1. Ben Schnetzer
He leads the ensemble Pride with the perfect mix of passion to do something, the charisma to be a leader, and the humility to settle as a reluctant leader. The efficiency with which he created an emotional connection without over-powering the rest of the magnificent cast was just as good as his undeniable charm and allure.
2. Sarah Gadon
First she's the pregnant wife to a dangerous man who may or may not be real in Enemy, then she's the privileged cousin balancing her position of entitlement with that of equality for her less-entitled cousin in Belle, then she's a haunting ghost in Maps to the Stars. Her range in 2014 might only be outdone by her potential.
3. Gugu Mbatha-Raw
British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw has made a grand entrance into Hollywood this year with her lead performance in Belle and Beyond the Lights. In the historical romance, Belle, she delicately balanced the complexities of a woman caught in between wealth and slavery. A woman who accepted her position with dignity but as the film went on captured her destiny with power and persuasiveness.
4. Ansel Elgort
He shot to stardom with the romantic drama The Fault in Our Stars, but then continued to impress with an emotionally-engaging and very realistic portrayal of a love-torn depressed teenager in Men, Women & Children.
5. James Hamrick
Playing the real-life accused murderer Damien Echols in Devil's Knot, Hamrick gave a piercingly honest portrayal in his film debut capturing a level of realism and an element of sympathy that his devil-worshipping character never demanded.
6. Joey King
Teenager Joey King comes of age in the family drama Wish I Was Here. It's hard to create empathy in teenage daughters, but King did just that in spades with her very funny and very smart portrayal of Grace.
7. Vincent Piazza
Actor Vincent Piazza could probably confuse people with his profession after playing singer Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys. But with his magnetic screen presence, undeniable charisma, and perfect comedic line delivery, acting was clearly the right choice.
8. Ellar Coltrane
Ellar Coltrane has the unenviable position of literally watching himself grow up on screen. From 6-year-old Mason to 18-year-old Mason in Richard Linklater's Boyhood, and every awkward year in between, he led the film with his realistic transformation as he tries to find himself.
9. Lorelei Linklater
Lorelai Linklater got it slightly easier than co-star Ellar Coltrane because the focus wasn't on her transformation in Boyhood, but she did get to play the annoying sister, the snarky teenager and a love-struck girl avoiding her father's questions on the topic with hilarity.
10. Jamie Blackley
In the romantic drama If I Stay, Jamie Blackley portrayed the love interest to Chloe Grace Moretz with perfect chemistry and really grounded the relationship with his simply realistic portrayal with a touch of comedy, sympathy and aspiration.