6. Elle Fanning
Speaking of young and accomplished, what hasnt Elle done? Get cast in an Oscar nominated film at age 2? Check. Emerge from the shadow of her talented big sister? Check. Work with some of the biggest names in the industry like Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, Sean Penn, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Jeff Bridges? Check. Work for some of the most influential directors of the day like Tony Scott, Sophia Coppola, David Fincher, Cameron Crowe, Francis Ford Coppola, and geek god of the moment J.J. Abrams? Check. Act in two Best Picture nominees? Check. So she knows what shes doing. She also has stretched herself impressively considering her age. In Phoebe in Wonderland, Elle played a creative girl who suffered from apparent Tourette Syndrome. In Somewhere, Elle plays a tween who has to push her lazy father to find meaning in life. She played a ghost in Twixt. She was in love in We Bought a Zoo. And, just to make me happy, shes provided the voice of Mei in the American version of Studio Ghiblis My Neighbor Totoro. And shes not done yet. She has already earned rave reviews for her performance in the upcoming 1960s London-based film Ginger & Rosa. And she has her highest profile role opening next year when she plays Princess Aurora in the big budget Sleeping Beauty spinoff Maleficent. Big sister Dakota may still beat her to the Academy Awards, but my money is on Elle who thus far has managed to make as many good movies as Dakota, while also avoiding critical punching bags (Im looking at you, Twilight).