Young and Hot

Who defines how old a young actress is? And, how hot is hot? Let's look at ten of the best answers to either question.

10. Jessica Alba Born April 28, 1981, this California girl is 29. Her father is Mexican and her mother a mix of French and Danish, making her exotic looks a matter of heredity. Her breakout role was that of Maya Graham in the remake of the classic television series Flipper. Alba is best known for her starring role in the series Dark Angel, where her role as genetically altered Max won her a cult following. Since that show she has appeared in both television and the movies, including as Susan Storm in The Fantastic Four. She is married to Cash Warren and they have one daughter.

Alba makes this list because of her exotic good looks, athleticism and the melodious sound of her voice.

9. Hayden Panettiere It wasn't chance that got Hayden Panettiere a starring role in the television series Heroes, it was hard work. Her first acting credits are at age seven and the next ten years of work gave her the skills to portray Claire, the cheerleader who needed saving. Born August 21, 1989 in suburban New York, her stints at ages 5-8 on One Life to Live and on the Guiding Light from age 7-11 were her acting foundation. A stint on the legal drama Ally McBeal and a host of other guest spots in television shows kept her busy. Post Heroes means movies for Hayden, and she has acted in several due out this year.

Panettiere makes this list for her cheerleader blond looks and her impressive resume.

8. Megan Fox Fox is a somewhat controversial actor, and almost did not make this list. She certainly has the looks, but her talent remains in question. She is also one of the most outspoken actresses in today's Hollywood. Her career has two major roles. She was in a Swedish series titled Ocean Avenue and then the show Hope & Faith where she played Faith Ford's niece. She has appeared in the first two Transformers movies and is scheduled to appear in the third.

Born May 16, 1986, Megan Fox makes the list for her raw sexuality.

7. Molly Quinn Born October 8, 1993, Texan Molly Quinn is the youngest actress on this list. Her acting resume is short but she is destined to work in Hollywood for a very long time. After just a handful of roles, she won her current acting gig as Alexis Castle, the teen daughter of Rick Castle. The show is Castle, the hit police drama / comedy / romance that stars Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic. Quinn plays the sensible one in the Castle's household, yet deals with boys and dating and fencing with dad in the living room.

Yes, she's only seventeen, but she makes the list for her red hair, glowing smile and delightful interaction with Nathan Fillion.

6. Keira Knightley Born in England, March 26, 1985, Keira Knightley has worked since she was eight. She appeared in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and in Bend It Like Beckham but her breakout role has been that of Elizabeth Swann in the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy. As the promos in the United States repeated constantly for the Dead Man's Chest, P.O.T.C. 2, movie, she does have the chest. Working with the over-the-top Johnny Depp and with Oliver Bloom as the romantic lead, she held her own as the primary female character in a man's world. Her career has exploded since the last P.O.T.C. movie in 2007 and we can expect to see her in a half dozen new roles in the near future.

Knightley makes the list for her British accent, her tomboy athleticism and because she reminds one of a young Jane Seymour.

5. Ellen Page Canadian export Ellen Page was born February 21, 1987. Much of her early work was on Canadian television but she has had several notable movie roles. In 2003, she had a part in Homeless to Harvard: The Liz Murray Story, a critically well received made for television movie. In 2006 she played Kitty Pryde in X-Men: The Last Stand, also called X-Men 3. The role that brought her the most acclaim and critical accolades is as the star of Juno, the 2007 Oscar winning movie about a teenaged mother to be. Page was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar in that role. We can expect several films from her in the near future.

Ellen Page is on the list for her skills in Juno. She brought a spunky attitude that complimented her beauty to a difficult role.

4. Masiela Lusha Noteworthy for playing George Lopez's daughter Carmen for five years on his show. Why noteworthy? She is not Latino, but Albanian. We watched her grow up on the show and turn into a real beauty. Her resume has some small roles before Lopez. Since then she has been working in a number of movies and we can expect to see her in two or three during the next twelve months.

Lusha has all the looks any actress could want. As the only non-Latino on the Lopez show she held her own and her plucky attitude puts her on this list.

3. Katee Sackhoff One of the older actresses on the list, Sackhoff was born on April 8, 1980. For Sackoff, her breakout role was in 2001 as she starred opposite Richard Dreyfuss in The Education of Max Bickford. It never had ratings but it allowed us to see this actress working with a living legend and holding her own. Her next role was in the semi-remake of Battlestar Galactica on cable, where she played the cigar smoking, hard drinking pilot Starbuck. She quickly became a fan favorite. She is also Dana Walsh in the current season of 24, a CTU analyst.

Katee Sackoff is athletic, blond, curvy and projects a self confidence that is sexy in its own right. She deserves her number 3 spot on this list Hollywood's best young actresses.

2. Amanda Bynes Bynes was born on April 3, 1986. Nearly every one of teen years has been televised as she has worked in series from the age of 13. She is an adept comedic actor and may well be the next Jennifer Anniston when it comes to romantic comedy. Starring opposite Jenny Garth in the television series What I Like About You, she grew into adulthood in the four years this acclaimed show ran. In 2003, she starred in What A Girl Wants, a great movie about a teen finding her real father in another country, and coping with his life.

Bynes is gorgeous, funny and ready to move beyond her Nickelodeon bubble.

1. Summer Glau This exotic Texan is number on on our list of the best of Hollywood's young actresses. Born July 24, 1981, Glau has been a prima ballerina most of her life. Her grace and flexibility have been used by directors in many of her roles. Playing River Tam in the television cult hit Firefly, and in the related movie Serenity, sheattracted lots of notice in the artistic community. She costarred in the military series The Unit as a troubled Army wife and appeared in the sci-fi series The 4400. In another sci-fi series, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, she attracted even more of a following as Cameron, the robot sent from the future to save John Connor. She also appeared briefly in the Josh Whedon series Dollhouse. In post production are a Western in which she stars and a made for television movie. Rumor also has her as the choice to star in a Fox series about an investigative blogger.

Glau is among the most beautiful of today's young actresses. Her ballet background endows her with a lithe grace. She seems to enjoy sci fi but her talent and skills will certainly bring other opportunities to her.

There are your ten best of Hollywood's young actresses. These ten represent the best of talent, athleticism, beauty and especially the promise of great things in the future.