7. Jamie Bell - Billy Elliot
Jamie Bell pulls double-duty in this film, which makes his performance even more impressive. He not only has to pull off the acting role of Billy Elliot, an angry, rough-around-the-edges boy who feels alienated from his family, but he also has to be a good enough dancer that a ballet teacher would notice his raw talent and take him under her wing. Bell is a revelation in this role, believable as the tough kid raised by miners, totally unwilling to express his emotions. But we can also sense his confusion and vulnerability that lies just below the surface. It's this duality that elevates his performance into something that any adult actor would be proud of.