Hollywood: The Greatest Showman - Chapter 308: The World is their Oyster

Chapter 308: The World is their Oyster

“The Rise of Generation Y Actors”

This is the overwhelming impression from the Golden Globe nominations. Out of the 20 lead actor nominations, young actors have claimed 10 spots, marking a true takeover. Even in the supporting categories, Andrew Garfield from ‘The Social Network’ and Mila Kunis from ‘Black Swan’ stand out, further emphasizing this generational shift.

In total, 12 actors from Generation Y have received nominations across the board, a feat unheard of in past years, signaling a new era of talent and a true changing of the guard.

Among these nominees, it’s not Natalie Portman, who is favored to win the first Generation Y Oscar, that’s grabbing the most attention. Instead, it’s two fresh-faced actors just over 20—Jennifer Lawrence and Renly Hall.

Hollywood, with its notorious appetite for the next big thing, always welcomes fresh talent with open arms. Every year, countless rising stars emerge. Yet, it’s rare to see two actors in their early 20s making waves simultaneously.

Jennifer Lawrence stunned audiences with her raw, emotional performance in ‘Winter’s Bone’. Her delicate yet weighty portrayal garnered widespread acclaim, with many marveling at the maturity far beyond her years. Her seamless rise to the awards circuit feels like a Hollywood dream, especially for a low-budget indie film with little backing.

But if Jennifer’s arrival feels inevitable in Hollywood, Renly’s sudden rise is more perplexing.

For female actors in Hollywood, breaking through is comparatively “easier.” In an industry dominated by male perspectives, new female faces are constantly sought after, often filling the role of eye-catching, ornamental figures. This has created a high turnover rate for female actors, with younger, beautiful faces constantly in demand.

On the performance front, too, women seem to have an easier path to nominations and awards, while male actors face a steeper climb. Take, for instance, the contrasting journeys of Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio in ‘Titanic’, or Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix in ‘Walk the Line’—the female actors often soar higher in such comparisons.

At the Oscars, the Best Supporting Actor category is known as the “Old Man’s Club,” where seasoned actors are more likely to win. Young actors, it’s thought, still have time to develop. In contrast, the Best Supporting Actress category is considered a cradle for newcomers, with fresh, young faces being more easily celebrated as the academy seeks to preserve Hollywood’s vibrancy.

However, there’s a price for this.

Female actors are often considered to be in their prime before the age of 35. In 2015, actresses collectively appealed to IMDb to remove their ages from public listings, as they felt producers favored younger women. For male actors, their prime generally comes after 35, with younger years often spent playing minor roles, gradually waiting for their break.

In the Oscars’ long history, only one actor under 30 has won Best Actor—Adrien Brody, who was 29 when he won for ‘The Pianist’.

Against this backdrop, Renly Hall has emerged as an anomaly.

Last month, Renly celebrated his 21st birthday, reaching the legal drinking age in the U.S. For Hollywood, however, this makes him barely distinguishable from a high schooler, and only youth-centric films like ‘Back to the Future’, ‘High School Musical’, or ‘American Pie’ feature leads of this age.

Young actors in this age range are often seen as still developing their craft, with limited emotional depth and variety in their performances. Hollywood largely overlooks this group, focusing instead on older characters with richer experiences.

Moreover, films targeting this age group have a narrow audience, making them commercially unappealing to studios.

Thus, for male actors between 20 and 25, breaking through is tough. Many struggle until they hit 26, while others fade into obscurity.

Zac Efron is a prime example. After shooting to fame at 17 with ‘High School Musical’, he struggled for four years, unable to return to teen roles yet failing to compete with established actors in more mature parts.

Renly faced a similar challenge during his audition for ‘The Pacific’. Despite playing a 19-year-old, director Steven Spielberg chose 26-year-old Joseph Mazzello over 20-year-old Renly. If not for a chance meeting that changed Spielberg’s mind, Renly’s current trajectory might have looked very different.

Now, Renly has defied all expectations.

He won the Best Actor award at the Emmys, delivered a stunning performance in ‘Buried’, and secured his first Golden Globe nomination! And not just one—he earned a second nomination for his role in ‘The Pacific’ in the miniseries/TV movie category.

Like Johnny Depp, Renly received two nominations in one year, dominating the field.

Many thought Renly had peaked with ‘The Pacific’, but ‘Buried’ proved otherwise. His mature performance in such an intense role, at only 21, drew comparisons to Hollywood legends. The last time a young male actor caused this much buzz was Heath Ledger, but even Heath was 25 when ‘Brokeback Mountain’ came out. Renly is four years younger.

When the Golden Globe nominations were announced, Hollywood went wild. Celebrations of Generation Y’s arrival, the generational shift in acting, and Renly’s rise to stardom echoed across the industry.

‘The Hollywood Reporter’ highlighted the rise of Generation Y actors, putting Natalie Portman at the top of the list as the most likely future superstar. But the surprise came when they ranked Renly Hall second, above James Franco and Ryan Gosling.

“Gifted, steady, talented, and elegant, Renly evokes memories of the golden age of Hollywood,” the magazine said.

As ‘The Hollywood Reporter’ lauded Renly, other media outlets followed suit. Flowers, applause, and praise flooded in as discussions grew about who would receive Oscar nominations this year—could Renly go even further and make history?

Four years ago, Ryan Gosling earned his first Oscar nomination for ‘Half Nelson’ at 26. Now, Jesse Eisenberg, James Franco, and Renly Hall are all in the running for their first nominations, with the competition fierce yet thrilling.

Especially notable is the rivalry between ‘127 Hours’ and ‘Buried’. With the awards season heating up, the battle between James Franco and Renly Hall is just beginning. While only one of these films may ultimately triumph at the Oscars, the race is far from over.

As they say, “Half of the Golden Globe belongs to Generation Y. Their time has arrived!”