Why: I’m grouping these two because, though they were both known before for roles in teen-targeted fare (Hudgens headlined all three of Disney Channel’s High School Musical films, while Benson stars in ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars), both actresses delivered stunning, star-making performances in Harmony Korine’s booze-soaked satire Spring Breakers.
Korine’s film is full of nightmarishly queasy titillations, as the group of girls at the film’s center delve into the shady criminal underworld of Miami, but it’s the acting from Hudgens and Benson that really sells Spring Breakers as something much more troubling and complex than Girls And Guns Gone Wild. Hudgens completely threw herself into the part of terrifyingly immoral ringleader Candy, while Benson turned in a truly demented performance as the deceptively wide-eyed Brit. Their scenes with James Franco’s gonzo gangster Alien are as darkly humorous as they are gripping. More than any other actresses this year, Hudgens and Benson broke out of the teen-star mold with startling force.
What’s Next: Hudgens will take on starring roles in coming-of-age drama Gimme Shelter (due in January) and the 2015 horror comedy Kitchen Sink, then voice a wild salmon in animated family film The Great Migration. Benson will also contribute her voice to The Great Migration while continuing to star on ABC Family’s Pretty Little Liars.
[h2]Jane Levy – Evil Dead[/h2]
Why: The Suburgatory star delivered a terrifying performance as heroin-addict-turned-possession-victim Mia in Fede Alvarez’s blood-soaked Evil Dead remake. Levy swung for the fences in her first leading role in a feature film and hit it out of the park, alternately breaking our hearts and making them jump out of our chests. It’s rare that an actress in a horror flick is capable of playing the petrified damsel and the vile antagonist (a gleefully depraved demon), but Levy does impressive work in both roles. Though the film was too gory for many to handle, Levy’s brilliant turn makes a strong case for her as one of horror’s next greats.
What’s Next: Suburgatory returns for its third season on ABC this January, but the actress also has some big-screen projects in the works. Levy will take on supporting roles in comedy Frank and Cindy and drama About Alex, then she’ll star in psychological thriller In A Dark Place, as a governess hired by a strange British family to watch over a porcelain doll.