow and capture our attention. - Callie Ahlgrim
42. Margot Robbie
Robbie, 28, drops a few spots on our list this year after making a big splash as Harley Quinn in "Suicide Squad."
Although she appeared in one of our favorite movies of the year, "Mary Queen of Scots," Robbie is barely in the film. She had a larger role voicing a rabbit in "Peter Rabbit," which will get a sequel in 2020. Next year should be a bigger year for Robbie as she's starring in Quentin Tarantino's "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."
She's also working on one of many planned Harley Quinn spin-offs. Margot recently revealed one of them to be called "Birds of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)." That will also be out in 2020. - Kirsten Acuna
41. Jaden Smith
Eyes have always been on Jaden Smith thanks to his famous family and, uh, interesting hot takes. But the 20-year-old is nothing to scoff at, and he's certainly not the simple byproduct of his talented parents.
Since Smith's debut album "Syre" was released in late 2017, he has been gaining prestige in the rap community. In 2018, he served as an opener for J. Cole's K.O.D. Tour and performed for the first time at Lollapalooza. Even Kid Cudi, one of Smith's inspirations, suggested they work on music together. - Callie Ahlgrim
40. Stephan James
Get ready to see a lot more of Stephan James in the new year. The 25-year-old actor has been in the industry since 2010, appearing on "Degrassi: The Next Generation" and "My Babysitter's a Vampire." He played John Lewis in "Selma" and Jesse Owens in "Race," but his 2018 roles really thrust James into the limelight.
He earned his first Golden Globe nomination for playing a soldier with PTSD in the psychological thriller "Homecoming," which also stars Julia Roberts. He also stars in Barry Jenkins' "If Beale Street Could Talk," which was nominated for three Golden Globes, as a young father and husband-to-be falsely accused of rape and imprisoned.
As for the new year, the actor is set to star alongside Chadwick Boseman and JK Simmons in "17 Bridges." - Anjelica Oswald
39. Travis Scott
2018 was a big year for Travis Scott. He was Spotify's fourth most-streamed artist in the US; he conducted arguably the most impressive and elaborate tour in recent memory, complete with a real roller coaster; and who could forget that he had a baby with Kylie Jenner?
Make no mistake: Scott's fame and stature will only continue to grow. Each of his albums is praised more than the last; his most recent was even nominated for best rap album at the 2019 Grammys, though many (including here at INSIDER) thought it deserved more. We can even expect that he'll become an official member of the Kardashian family soon enough. It looks like the 26-year-old is just getting started. - Callie Ahlgrim
38. Camila Cabello
After leaving Fifth Harmony and releasing her self-titled debut album, Camila Cabello became Spotify's fifth most-streamed female artist of 2018. She's beloved by fans and critics alike, having secured Billboard's 2018 "Breakthrough Artist" award, four American Music Awards, and two Grammy nominations.
The 21-year-old topped the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard 200 Albums chart simultaneously with "Camila," so it's safe to assume she'll continue with this momentum. Her upcoming sophomore album, expected in 2019, will create just as much, if not more, buzz. - Callie Ahlgrim
37. Jessica Williams
At 29, Williams already has a decade of Hollywood experience under her belt, having made her TV debut on Nickelodeon's "Just for Kicks" in 2006. Six years later, she would make a huge impression on Hollywood as the youngest and first black female correspondent on "The Daily Show." She has since moved on to the Netflix rom-com movie, "The Incredible Jessica James," and the HBO spin-off of her podcast, "2 Dope Queens."
Additionally, she went blockbuster with a role on "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald." This year, she's starring on Mindy Kaling's series reboot of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" for Hulu. Expect to see a lot of this talented multi-hyphenate. - Jethro Nededog
36. Anthony Ramos
You might not immediately recognize Anthony Ramos, 27, now, but you will very soon.
Ramos starred in the original Broadway cast of "Hamilton," in which he played the dual roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton. Since his departure from the production, Ramos has moved on to a flourishing career in film.
Ramos had a small but significant role in "A Star Is Born" as Ramon, Ally's friend who introduces her to Jackson Maine. And he'll dominate the screen even more in 2018 when he stars as Usnavi in the upcoming film adaptation of "In the Heights," another Lin Manuel Miranda musical. - Carrie Wittmer
35. Maisie Williams
After growing up before audience's eyes on HBO's smash hit "Game of Thrones," Maisie Williams will retire the role of Arya Stark after the final season airs this year. Williams has proven herself to be an acting force to be reckoned with ever since she made her television debut at just 12 years old.
Now 21, Williams is the co-founder of a production company called Daisie Chain, and an app spinoff called Daisie where Williams is motivating artistic creators to share their projects and find new collaborators. Maisie Williams is a savvy entrepreneur, a brilliant performer, and hair-inspiration to us all. - Kim Renfro
34. Taylor Swift
Despite unleashing the most divisive album of her career, Taylor Swift has continued to reign as one of music's most influential stars.
Even though it was released in 2017 and has received minimal promotion since, Swift's "Reputation" was the biggest-selling album in 2018. "Delicate," the only single from the album released in the US in 2018, is ostensibly one of the most perfect songs in Swift's extensive catalogue. Its accompanying video landed in the top 20 of INSIDER's best music videos of 2018 list.
On top of Swift's musical triumphs (which seem to have almost become mundane for her at this point), she became a "traitor" to the alt-right when she finally broke her political silence to endorse Democratic nominees in Tennessee. In the lengthy post, Swift advocated for LGBTQ+ rights, called out discrimination based on gender and sexual orientation, and said "the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent."
Vote.org, an organization dedicated to increasing voter registration, said it saw 65,000 people register using its online tool in the 24 hours after Swift's impassioned post.
Read more: The road to Taylor Swift's political Instagram was long and winding - here's how we got here
Swift topped off yet another ground-breaking year with a concert film of her "Reputation" tour - the highest-grossing US tour ever since Billboard Boxscore started tracking touring information in 1990 - which was released on Netflix on New Year's Eve. - Callie Ahlgrim
33. Kylie Jenner
Kylie Jenner needs no introduction. The youngest and richest Kardashian had a remarkable year, beginning when she truly broke the internet with a much-anticipated confirmation of her pregnancy, three days after Stormi Webster's birth.
Jenner's emotional video diary, entitled, "To Our Daughter," made everyone on the internet cry. It was Google's most-searched YouTube video for the entire year.
Read more: The 19 Kardashian moments that captured our attention in 2018, ranked in order of shock value
In July, Forbes revealed that Jenner was on the cover of its yearly "America's Women Billionaires" issue. The magazine estimates Jenner's net worth to be roughly $900 million, making her the 27th-richest self-made woman in the US.
"Another year of growth will make her the youngest self-made billionaire ever, male or female, trumping Mark Zuckerberg, who became a billionaire at age 23," Forbes reported.
Not bad for a 21-year-old girl "with no talent." - Callie Ahlgrim
32. Bo Burnham
Bo Burnham, 28, is one of the first examples of a YouTube star who has turned their fame into something beyond where they started.
After releasing ground-breaking stand-up specials with Netflix, Burnham wrote a screenplay for "Eighth Grade," a film about a middle schooler preparing for high school. Burnham says that he wrote the story in a (very successful) attempt to capture his anxiety.
The 2018 film, which Burnham directed, is one of the most original and best films of the year, and has recieved multiple Golden Globe nominations. Burnham's first film will hopefully earn him an Oscar nomination for best director, and we hope he continues to make more. - Carrie Wittmer
31. Halsey
Twenty-four-year-old singer-songwriter Halsey didn't release an album this year, but she still managed to make waves in the musical landscape. She earned her 16th RIAA-certified single with her platinum record "Without Me."
Halsey also continued to flex her socially conscious muscles, proving herself a worthy star of our time who isn't afraid to speak up against injustice. She sparked multiple debates about white privilege, criticizing hotels for providing shampoos that "alienate people of color" and clapping back at others who said her natural hair "looks like a wig."
Halsey even came out against the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, despite being given the honor of performing at the event, in light of the brand's comments about the LGBTQ community and the show's "lack of inclusivity." - Callie Ahlgrim
30. Post Malone
Post Malone, 23, quickly emerged as a defining artist of 2018. Even a scathing critique of the rapper from the Washington Post recognized that he is "the perfect pop star for this American moment."
His sophomore album, "Beerbongs & Bentleys," shattered multiple records upon its April release, including Spotify's first-day streaming numbers and The Beatles' record for most songs in the top 20 in the same week (six to Post Malone's nine). In August, his debut album, "Stoney," released in 2016, dethroned Michael Jackson's "Thriller" with its 77th week in the top 10 of Billboard's R&B and Hip-Hop Albums charts.
Post Malone also managed to find time to launch his inaugural Posty Fest in Dallas, release a collaboration with Crocs, and craft a new song for the "Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse" soundtrack. - Callie Ahlgrim
29. Hailee Steinfeld
Hailee Steinfeld has been acting for more than a decade, earning an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress for "True Grit" at the age of 14.
She appeared in the "Pitch Perfect" franchise, too, but it's her two recent roles as Gwen Stacey in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" and as a conflicted teen in "Bumblebee" which should help her become a household name. The latter has been critically praised as the best "Transformers" movie of the franchise and that's very much because of Steinfeld's role. Next year, she'll play the lead of Emily Dickinson in a TV show from Apple. - Kirsten Acuna
28. Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper topped our Under 30 list in 2017, thanks to how he "launched himself to stratosphere status on the sheer strength of his talent" and understanding of his fanbase.
The 25-year-old change maker laid fairly low in 2018. He did surprise-release some loose tracks, one of which landed on Barack Obama's list of his favorite songs of the year. Very casual.
More notably, Chance invested time and energy this year into causes he believes in. He donated $1 million to improve mental health services in Chicago; launched a new program for his charity, SocialWorks, to raise money for Chicago's Public Schools with Lyft; and purchased the assets of the local Chicago news site Chicagoist from WNYC, New York's public radio station, "to run you racist b----es out of business." - Callie Ahlgrim
27. Elsie Fisher
Last year, no one knew who 15-year-old Elsie Fisher was.
And now, we can't get her out of our minds. Her enthusiastic, complex performance as an anxious teenager in Bo Burnham's "Eighth Grade" won us over for good. Her performance, which got her a Golden Globe nomination, is better than some work we saw this year from acting legends more than twice her age.
She's earnest, talented, and has things to say both in her work as a performer and in her life outside of acting. - Carrie Wittmer
26. Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh may not be a household name right now, but she soon will be. The 22-year-old actress is remarkably skilled and showed off her abilities with multiple roles this year. She was incredible as a radical-actress-turned-spy on the miniseries adaptation of John Le Carré's "The Little Drummer Girl," and she stood her ground as Chris Pine's wife in Netflix's "The Outlaw King." She was also in Netflix's horror film "Malevolent" and starred alongside Liam Neeson in "The Commuter."
In 2019, she's playing Amy March in Greta Gerwig's "Little Women," she's starring in the horror movie "Midsommar," and she is playing real WWE wrestler "Paige" in "Fighting With My Family." Get ready to see her shine. - Anjelica Oswald
25. Mitski
Mitski, 28, dominated the music industry in the latter half of 2018.
Her fourth album, "Be the Cowboy," released in August, is one of the best albums in years, possibly decades. The album, which poetically captures the dreadful and happy feelings that come from loneliness, is a welcome departure from her earlier work, with pop influences that feel true to who she is as an artist.
Her authenticity, honesty and unconventionality connect with her devoted fans, and continually bring in a slew of new ones. Mitski, who was really only known in the indie world until this year, sold out four consecutive nights at Brooklyn Steel, a popular venue in New York City. And she continues to sell out for her "Be the Cowboy" tour across the country.
This is only the beginning for Mitski, so get ready and get familiar with her work, starting with the music video for "Nobody," which made the top 10 of INSIDER's best music videos of 2018 list. - Carrie Wittmer
24. Troye Sivan
If you vaguely recognize Troye Sivan, it might be thanks to his cameo in the "Thank U, Next" video or his summertime collaboration with Ariana Grande, "Dance To This." It might be from his small part acting alongside Lucas Hedges in "Boy Erased," the near-universally praised film about conversion therapy - and one of the most important films of the year.
But Sivan's face will soon become far more than vaguely familiar. The 23-year-old, who put out his critically acclaimed sophomore album "Bloom" in August, is nothing short of an icon tailor-made for modern fame. Sivan managed to clamber out of YouTube-exclusive popularity into full-blown pop stardom, harnessing his easy charm and online following to mark a genuine, much-needed milestone for queer artists.
As the New York Times points out, throughout his short yet blossoming career, Sivan continues to demonstrate "how his sexual orientation is both part of his art and beside the point."
"Hip-swinging pretty boys in eye makeup are nothing new; they've been singing on television since Elvis on Ed Sullivan," Matthew Schneier wrote for the Times. "But Mr. Sivan is a creature of our time: a self-possessed, on-his-own-terms heartthrob, gay and untroubled, with the commercial sheen of a Disney star and the charisma of a boy prince." - Callie Ahlgrim
23. Lily James
The 29-year-old Lily James has been acting since 2010. Her TV roles include "Downton Abbey" and "War & Peace," while her movie roles include the titular princess in "Cinderella" and "Baby Driver." But 2018 proved to be a good year for the starlet.
She voiced Tessa Thompson's white voice in "Sorry to Bother," found love in Netflix's adaptation of "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society," and played a young Donan Sheridan (originally Meryl Streep) in the beloved hit sequel "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again."
2019 will see the actress star alongside Tessa Thompson in crime thriller "Little Woods," as well as in an upcoming musical comedy from Danny Boyle and Richard Curtis. - Anjelica Oswald
22. Dua Lipa
You might think you're not familiar with Dua Lipa, but there's a good chance you've heard one of her songs on the radio. The British-based singer is the voice behind catchy pop songs like "New Rules" and "One Kiss" with Calvin Harris.
In 2018, she was named the second most-streamed female artist globally on Spotify, following Ariana Grande. Lipa's 2017 self-titled debut album went platinum and was also listed as one of Spotify's most-streamed albums. Variety also named Lipa their breakthrough artist of the year for all her achievements.
2019 will be another big year for the 23 year old. She was nominated for two Grammys: best new artist and best dance recording for the track "Electricity." She also has a new track called "Swan Song," which will be featured in the upcoming movie "Alita: Battle Angel." - Olivia Singh
21. Shawn Mendes
Shawn Mendes managed to turn his popularity on the now-defunct app Vine into a successful career as a solo artist. The Canadian singer has amassed a loyal following over the years and headlined three world tours, and he's only 20 years old.
As of 2018, Mendes has released three albums. His most recent, self-titled album showed the most growth and maturity, earning praise from publications like Billboard and Rolling Stone.
The singer-songwriter uses his music to effortlessly express the feelings of fellow young people, whether it's about losing the pureness of being a youth or dealing with anxiety. - Olivia Singh
20. Kiernan Shipka
The 19-year old actress first made waves in the industry for her role as Sally Draper on AMC's "Mad Men."
Shipka was so good in the role, that her character's arc expanded beyond the first season, making her more of a main character.
Since the show ended, Shipka has starred in a few movies including "The Blackcoat's Daughter," and developed an incredible Instagram account to match her promising career. Last year, people, for lack of a better phrase, freaked out when it was announced that she would play Sabrina Spellman on Netflix's "Chilling Adventures of Sabrina," which came out in October 2018.
Shipka is natural in the role, and has a lot of fun with it on screen and off. Her enthusiasm for the show is contagious. In December, Netflix ordered a season three and four for the series, so she's ending the year on a high note. The second season of "Chilling Adventures" comes in April 2019. - Carrie Wittmer
19. Lucas Hedges
Like his A24 darling counterpart Timothée Chalamet, Lucas Hedges had a booming start to his young career thanks to the breakout movies "Lady Bird" and "Manchester by the Sea." At age 22, he's already been nominated for the best supporting actor Academy Award, making him one of the youngest Oscar nominees of all time.
His performances in 2018's "Boy Erased," "Ben is Back," and "Mid90s" recieved heaps of critical praise. Hedges also returned to the Broadway stage for a role in Kenneth Lonergan's "The Waverly Gallery," where he starred alongside the legendary Elaine May and fellow young Hollywood alum Michael Cera.
Hedges has been consistently proving himself as a phenomenally talented and thoughtful addition to an impressive group of 20-something movie stars, and has more than earned the attention of Hollywood. - Kim Renfro
18. Zendaya
Zendaya has come a long way from starring on Disney Channel's "Shake It Up" when she was a teenager. Her second show on the popular network, "K.C. Undercover," came to an end in February 2018, but she's been staying occupied with other ventures.
She voiced a character named Meechee in the animated movie "Smallfoot," which sparked one of 2018's most hilarious memes.
The 22-year-old also uses her platform to communicate with her fans in a way that feels genuine and unforced.
"I try my best to inform myself and live my best life so that I can inspire my fans to live their best lives, be more educated, and learn for themselves," she said in the September 2018 issue of Marie Claire. "And I try to do it in a way that's not telling people what to think but opening up their eyes to possibilities, ideas maybe they never thought about. I try to look at it as a responsibility more than anything."
And even though Zendaya wasn't too much on the radar in 2018, she assures fans that she has plenty of surprises up her sleeve.
"I have so much coming ... I promise you'll forget how inactive I'm being," she told fans on Twitter. - Olivia Singh
17. Sophie Turner
2019 will be a huge year for Sophie Turner, 22, for many reasons. Not only will she reprise her role as Sansa Stark on the final season of "Game of Thrones," but she's also starring in next summer's "X-Men" movie, "Dark Phoenix," in the lead role.
Turner will then be marrying Joe Jonas at some point next year. The two haven't revealed an official date, but it sounds like it's happening in France next summer. What a way to follow the end of "Game of Thrones." - Kirsten Acuna
16. Lili Reinhart
The 22-year-old Lili Reinhart was thrust into the spotlight when "Riverdale" became a smash hit for The CW. Fans love her portrayal of the iconic Betty Cooper and her character's relationship with Jughead (played by Cole Sprouse), but it's Reinhart's life off-screen that fans really obsess over, sometimes too much so.
When reports first started that Reinhart and Sprouse were dating in real life, fans tried to guess at everything. Though the couple is more vocal about their relationship now, Reinhart has never been afraid to speak about the problems with fans harassing celebrities for personal details.
The actress is also vocal about her depression and the reality of unhealthy beauty standards. She's been open about her struggle with cystic acne, body dysmorphia, and has called out magazines for Photoshopping images.
Reinhart's fearlessness and criticisms are necessary in Hollywood. She's working to inspire people to believe in themselves, and she's doing a good job of it. - Anjelica Oswald
15. Yara Shahidi
At 18, Yara Shahidi has made quite the impression on the world. She successfully transitioned from ABC's "Black-Ish" to topline Freeform's spinoff, "Grown-ish," which is on its second season.
Along the way, she has been dedicated to improving the lives of others. In high school, she started a mentorship group for young women. And she's an activist with the goal of improving minority representation in Hollywood and engagement in politics.
Did we mention that she was admitted to Harvard (and that Michelle Obama wrote one of her recommendation letters)? - Jethro Nededog
14. Harry Styles
Harry Styles, 24, is a gem. The former One Direction member embarked on his solo career after the pop band went on hiatus in 2015 and showed his musical range with the release of his self-titled debut album in 2017. Styles then embarked on a tour that took him around the globe through 2018. He also proved his acting abilities with his film debut in Christopher Nolan's "Dunkirk."
Styles is an activist for LGBTQ rights, equality, and gun control. His tour merch told people to "treat people with kindness," and he frequently waved a rainbow flag onstage. The singer has shown support for the Black Lives Matter movement and urged his followers to sign the petition for March For Our Lives. Unapologetically himself, the singer isn't afraid to speak his mind. He is also a style icon.
He gifted the world with one of the best interviews of the year when he spoke with actor Timothee Chalamet for i-D, where the two discussed toxic masculinity and politics. Hopefully, 2019 brings us more of Styles' music and words of wisdom. - Anjelica Oswald
13. Zazie Beetz
Beetz has been a stand-out for years on FX's "Atlanta" where she was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding supporting actress in a comedy.
Her performance led to roles in "Deadpool 2" as a superhuman with the power of luck. Next year, Beetz will have a starring role in Todd Phillips' "Joker" movie as a love interest to Joaquin Phoenix's Arthur Fleck, who eventually becomes Batman's nemesis.
The actress is adamant about her natural hair and not straightening it. Beetz often shares a lot of photos of herself unfiltered, without makeup, and with her real hair flying free on Instagram to let others know it's OK to be themselves. - Kirsten Acuna
12. Brie Larson
Larson, 29, won her first best actress Oscar for her performance in "Room." After starring in "Kong: Skull Island," Larson starred in and directed her own film, "Unicorn Store."
2019 will be another big year for Larson as she stars in "Captain Marvel." Larson will be the Marvel Cinematic Universe's first female superhero, Carol Danvers, to get her own standalone movie. It's expected we'll see her character in "Avengers: Endgame" as well.
When she's not acting, Larson advocates for survivors of sexual assault. Larson was among the 300 women to help set up the Time's Up movement in Hollywood to protect women from harassment in the work place. - Kirsten Acuna
11. Lana Condor
Lana Condor, 21, landed her first role in 2016 as Jubilee in "X-Men: Apocalypse" and followed it up with a few small parts. But in 2018, her world changed with the lead role in Netflix's "To All The Boys I've Loved Before," a teen rom-com based on Jenny Han's book of the same name.
"To All the Boys" was such a smash success that it was the second-most binged movie on the streaming service. Fans were obsessed with the story, and it inspired a number of Lara Jean costumes for Halloween, which brought author Han to tears. Condor said that as an Asian-American actress, the chance to be the lead in a rom-com was "rare," but "To All The Boys" shows that anyone can be the lead in romance.
"We tried to tell the coming-of-age story of a 16-year-old girl who just happens to be Asian," she told The Cut. "It was important to me that people see that women of color are just normal f---ing people."
In 2019, Condor is returning for the sequel, following the book series, and it's certain to be as successful. She will next be seen starring on Syfy's "Deadly Class." - Anjelica Oswald
10. Tom Holland
Tom Holland had big shoes to fill when he was cast as Peter Parker/Spider-Man following films that were led by Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. But the 22-year-old has risen to the occasion, showcasing his version of the superhero that is filled with plenty of heart and humor.
In 2018, he starred in "Avengers: Infinity War" and improvised one of the most heartbreaking moments of the film.
And even though he's terrible at keeping spoilers to himself, Holland likely will continue to appear as the web-slinger as Marvel enters their fourth phase of movies. Holland will reprise his role in "Spider-Man: Far From Home," which hits theaters on July 5, 2019. The highly-anticipated movie will also introduce Jake Gyllenhaal as a Mysterio.
Aside from his MCU role, Holland will also star alongside Daisey Ridley and Nick Jonas in a sci-fi film called "Chaos Walking." - Olivia Singh
9. Amandla Stenberg
Amandla Stenberg isn't afraid of being on the frontlines of controversy. She's an outspoken feminist and LGBTQ activist. She also produces the comic book, "Niobe: She Is Life," which features a woman of color as its lead character.
This past year, she starred in the drama, "The Hate U Give," a timely movie about a young student who witnesses a police shooting.
We fully expect Stenberg to be an influential part of shaping the future of Hollywood. - Jethro Nededog
8. Noah Centineo
Noah Centineo became a breakout star after starring in two Netflix movies, "To All the Boys I've Loved Before" and "Sierra Burgess Is a Loser." Playing the charming, attractive love interest in both films added to his popularity, but his swoon-worthy interview answers and real-life romantic gestures also contributed to his 16 million (and growing) followers on social media.
You'll see even more of Centineo in 2019. He has no problem playing likable rom-com characters, and he'll reprise his role as Peter Kavinsky in the "TATBILB" sequel. He'll also guest-star as his "Fosters" character, Jesus, on "Good Trouble" (the spin-off series that recently premiered on Freeform).
On the big screen, you can catch the 22-year-old in the Elizabeth Banks-directed "Charlie's Angels" reboot with Kristen Stewart and Naomi Scott. Centineo will also star as a driver in an upcoming action film called "Valet." And hopefully we'll get a release date for another movie that Centineo stars in, "The Stand-In," alongside "Riverdale's" Camila Mendes. - Olivia Singh
7. Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronan, now 24, had her breakthrough role a decade ago in "Atonement," which earned her an Oscar nomination at age 13. Since then, she's picked up some of the most interesting roles in Hollywood and got yet another Oscar nomination in January for her leading role in "Lady Bird" - many people wanted her to win.
This year, she's taken a step back from the spotlight while filming other projects including Greta Gerwig's "Little Women," in which she'll play the protagonist Jo March, who Winona Ryder played in 1994. Ryder was nominated for an Oscar for best actress for the role.
Ronan has come back to make the press rounds to promote "Mary Queen of Scots." She plays Mary Stuart, but portrays her in a non-judgmental way. The movie probably won't dominate awards season, but she's incredible in it nonetheless. - Carrie Wittmer
6. Awkwafina
Awkwafina, 29, has been all over the place this year - and we're better people because of it. 2018 was a rough year, and her comedy made it a little easier.
Awkwafina's career in Hollywood, which only started in 2016, starting with her small role in "Ocean's 8." She ended the summer with a one of the most memorable roles in "Crazy Rich Asians," which broke box office records and made history. In October, she hosted an episode of "Saturday Night Live."
Awkwafina is a great talent, and has deserved the fame she reached in 2018 for years. It was a delight to see her have such a huge role in a historical production like "Crazy Rich Asians," and we look forward to more. - Carrie Wittmer
5. Cardi B
Cardi B, 25, has experienced nothing short of a remarkable rise to stardom. The former reality TV personality burst onto the scene with her 2017 single "Bodak Yellow." But in 2018, her debut album "Invasion of Privacy" cemented her as an unmatched force in rap and hip-hop. It's the only project nominated for both best rap album and album of the year for the 2019 Grammys.
In 2018 alone, the Bronx-born rapper was named one of Time's most influential people; broke two Guinness World Records titles previously held by Beyoncé; released her first clothing line with Fashion Nova, which sold out online within hours of its debut; gave birth to her first child; and became the first solo female rapper to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in nearly 20 years. - Callie Ahlgrim
4. Ezra Miller
Ezra Miller is a delight on-screen and off. By the time he entered the "Harry Potter" world as Credence Barebones in the "Fantastic Beasts" movies, he wasn't a new actor. Instead, he rose to fame thanks to roles in 2012's coming-of-age movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" and the 2017 DC film "Justice League."
The big reveal at the end of "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" put Miller's character at the center of the story, and he'll continue to gain popularity as the franchise continues with three more movies.
He's also going to star as Barry Allen/The Flash in a standalone film based on the Scarlet Speedster, but fans will likely have to wait a bit to see the final product since it's been delayed so many times.
"It's one of my great life dreams, and just the fact that we're on the way - anyone who knows about Barry Allen knows he may arrive late, very late, but once he gets there, it's all solved. We have to trust," Miller told Playboy in February.
Outside of his movie roles, the 26-year-old never ceases to step out on red carpets with outfits that generate plenty of chatter, from channeling Hedwig at the "Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald" London premiere to accessorizing with a champagne glass while attending a runway show in Tokyo, Japan. - Olivia Singh
3. Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet (we call him "Timotay") deserves a break, and he's only 22. But it doesn't seem like he plans on taking one anytime soon. And that's fine, because we want him in everything all the time.
Chalamet started off 2018 as one of the Internet's No. 1 boyfriends and with a best actor nomination for "Call Me by Your Name." James Ivory, the screenwriter for "Call Me by Your Name," wore a shirt under his tux at the Oscars with Chalamet's face on it, and people loved it so much that the artist put the art on t-shirts you can buy online. Chalamet didn't win the Oscar, but he's on track to win a little, heavy gold guy one day. And it will probably happen for Chalamet faster than it did for Leonardo DiCaprio, his '90s counterpart.
This year, Chalamet starred in "Beautiful Boy" opposite Steve Carell, which has already earned him a best supporting actor nomination at the Golden Globes. He also started filming Greta Gerwig's remake of "Little Women." He'll play Laurie, the neighbor of the March sisters, who was portrayed by Christian Bale in the iconic 1994 film.
Chalamet spent a lot of his 2018 building up to bigger projects, but the most exciting thing he did this year? A phone interview with Harry Styles that's thoughtful and honest, and without a doubt the best celeb-on-celeb interview we've ever read. - Carrie Wittmer
2. Letitia Wright
Letitia Wright, 25, first broke out as Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister in "Black Panther." She stood out in her supporting role for her endearing and relatable performance. Returning as the character in "Avengers: Infinity War," she showed once again how women can be fierce and funny and smart.
She first started acting back in 2011 and was on British shows including "Top Boy" and "Chasing Shadows," but she stepped away from acting while battling depression, something she hasn't shied away from speaking about.
"It was like this repetitive cycle that you can't break out of," she told Teen Vogue. "I did personally deal with it, and I just had to surrender to God, and I found that it really worked for me."
Wright earned her first Emmy nomination in 2018 for her performance in an episode of "Black Mirror."
2019 is primed to be an even better year for the young star with the actress slated to reprise her role of Shuri in "Avengers: Endgame." She's also involved with Rihanna and Donald Glover's secret project, "Guava Island." - Anjelica Oswald
1. Ariana Grande
It's difficult to overstate how impressive Ariana Grande truly is - how swiftly and gracefully she ascended from likable pop star to progressive, understanding, and wholly beloved emblem of strength and goodness - and she did it during the most painful year of her life.
As writer and activist Meagan Hatcher-Mays wrote on Twitter in November, "it's amazing how quickly I went from 'I know Ariana's hits and I enjoy them' to 'I WOULD FULLY DIE FOR THIS TINY, SAVAGE QUEEN.'" Even INSIDER's global editor-in-chief Nich Carlson has decided to "stan for life."
The 25-year-old has recently weathered a list of personal tragedies and traumas that would be enough to incapacitate anyone - especially a person who operates underneath such a bright spotlight. Instead, Grande has repeatedly chosen to rise above and embody positivity.
After a bombing at her concert in Manchester that killed 22 people, many of them children, Grande returned to the city and raised $13 million for the victims' families; her August album "Sweetener" explored PTSD and anxiety with an impossibly optimistic outlook. After the end of her whirlwind engagement to Pete Davidson and the death of her longtime ex-boyfriend Mac Miller, Grande produced "Thank U, Next," an astounding piece of art that expressed gratitude and enduring love, rather than defeat.
What's more, Grande has shown no signs of slowing down. Her next album, also called "Thank U, Next," will be released before the songstress embarks on a world tour in 2019. - Callie Ahlgrim
Visit INSIDER's homepage for more.