Fall’s Fresh Faces!

Much like the first day of high school, this fall’s TV and movie schedule is populated by promising young actors. Here are 11 nominees for Hollywood’s top of the class:

The Intriguing Foreign Exchange Student:
Mia Wasikowska (Amelia, Alice in Wonderland)

Why She’s So Fresh: On acting, the pretty 19-year-old former ballerina has said: “I just wanted to try a different type of performance — ballet is more an image of perfection, and film can show a grittier side. Sometimes it’s the more realistic topic of real life that really intrigues me.”

Wasikowska will bust out some grit in the upcoming Amelia Earhart biopic Amelia, but the Australian’s take on the title role in Tim Burton‘s highly anticipated interpretation of Alice in Wonderland will likely err more on the side of whimsy. 

KEEP READING: The Homecoming King/Heartbreaker [PAGEBREAK]

The Homecoming King/Heartbreaker:
Cam Gigandet (Pandorum)

Why He’s So Fresh: You and a trillion other Twi-hards know Gigandet (that’s Ji-GON-day) as lethal vampire James who bit it hard in Twilight. This fall, the heartthrob goes from one supernatural predator to another when he, along with Ben Foster and Dennis Quaid, takes on aliens in deep space as a stranded astronaut in Pandorum. The 27-year-old real-life father (girlfriend Dominique Geisendorff gave birth to daughter Everleigh Ray Gigandet in April) also has a slew of other films, including The Experiment with Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker, coming out in 2010. 

KEEP READING: The Guy From Shop Class Who Wins Every Fight [PAGEBREAK]

The Guy From Shop Class Who Wins Every Fight:
Jake McLaughlin (Crash)

Why He’s So Fresh: The 25-year-old actor is a member of Crash‘s populous ensemble cast and will also appear in next year’s film Warrior. McLaughlin should fit into the flick quite naturally, as the brooding actor is a former member of the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Division. He was awarded the army commendation medal, combat infantry badge, global war on terrorism service medal, global war on terrorism expeditionary medal, army good conduct medal, and four army achievement medals for his service during Operation Iraqi freedom. Compared to all that, working alongside Dennis Hopper doesn’t seem so intimidating.

KEEP READING: The Prom Queen Who’s Too Nice to Hate [PAGEBREAK]

Why She’s So Fresh: An industry veteran at 21-year-old, Paxton started acting at age six and has appeared in shows including Malcolm in the Middle, Will and Grace, and CSI: Miami.  Best known for sporting a fin while playing the title role in the mermaid flick Aquamarine, this fall, Paxton puts her obvious genetic gifts to good use playing a hot young model alongside Mischa Barton in The Beautiful Life. The role shouldn’t be too much of a stretch for this real-life former model.

KEEP READING: The Star Quarterback With a Sensitive Side [PAGEBREAK]

Why He’s So Fresh: Virginia native Knighton simultaneously worked his way up the TV food chain with bit parts in Law and Order, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Bones, proving that the prestigious “excellence in theater” award he received upon graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University was well-earned. This fall, Knighton’s hard work pays off, as he is likely to become a household name as a cast member of the much anticipated FlashForward. The show is already earning comparisons to heavy-hitter Lost, which might just make rugged Knighton TV’s next Sawyer. 

KEEP READING: Drama Club President Blonde Bombshell and All-Around Cool Chick [PAGEBREAK]

Why She’s So Fresh: After years of playing seriously gritty roles including drug addicts and prostitutes, Juilliard-trained Jacobs lightens up a bit this fall as Britta, the leading lady in the much-buzzed-about sitcom Community that also stars comedic heavies Chevy Chase and Joel McHale. Jacobs tells Entertainment Weekly: “With those funny guys, you just got to be ready to play ball with them, and if you’re as game as they are, then you’ll be fine.” With her spot-on timing and no b.s. attitude, she will, we’re sure, be better than fine. Overachiever Jacobs also appears alongside Cameron Diaz in the November thriller The Box.  

KEEP READING: The Marching Band Guy You’re Totally Crushing on [PAGEBREAK]

The Marching Band Guy You’re Totally Crushing on:
Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland)

Why He’s So Fresh: Multi-talented Eisenberg (the 25-year-old has been playing the drums since he was eight and acting since his teens) earned heaps of credibility with roles in critically-adored flicks including Roger Dodger and The Squid and the Whale. The actorly actor will surely hold his own in the upcoming Zombieland (also starring Woody Harrelson and Emma Stone) as he likely inherited solid comedic chops from his mother, a 20-year professional clown. Eisenberg is also rumored to be taking on the role of twentysomething media mogul Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, the story of the creation of Facebook. Projected FB status: Jesse Eisenberg is making way more money than you.

KEEP READING: The Head Cheerleader With Big-Time Ambition [PAGEBREAK]

The Head Cheerleader With Big-Time Ambition:
Kherington Payne (Fame)

Why She’s So Fresh: Audiences who recognize Payne from the fourth season of So You Think You Can Dance will see she sure as hell can work the footwork and the acting in this fall’s remake of Fame. Of the transition to SYTYCD to the her first acting gig, Payne tells Hollywood.com,”it was kind of really quick and really crazy.” What’s also crazy is that Payne’s role as Alice, a dancer who she calls “the kind of a girl who you would expect to have everything,” puts her alongside Broadway legend Bebe Neuwirth and original Fame-ster Debbie Allen. Not bad for a 19-year-old who says her next career move is to “get into acting class and work with a coach and just hopefully start my acting career.” Payne is, as Mary Murphy would say, riding the hot tamale train in a major way.

KEEP READING: The Cute Guy Who Works the Super Store Night Shift [PAGEBREAK]

The Cute Guy Who Works the Super Store Night Shift:
Cory Monteith (Glee)

Why He’s So Fresh: Monteith has only been acting professionally since 2005, but in four short years, the 27-year-old actor has appeared in a slew of film and television including Kyle XY, Stargate: Atlantis and Final Destination 3. Glee, fall’s front-runner for favorite new comedy, provides the handsome Canadian with his breakout role as singing quarterback Finn Hudson — and should ensure he’ll never have to go back to his former job as a Wal-Mart greeter.

KEEP READING: The Valedictorian With the Wicked Sense of Humor [PAGEBREAK]

Why She’s So Fresh: California-born Shawkat first made us laugh (uncontrollably so) as pensively hilarious Maeby Funke in the underappreciated series Arrested Development. Since the show’s cancellation in 2006, Shawkat has worked consistently, if a bit under the radar, with roles in films like Bart Got a Room and Deck the Halls. Shawkat’s seeming absence makes her role alongside Ellen Page in the promising roller-derby flick Whip It! even more exciting. What’s also exciting: Shawkat reprising her role, and her flirtation with cousin George Michael, as a Bluth scion in the long awaited big-screen version of Arrested Development.

KEEP READING: The Hot Teacher Who Might Actually Be Flirting With You [PAGEBREAK]

Why He’s So Fresh: McHale has been writing, producing and hosting E’s The Soup for years, which is why we pretty much adore him and his many facial expressions. We also know how charismatic and freaking hilarious he is, which is why we’re sure he’s going to kill it in primetime as he takes the lead in Community. Hardworking McHale will burn the candle at both ends this fall by playing slightly smarmy college student Jeff Winger on the sitcom and continuing his job of making fun of Paula Abdul and Ryan Seacrest on The Soup. A+ for effort!

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