7. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
When youre in 2 of the years best films and youre one of the reasons they were so good, you simply have to be included as a hero of 2012 at the cinema. And dear little JGL of 3rd Rock From The Sun and 10 Things I Hate about You is all grown-up, and is a real star-in-the-making. Its not everyone who can rub shoulders with Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, Michael Shannon and Bruce Willis and be considered an equal. He brings likeability to John Robin Blake and complexity as Young Joe in Looper, which is just as much his film as it is Willis, his arrogance never turning into obnoxiousness. But he doesnt just do high-brow stuff, as proved by the dumb-but-fun actioner Premium Rush. Not many men can play a high-speed cyclist and end the year with their head held high. And next year we see his directorial debut, Don Johns Addiction, for which he turned down a role in Django Unchained. Hes disgustingly talented, and shows no signs of slowing down in 2013.