Tessa Thompson
Another Los Angeles native on our list, Thompson won us over with her portrayal of Bianca, a sexy, sensitive, and steely singer in Ryan Coogler’s award-winning Creed. Fortunately, the 32-year-old isn’t done with us just yet. On Oct. 2, she’ll appear opposite Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, and Evan Rachel Wood in HBO’s sci-fi “Westwood.” She’s also been cast opposite Natalie Portman and Gina Rodriguez in Alex Garland’s sci-fi thriller Annihilation and opposite Alexander Skarsgård in the UK crime drama War On Everyone, making 2016 her year.
