Top 25 young male actors under 30 you should watch in 2023

Every year, there are thousands of movies and TV shows in production. Due to more acting roles being available, there has been an increase in A-list young male actors under 30. Some start acting before their 10th birthday, while most actors get their first roles in their 20s.

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Who are the best actors under 30? Due to industry changes in production and distribution, the list of the best actors under 30 keeps changing. Also, different celebrties have different abilities. Some can script, while others are talented directors.

Top 25 young male actors under 30 in 2023

Who is the hottest young male actor? It is easy to get caught up in the glamour of awards and forget about the process that budding young male celebrities go through to become stars. Audiences do not see the gruelling long days, endless auditions, and training to make it to global recognition. It takes so much grit and resilience to rise through the ranks. So, who is the youngest actor in 2023?

From child celebrities who broke the mode of typecasting to graduates who did not grow in the industry, the following celebrities did not make it to this list by chance. Each of them has a unique drive, talent and charm that captivates their audience. These are the best male actors in their 20s.

1. Iain Armitage – 13 years

Iain Armitage during an episode of Young Sheldon. Photo: @iain
Source: Instagram

Iain Armitage is one of the youngest theatre critics in the USA. To date, his most significant role was playing the Young Sheldon, a critically acclaimed spin-off series. Armitage was also part of the cast in Big Little Lies, playing Ziggy Chapman.

Thanks to his impressive performances in big productions, Iain Armitage has been a recurring host in major talk shows such as The Ellen Show. In all the interviews, TV hosts quickly point out that the young actor will one day rule Hollywood.

2. Noah Schnapp – 17 years

Noah Schnapp during the screening of Netflix’s Stranger Things. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Noah Cameron Schnapp is a Canadian-American actor. He features as Will Byers in Stranger Things, an award-winning Netflix science fiction series. Noah and his fellow cast members won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series.

Noah made his debut in acting in 2015 and has featured in films such as Bridge of Spies, The Peanut Movie, The Legend of Hallowaiian, Waiting for Anya, Hubie Halloween, to mention a few.

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3. Max Charles – 18 years

Max Charles in 2019. Photo: @maxcharles1
Source: Instagram

Max Charles is one of the best actors under 30 based on his talent and the TV shows. For example, he was part of the cast for the Three Stooges. He also played the Peter Parker character in The Amazing Spider-Man. His most significant role is playing in the comedy show, The Neighbors.

Besides acting, Max Charles is an accomplished singer and songwriter. He was involved in creating Looking for Asians (Official Motion Picture Soundtrack) as a singer and producer.

4. Finn Wolfhard – 18 years

Finn Wolfhard in December 2021. Photo: @finnwolfhardofficial
Source: Instagram

Thanks to his ability to act, write, and direct, Finn Wolfhard is one of the best up-and-coming actors under 30. The Canadian star has featured in major productions like Netflix’s Stranger Things. He is also expected to be part of the cast in the upcoming Ghostbusters.

Besides acting, Wolfhard enjoys one of the most significant followings on social media among the young actors. The native of Vancouver has more than 20 million followers on Instagram and million others on other social media platforms.

5. Jaeden Martell – 18 years

Jaeden during the Critics Choice Awards. Photo: @jaedenwesley
Source: Instagram

Jaeden Martell is one of the young male actors from America. Jaeden starred in Defending Jacob, a 2020 miniseries, and appeared in Knives Out, a 2019 mystery film. Jaeden Martell also played the role of Bill Denbrough in It, a 2017 film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel.

Martel began his acting career in 2014 and has so far featured in films such as The True Adventures of Wolfboy, The Lodge, The Book of Henry and Midnight Special, to mention a few. He also made appearances in TV series such as American Dad!, Defending Jacob, Masters of Sex and Calls.

What actors are in their 20’s?

As production companies ramp up the production of movies and TV shows aimed at the young audience, many teenage stars have emerged on the scene. Some of these actors have a natural talent that is hard to ignore. They exhibit everything it takes to be a star in Hollywood. Here are the most famous young male actors as of 2023:

6. Abraham Attah -20 years

Abraham Attah was at the Oscars. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Abraham Attah is popular for Netflix’s debut, Beasts of No Nation. Since then, he has featured in other high-budget TV shows such as Yuki Kaji and Spider-Man: Homecoming: Extras. However, unlike most celebrities, he did not have a background in acting before the Netflix movie.

Abraham Attah is one of the celebrities to watch in the next decade. Entertainment commentators have described the Ghanian star as ‘the next big actor’ in Hollywood.

7. Jace Norman – 21 years

Jace Norman was at the Kid’s Choice Awards in 2019. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Jace Norman is popular for the hit Nickelodeon television series Henry Danger. He has also played in other TV shows such as The Thunder and Danger Force. He stands out as a talented and experienced actor in all his roles, even though he is only 21 years old as of 2021.

Besides acting, Jace Norman has an inspirational personality. He has opened up to his experience as a person with dyslexia. According to him, acting was his way out as his grades in school were not as impressive as his peers’.

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8. Charlie Plummer – 22 years

Charlie Plummer was posing for a picture during an assignment. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Charlie Faulkner Plummer is one of the hot young guys and youngest American actors. he started his career as a kid actor before transitioning into TV dramas like Granite Flats and Boardwalk Empire. He featured in David Chaser’s drama, Not Fade Away in 2012, before landing a lead role in King Jack in 2015.

In 2017, he gained popularity after his lead role feature in Andrew Haigh’s drama Lean on Pete. The role earned him the Marcello Mastroianni Award for being the best emerging actor at the 74th Venice Film Festival. Charlie Plummer’s most recent projects include: Looking for Alaska, Words on Bathroom Walls and Spontaneous.

9. Jaden Smith – 23 years

Jaden Smith during the MTV 2020 Music Awards. Photo: gettyimages.com
Source: Getty Images

Jaden Smith is one of the most famous male actors under 30, thanks to his previous works and association with Will Smith. However, unlike most celebrities, Jaden has lived in Hollywood, which gave him more acting roles than his peers. His biggest movie to date was 2010’s The Karate Kid.

Even though he is one of the most talented celebrities, he took a break to concentrate on his music career. Jaden Smith has released more than five albums under Columbia and Roc Nation.

10. Tanner Buchanan – 23 years

Tanner Buchanan during the Tribeca Films Awards in 2018. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Tanner Buchanan is another one of the youngest male actors. He is best known for his role in Designated Survivor, the ABC political drama series. He made his debut in 2010 in Modern Family by playing a child role.

At twenty-three, Tanner Buchanan has featured in award-winning shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Fosters, Game Shakers and Girl Meets World. He also features in Cobra Kai as Robby Keene.

11. Jharrel Jerome – 24 years

Jharrel Jerome during the 71st Emmy Awards. Photo: gettyimages.com
Source: Getty Images

Jharrel Jerome is an Afro-Latino actor. Even though he is not the first Afro-Latino celebrity to get a major role, he is the first to win an Emmy. He was part of Netflix’s When They See Us cast, playing the teenage Kevin. Besides winning an Emmy, the New York-born celebrity has also starred in major productions such as the Moonlight.

Apart from acting, Jharrel is a rapper. Even though he has not released an album, hit singles such as For Real featuring Kemba have enjoyed a huge rotation in major New York radio stations.

12. Asa Butterfield – 24 years

Asa Butterfield during the BAFTA Films Awards in 2021. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Asa Butterfield is a London Film Critics Circle Award nominee and one of the best young male actors under 30. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas was his breakout project in 2008. However, his lead role in 2018 Sex Education remains Butterfield’s most significant role to date. The TV show also received many recognitions besides being among the most-watched shows on Netflix.

The British star is a reserved person. Even though he has been active on social media promoting the show, he prefers maintaining a low profile.

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13. Hero Fiennes Tiffin – 24 years

Hero Fieness Tiffin. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Hero Fiennes Tiffin is an English TV star, producer and model. He is famous for his starring role as Hardin Scott in the After film series. Tiffin portrayed 11-year-old Tom Riddle, the young version of the antagonist Lord Voldemort, in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in 2009.

Hero Fiennes Tiffin also featured as Hardin Scott in After We Collide and After. In 2019, he won the Ischia Film Festival and Teen Choice Awards.

14. Lucas Hedges – 24 years

Lucas Hedges during the 23rd Annual Actos Guild. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Lucas Hedges is an actor and child to Peter Hedges, an award-winning filmmaker. As a graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, he has been part of some major productions. For example, Mid90s and Boy Erased are some of the shows. The American star was also a supporting cast member in the Moonrise Kingdom TV series.

Apart from acting, Hedges has been nominated for different awards. He is a nominee in Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer in 2016. He was also nominated for an Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actor in 2017.

15. Thomas Stanley Holland – 25 years

Thomas Stanley Holland is an actor from the UK. Besides being a product of BRIT School in London, he has been in some of the biggest shows. For example, he starred in 2019’s Spider-Man: Far from Home. However, Holland’s latest release, Cherry, has received some of the highest reviews on all independent platforms.

Besides acting, Holland is a darling to the English media, thanks to his openness and opinionated views on the film industry. He is always open to giving interviews, even when he is not promoting any film or project.

16. Joel Courtney – 25 years

Joel Courtney during the screen of The Kissing booth. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Joel Courtney is an award-winning American star. He is famous for his starring role in The Kissing Booth and featuring in Super 8. Joel made his debut in 2011 and has since featured in films such as Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn, Mercy, The Empty Man, Dear Eleanor. He has also featured in TV shows such as The Messengers, Group Chat with Annie & Jayden, APB, Double Dare and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

17. Khylin Rhambo – 25 years

Khylin Rhambo is an actor and writer. He has featured in The First Family, and MTV’s show Teen Wolf as Mason Hewitt. He has also appeared in other shows as a supporting cast member. For example, he was part of the 47 Meters Down: Uncaged Show in 2019.

Besides acting and writing, Rhambo is a private person. For instance, on his Instagram account, he has shared less than 40 photos. His approach to fame is unconventional and has made people curious about him.

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18. Callan McAuliffe – 26 years

Callan McAuliffe during the BAFTA Awards. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Callan McAuliffe is one of the best brown-haired actors under 30. The 26 years old star, as of 2021, was one of the lead characters in The Great Gatsby. He also made a brief appearance on The Walking Dead, where he played Alden.

While the Australian star does not have a massive following on social media like his peers, he is multi-talented. For example, Callan McAuliffe has written a best-selling book, The Hill Ghost.

19. Kofi Siriboe – 27 years

Kofi Siriboe in November 2020. Photo: @kofisiriboe
Source: Getty Images

Kofi Siriboe is a model and actor from Los Angeles, California. The 27-year-old, as of 2021, has appeared in major shows such as Queen Sugar and Girls Trip. While he has not gotten a major role since Queen Sugar, he is rumoured to be part of upcoming but independent movies.

When he is not acting, Kofi Siriboe is on fashion projects. He has worked with major fashion agencies such as Vision Models in Los Angeles. He has also worked with major fashion brands in the past.

20. Will Poulter – 28 years

Will Poulter during the screen of A024. Photo: gettyimages.com
Source: Getty Images

Will Poulter is an award-winning actor and one of the UK’s best young male actors under 30. The MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss winner was in 2014’s The Maze Runner, and We’re the Millers released in 2013.

Besides acting, Will Poulter is passionate about research, especially on underfunded courses in the UK. He has used his social media platforms, such as Twitter, to push for more funding for dementia research.

21. Bryshere Yazuan Gray – 28 years

Bryshere Yazuan Gray in May 2018. Photo: gettyimages.com
Source: Getty Images

Bryshere Yazuan Gray, popularly known as Yazz, became a Hollywood overnight star after playing Hakeem Lyon in the musical drama television series Empire. Thanks to his brilliant acting, he was nominated for the Teen Choice Award for Choice TV: Breakout Star. While he never won, the recognition opened more doors.

After Fox’s primetime, he started doing shows as an independent actor. For example, he was a lead actor in a 2019 movie, Canal Street. Unfortunately, he has been involved in many scandals involving domestic violence against his wife.

22. Cole Sprouse – 29 years

Cole Sprouse attends the premiere of Lionsgate’s ‘Five Feet Apart’ at Fox Bruin Theatre. Photo: Axelle Bauer-Griffin
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Cole Sprouse is one of the few young white male characters to get major roles in a TV series and a sequel. He was part of Disney’s The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and its spin-off series. However, after The Suite Life on Deck, he took a break to concentrate on his education.

Years later, Sprouse came back. This time, he was one of the lead characters in one of the biggest CW’s series, Riverdale. Playing Archie in the series displayed his unmatched acting abilities, especially considering that the show had many A-list actors.

23. John Boyega – 29 years

John Boyega attends Universal’s “Pacific Rim Uprising” Premiere at TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX. Photo: Frazer Harrison
Source: Getty Images

John Boyega is a London-based celebrity Thanks to his impressive acting skills and previous works, he is one of the best young actors under 30 in Europe. For example, he made appearances in Watership Down and Small Axe. However, his most significant role was acting in the 2011 Attack the Block.

The British-Nigerian star has the cleanest profile among his peers. Unlike his fellow actors, John Boyega is rarely involved in controversies. When he is on TV, he is probably promoting his upcoming show or film. For example, he has been on the news lately explaining the possibility of a Star Wars return.

24. Mizero Ncuti Gatwa – 29 years

Ncuti Gatwa attends the “Sex Education” Season 2 World Premiere at Genesis Cinema. Photo: Mike Marsland
Source: Getty Images

Mizero Ncuti Gatwa is another actor from Netflix’s Sex Education. Through the show, the Rwandan-Scottish actor has received many recognitions, such as two BAFTA Television Award nominations and BAFTA Scotland Award. He also received a nomination on MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss because of the show.

Besides Netflix’s show, Ncuti has starred in other shows such as The Last Letter from Your Lover in 2021 and Stonemouth. Unfortunately, he has received a lot of hate for introducing himself as a Scottish celebrity because of his skin colour.

25. Freddie Highmore – 29 years

Freddie Highmore during the Bates Motel party. Photo: gettyimages.com
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Alfred Thomas Highmore is an award-winning English actor. He made his debut in 1999 when he was featured in the film Women Talking Dirty. He is famous for his starring roles in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Neverland, The Spiderwick Chronicles and August Rush.

In 2017, Freddie Thomas began producing and starring as Dr Shaun Murphy in the ABC drama series The Good Doctor. The role earned him a Golden Globe Award for the Best Actor category nomination. He is also a recipient of the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards for Best Young Performer.

What actors are in their 20’s?

Apart from the figures mentioned above, Timothée Chalamet is another actor who is doing incredibly great. He featured in Interstellar in 2014, Call Me by Your Name and Lady Bird in 2017.

Ashton Sanders is also another talented actor in his 20s. He featured in Moonlight in 2016, The Kids Are Alright in 2018, Captive State in 2019 and All Day and a Night in 2020.

Who is the hottest young male actor?

Jordan Fisher would pass as the hottest young male actor. He is a singer, actor, dancer and gamer. Jordan Fisher is famous for featuring in The Flash as Bart Allen. Jordan has also featured in The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Teen Wolf, Dancing with the Stars, to mention a few.

Who is the youngest actor in 2023?

Billy Jenkins is the youngest actor in 2023. He was born on 20th August 2007. He is famous for featuring in The Crown in 2016, in Holmes & Watson in 2018 and Cursed in 2020.

These details about the top 25 young male actors under 30 you should watch in 2023 are an eye-opener to the transformative industry. They are also a testament to the growth in the entertainment industry.

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