5) John Boyega – Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Sure, we’ve seen John Boyega before, in Joe Cornish’s Attack the Block, but it was difficult with that film to select just one actor out of the ensemble. In The Force Awakens, Boyega’s strongly tested as a lead – or at least co-lead – for the first time. And lo and behold, he has the comic timing of a veteran comedian and the presence of a star who’s been doing this for much, much longer.
At just 23, Boyega carries the biggest franchise of all time on his shoulders, alongside Daisy Ridley (more on her in a moment), bringing heart and a kind of everyman quality until now unseen in the series. Finn is whiny and a little bit cowardly, but Boyega sells that as mere human foibles, playing Finn as the relatable anchor in a line-up of extraordinary characters.