Best Hollywood breakout star

Sacramento native Brie Larson first drew notice for her role as the sarcastic daughter to Toni Collette's manic mother on the Showtime comedy The United States of Tara. It was her starring role as a depressed, disaffected youth counselor in the 2013 indie drama Short Term 12, however, that earned her raves. And the 24-year-old’s résumé is only getting more impressive. Later this year, she’ll appear in Basmati Blues, a comedy about a scientist genetically modifying rice (?!), also starring Donald Sutherland. In 2015, catch her in The Gambler, a thriller about a homicidal drifter that also stars Mark Wahlberg and Jessica Lange. Whatever the role, Larson imbues an earthy wisdom and a hint of subtle, but potent comic brilliance. R.L.