6. Michael Shannon
About to become one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood because of his role as General Zod in Man of Steel, Michael Shannon has spent a good portion of the last decade playing a vast number of compelling roles. Like many movie actors, he got his start in theater before making the transition to film, with his first role coming in the form of a cameo in Groundhog Day. His first role to gain him considerable attention was probably 2008's Revolutionary Road, where he earned an Oscar nomination despite competing for screen time with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. After gaining a role in HBO's Boardwalk Empire, Shannon turned in another acclaimed performance in 2011's Take Shelter. Known for portraying characters who are slightly off-kilter, Shannon will likely cement his status as one of the premier actors in Hollywood this year with Man of Steel, as well as the gangster film The Iceman.