2. Freddie Highmore - Bates Motel
A&ETen years ago, Freddie Highmore was a tremendously earnest young English lad, with an adorable little face and an innocent sort of charisma. He frequently starred alongside Johnny Depp, playing the titular Charlie in the 2005 reimagining of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, as well as being one of the boys that JM Barrie based his iconic Peter Pan character on in Finding Neverland. Quite honestly, it didn't seem likely that he would find much success as an adult actor, if only because we didn't believe he would ever grow out of that baby face. But while he doesn't look significantly different from when he was a kid, he's matured into a talented adult actor. His first real dramatic role on this side of puberty was definitely a shocker, one that generated interest from all corners of the industry. Almost out of nowhere, he was cast as the young version of Normal Bates on the television drama Bates Motel. It was a major change of pace for the young actor -- a very dark character on a very dark show. His interpretation of Normal is purposefully inscrutable; sometimes he seems like a normal teenager seeking meaningful interactions with his peers, but then other times his unhealthy codependent relationship with his mother and predilection for violent sexual imagery has a tendency to overshadow his better qualities. It's an incredibly ambitious role for Highmore, one that will allow him to stretch himself as an actor and shake off his wholesome childhood image.