Top 12 British Actresses In Their 20s

Stella Aurora

Several British actresses in their 20s have become famous and successful in Hollywood. These include Millie Bobby Brown, Jodie Marie Comer, Lucy Boynton, and Florence Pugh. These actresses are young, and watching them grow and develop over the years is exciting.

#12: Kaya Scodelario

Kaya Scodelario is a British actress who has appeared in many lead roles. She has several award-winning films. Among her notable movies are “Moon,” “Twenty8k,” “Clash of the Titans,” and “Extremely Wicked.”

In her early days, Kaya Scodelario started her acting career by playing a supporting role in the British drama Skins. She also appeared in the television series Southcliffe. Her breakthrough came in “The Maze Runner,” which won her several awards.

After her success in the film series, she continued to appear in the sequels of the film trilogy, including “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” (2017). Following her success in the movie, she gained popularity among young people.

Kaya Scodelario has also been nominated for multiple Glamour Awards. These include the Glamour Breakthrough Award, PANDORA Breakthrough Award, and Golden Nymph Awards. Other awards she has received include an Ashland Independent Film Award.

Currently, Kaya Scodelario is engaged to actor Benjamin Walker. They announced their engagement on December 28, 2014. Their wedding was held on December 1, 2016.

#11: Emma Mackey

Emma Mackey is best known in the film world for her role as the fictional muse for the Eiffel tower in the romantic comedy “Eiffel.” She also stars as the heroine in the thriller “Summit Fever.” The actress has a bachelor’s degree in English and has been in the acting business for under a decade.

She has appeared in the television series “The Bill” and a smattering of feature films. Upon her arrival in England, she worked as a model for one of the country’s leading clothing brands before moving on to higher ed. As a student at Leeds University, she took part in a plethora of theatrical productions. She was awarded the highest honors at the school’s drama club.

Not surprisingly, she went on to play the lead female in the aforementioned romantic comedy. Besides her time in the spotlight, Mackey has had a whirlwind year. Her most recent project, the Netflix original “Sex Education,” has been well-received by critics and viewers alike. 

Despite the show’s success, the actress still remembers her love of the theatre, as she has already booked a role in the next big thing. Aside from “Sex Education,” Mackey has a few more projects in the works, including a directorial debut in the thriller genre and an assortment of movies, including the romp above.

#10: Emilia Jones

Emilia Jones is a British actress, singer, and host. She is the daughter of Welsh singer Aled Jones. She started appearing in movies when she was eight. In the years since she made her debut, she has appeared in various TV shows and theatre productions.

Although she is a talented actress, she didn’t think she’d be a good fit for the role of Ruby Rossi, an eighteen-year-old deaf girl in Sian Heder’s comedy-drama CODA. However, after a bidding war at the Sundance Film Festival, she was given the role and is now set to star in Apple TV+’s “Locke & Key” series.

Although she was already set to star in the show, she spent most of 2019 filming. The actor is a natural when it comes to acting. Her performance in CODA garnered 25 nominations. Additionally, she was awarded a Breakthrough Performer award at the Gotham Awards.

Besides her performances in CODA and Locke & Key, she has starred in several other films. She has also appeared in the “Doctor Who” episode “The Doctor’s Orders” and has a starring role in the romantic drama film “One Day.” She has played a few small parts in several blockbuster movies as an aspiring actor.

#9: Jessica Barden

Born on July 21, 1992, in Northallerton, England, Jessica Barden grew up in Wetherby, West Yorkshire. In 1999, she appeared on a children’s television show called “My Parents Are Aliens.” The following year, she was spotted in a video for a music track and was offered the role of a young woman in the soap opera “Coronation Street.”

Barden has been nominated for the BAFTA Breakthrough Brit Award and the National Film Awards UK. She has also won an IMDb Breakout Star Award. In 2015, she was nominated for the Screen International Star of Tomorrow award.

Jessica’s breakout role was in the Netflix series “The End of the F***ing World.” It follows a teenage Bonnie and Clyde duo. This is based on a comic book series by Charles Forsman.

Jessica Barden also appeared in “Lullaby,” starring Amy Adams. Her role in the movie was nominated for the London Critics Circle Film Award and the Golden Trailer Awards. Another film she starred in was the urban horror film “Comedown.”

In addition to her films, Barden has appeared in several television shows and musicals. She has also been nominated for the BAFTA Drama Series Award.

#8: Maisie Williams

Born in Bristol, England, on April 15, 1997, Maisie Williams is known for her roles as Arya Stark on “Game of Thrones,” an HBO series. Her performance as the enigmatic, tomboyish young girl in the noble family earned her acclaim and several accolades.

The young actress has also appeared in several films and television shows, including “X-Men: The New Mutants.” She has a role in another upcoming movie. Besides, she was named one of the UK’s top international screen stars of the future.

During her time on the series, Maisie Williams has received two Emmy Award nominations. She won the Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television and the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.

Before starring in “Game of Thrones,” Maisie had been studying dance at a local school. She looked at Norton Hill School and Bath Dance College.

Although she grew up in Bristol, she lived with her parents in a rural area in Somerset. She attended Clutton Primary School and Norton Hill School.

At age 14, she was selected from a pool of 300 British actresses for a role in the TV series “Game of Thrones.” She made her acting debut in 2011. After the show ended, Maisie went on to appear in a variety of other films and shows.
Besides her role on “Game of Thrones,” Maisie has had a few other notable positions. She played Goona in Aardman’s early man and has starred in several TV shows.

#7: Olivia Kate Cooke

Olivia Cooke is a British actress born on December 27, 1993. She has been a part of a variety of films, as well as television shows. Some of her most notable roles are in “Ready Player One” and “Bates Motel.”

Cooke has received several awards for her performances. Her performance in the Netflix show, “The Queen’s Gambit,” helped her win the SAG Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series. Other awards include a BAFTA for leading actress in a Drama Series for “Help” in 2021.

Before making her television debut, Cooke worked as a theater actress. She has appeared in various short films and was cast in Oldham Sixth Form College’s “West Side Story.”

She then moved to Inverness, Scotland, at the age of six. This move led her to star in several commercials and television shows. It was also in the same city that she got her first local talent agent. As a child, Cooke lived with her mother. At 14, she secured her first talent agent in Manchester.

#6: Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley is a British actress who has become a global superstar. She’s known for playing the role of Rey in “Star Wars: Episode VII, The Force Awakens.” Now, she’s set to star in a re-telling of Shakespeare’s “Hamlet.”

Daisy Jazz Isobel Ridley was born in London on April 10, 1992. She is the youngest of five sisters. Her mother is internal communication professional for a bank. As a child, she spent her time in a private school, where she excelled at musical theatre.

At age 15, she was diagnosed with endometriosis. She underwent multiple laparoscopic surgeries to treat the condition. But, despite the surgery, Ridley states that her illness left her with low self-confidence. This led to her choosing a low-sugar, fish, and dairy diet.

Daisy Ridley was selected to play the female lead in the film. After initially being a bit unsure of her casting, she later found herself starring in the “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” reboot.

When the movie was released in December 2015, it became the fastest movie in history to reach $1 billion worldwide. It was also the highest-grossing film of 2015 so far.

#5: Lucy Boynton

One of Britain’s most talented actresses, Lucy Boynton, has a lot of talent. She has won many awards and has appeared in numerous television shows and films. The young actress has blonde hair and green eyes. Her looks are often daring. And her style is becoming an icon in the fashion world.

Boynton started her acting career as a child actor. But she stopped for a while after graduating high school to focus on her studies. Later she appeared in several short films and television shows.

Since then, she has worked consistently, making appearances in many film and TV productions. She had a starring role as a teenager in the BBC’s “Sense and Sensibility” series. However, her film career began with her lead role in the gothic thriller Miss Potter which was nominated for the Young Artist Award.

For her portrayal in the movie Boynton also had a small role in the musical “Sing Street.” This film was compared to a grittier Irish version of “High School Musical.” She has won several awards, including the British Independent Film Award and the British Comedy Award.

#4: Jodie Marie Comer

Jodie Comer has made a name for herself in TV and films. She has appeared in several series and has received several awards. In addition to the BAFTA award, she has also been nominated for a couple of Golden Globes.

Her acting career began with a small role in “The Royal Today” in 2008. After that, she got her first big break as a part of the BBC drama series “Doctor Foster.” It was in this show that Comer got her first Emmy nomination. Later, she became a fan favorite as an assassin in the spy thriller “Killing Eve.”

Following her stint in “Killing Eve,” Comer played the character of Villanelle in a new series. Her performance enabled her to earn a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Drama Series.

She later starred as a young woman in “The White Princess” on Starz. This historical drama series is set in the early Tudor era. As a royal family member, Elizabeth of York must marry Henry VII to end the Wars of the Roses.

#3: Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown has an extensive career. She has appeared in several blockbusters and has received critical acclaim for her role in Netflix’s science fiction drama “Stranger Things.” She is also an actress and producer. Despite her young age, she is valued at US$10 million.

At the age of 10, she attended her first red carpet. She has never been shy about wearing daring fashion. Among her unique looks is her white Dolce & Gabbana gown with flowers at the Time 100 Gala.

Millie Bobby Brown has been an up-and-comer since her role in “Stranger Things.” In addition to being the face of the show, she has starred in several other projects. Currently, she is working on three movies. Although she is a fan of video games, she is not very good at them. But she loves playing Fortnite.

Before becoming a famous actress, Millie worked on the comedy show “Modern Family.” She then had guest roles on TV shows like “NCIS” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” Her breakout role came as Eleven in “Stranger Things.”

#2: Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh is an English actress. She has made a mark on the Hollywood scene. Her acting career began at age 17 when she was cast in a drama movie entitled “The Falling.” From there, she appeared in various films, including “Don’t Worry Darling,” “Fighting With My Family,” and “Lady Macbeth.”

Florence Pugh has been nominated for numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and BAFTA EE Rising Star Award for her outstanding performance in “Little Women.” In addition, she won the British Independent Film Award for her role as the title character in “Lady Macbeth.”

In 2019, Florence Pugh starred in the film “Midsommar.” She also appeared in Marvel’s “Black Widow,” Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer,” and the Disney+ miniseries “Hawkeye.”

As for her personal life, Florence Pugh is dating actor Zach Braff. They first met in 2016. After a breakup in 2018, the couple has since kept their relationship secret. However, he has written and directed a film called “A Good Person” for her.

#1: Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy was born in Miami, Florida, on April 16, 1996. She is the daughter of British parents. Her father, Dennis Alan Taylor, is a banker. From a young age, Taylor-Joy dreamed of becoming an actress.

At sixteen, she left school and began her acting career. Since then, she has made many films and appeared in TV shows. One of her most memorable roles was playing Emma in the hit series “Peaky Blinders.”

In 2020, she will play Beth Harmon in the Netflix miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit.” Besides being nominated for the Golden Globe Award, Taylor-Joy won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Movie. Also, in 2016, she was nominated for the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor.

Taylor-Joy was named by Time magazine as one of its 100 Next lists in 2021. Among her other film credits are “Emma,” the X-Men spinoff “The New Mutants,” Barry, and the horror film “The Witch.”

Anya Taylor-Joy grew up in Buenos Aires and Miami and moved to London when she was nine. During her teenage years, she felt isolated and misunderstood by her peers. She also cried a lot while in England. However, it was not until she made her acting debut in Robert Eggers’ horror film, “The Witch,” that her career flourished.

References

  1. Shivam, Top 50 Young British Actresses In Their 20s [2023], retrieved from https://www.entoin.com/entertainment/british-actresses-in-their-20s
  2.  Archana Kabra, Top 25 Young Actresses in their 20’s, retrieved from https://www.thetealmango.com/featured/top-25-young-actresses-in-their-20s/
  3. Lucifersam, Sexiest British Actresses Under 30, retrieved from https://popcultured.livejournal.com/345621.html

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