Class of 1990

Are we able to admire other people the same age as us? That was the question I asked myself yesterday on my way home from work; I think we are. I admire many of my friends and classmates for their intelligence, their creativity and their dedication but I also look up to many film stars (actors and actresses mostly, since I’ve yet to find a succesful 22-year-old filmmaker [at least in the “big leagues”]) for their talent, their drive and the fact that they are being recognized globally for their work at such a young age. At times, I get a little jealous, but mostly I’m happy to see that there are young people out there doing great things (I’m talking exclusively about film right here but, of course, it applies to many, many activities). Here are some of my favorite people born in 1990:

Emma Watson (born on April 15): She is one of the best examples of growth as an actor. Plucked from obscurity to be one of the three leads in Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone, Watson started out her career as a cute kid playing Rowling’s best character, Hermione Granger and, through the course of eight films, blossomed into a talented, exceptionally beautiful young actress. Emma can also be seen in My Week With Marilyn and the upcoming The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Aaron Johnson (born on June 13): I first noticed him, and I think most of the world did, too, in his breakthrough role in the fun Kick-Ass, where he played Dave Lizewski, a teenager who moonlights as a superhero. Known for his acting talent and classic good looks, Aaron can also be seen in Savages, Albert Nobbs and the upcoming Anna Karenina with Jude Law and Keira Knightley. He would’ve been the perfect choice to play Finnick Odair in the upcoming sequel to The Hunger Games, Catching Fire.

Dev Patel (born on April 23): I, of course, passed on The Last Airbender and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel hasn’t opened in my neck of the woods yet so, Patel’s inclusion on this list comes down to one role: his breakthrough as Jamal Malik in the multiple Oscar-winning Slumdog Millionaire. Eight Academy Awards and this guy wasn’t even nominated? Boo!

Jennifer Lawrence (born on August 15): since I first saw her in Guillermo Arriaga’s The Burning Plain (her finest performance to date; seriously, WOW), I’ve been in awe of this young actress. She got an Oscar nomination at 20 for her fierce work in Winter’s Bone, went blue as Mystique in X-Men: First Class and was the name on everyody’s lips back in March as heroine Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. Being one of the most beautiful creatures ever to walk the Earth doesn’t hurt, either. Keep an eye out for her in the upcoming Silver Linings Playbook and, of course, Catching Fire.

Other cool people born on 1990 are Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Q’Orianka Kilcher (The New World), Keisha Castle-Hughes (Whale Rider, The Nativity Story), Charlie McDermott (Frozen River, TV’s The Middle), Kristen Stewart (Into the Wild, Panic Room), Alex Pettyfer (In Time, Magic Mike), Thomas Sangster (Love Actually), Chris Colfer (Glee), David Kross (The Reader, War Horse), Jonathan Lipnicki (Jerry Maguire), Sarah Hyland (Modern Family) and Diego Boneta (Rock of Ages).

So, who are your favorite people born the same year as you?

Category : Musings