3. Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch's meteoric rise during the last few years has quickly established him as one of the most prominent up and coming actors of the last few years A former theatre actor, Cumberbatch has actually been around for quite a while, his first prominent role coming all the way back in 2006's Amazing Grace, but it wasn't until he landed the titular role on BBC's Sherlock that he became a household name. He channeled his newfound fame into roles in some of the biggest blockbusters out there including Star Trek: Into Darkness and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smug. Just this year, Cumberbatch will star in likely award-winners 12 Years a Slave, August: Osage Country, and The Fifth Estate in addition to his two blockbuster roles. Benedict Cumberbatch is at his best when he plays men possessed with overpowering intellects, both Sherlock Holmes and "John Harrison" seemed to constantly be enamored with their own brilliance and much of the fun of watching Cumberbatch perform comes from seeing him be relentlessly likable even as he constantly berates everyone around him. He is currently one of he busiest actors out there and his upcoming roles promise a variety of performances that should cement him in the public consciousness as one of the prominent actors of his generation.