From the bomb-rattled streets of London amid World War II to the remote tribal villages of contemporary Kenya, a new generation of young actors is capturing the hearts of audiences with their compelling and emotional performances. Four talented individuals, some of whom stepped into acting for the first time, have successfully enchanted viewers with their raw vulnerability and intense dedication to their craft. Despite the emotional weight of their roles, these young stars report that their experiences on set have been refreshingly delightful. The Envelope takes a closer look at these four actors who are emerging as remarkable talents and who have showcased an impressive blend of artistic potential and infectious enthusiasm in this year’s most talked-about award contenders.
Izaac Wang felt a real passion for acting for the first time while performing in Sean Wang’s deeply personal film “Dìdi.” Izaac Wang, now 17 and attending a performing arts school in Los Angeles, reflects on how his early experiences in the industry felt more like casual engagements than genuine pursuits, even after landing roles in animated films like “Raya and the Last Dragon” and live-action adaptations such as “Clifford the Big Red Dog.”
“All these other gigs that I was doing, I wasn’t feeling the job,” admits Wang, who credits the transformative experience during the filming of “Dìdi” as a pivotal moment in his journey. “But ‘Dìdi’ changed a lot. There was something about the set and how I felt connected with everyone. Instead of just feeling like an actor, I felt like a person. I was doing my job but also having fun at the same time.”
Set in 2008, “Dìdi” unfolds the poignant coming-of-age story of a Vietnamese American teenager named Chris, a role that significantly challenged Wang’s acting abilities. Initially hesitant about portraying Chris, who he found to be unappealing, he eventually discovered depth in the character. “It’s a character I haven’t really explored before, someone more vulnerable and immature than I am,” he reflects. His breakthrough moment arrived while participating in improvisation exercises with co-star Shirley Chen at the Sundance Labs, leading him to realize that exploring this new territory was not only insightful but enjoyable. “It clicked that, ‘Oh, this is fun trying something new that I haven’t done before and trying to learn more about myself through this character,’” he affirms.
The immersive experience pushed Wang to engage fully with his role, as he learned to skateboard and even attempted to master an outdated flip phone design. Despite his struggles, he circumstantially developed a connection with Chris that eased his performance: “I never see characters as a separate person,” he says. “I always see them as just myself, but something else happened along the line, so it wasn’t a challenge to stay in character.”
“I did all of my stunts, except the wide shot where [George] jumps off the train,” says Elliott Heffernan, who stars in Steve McQueen’s WWII drama “Blitz.” Heffernan recalls an adventure that started with a self-taped audition for the role in “Blitz,” which tells the story of a young mixed-race boy named George navigating the dangers of wartime London. At just 8 years old during filming, Heffernan now 9, reflects on the awkwardness of initially stepping into character without full context about George.
He recalls, “I just got the lines and I played with it,” with a candid admission that he was merely a child with dreams of acting rather than a seasoned professional. Completing six months of filming “Blitz” turned into an enjoyable interlude from school and a chance to indulge in Nintendo on downtime rides from Bedfordshire, England. The practical stunts and on-set action deeply engaged Heffernan, with one exception: “I did all of my stunts, except the wide shot where [George] jumps off the train. I was not allowed to do that, although I wanted to. Nothing else compared to the stunts.”
In a supportive role as George’s mother, actress Saoirse Ronan took Heffernan under her wing, sharing valuable tips for young performers: “Don’t be embarrassed, and when it stops being fun, don’t do it anymore.” Despite the rigors and extended hours of filming, Heffernan reflects on his time creating “Blitz” as a delightful journey. Working closely with an acting coach, he immersed himself in the historical context of World War II, all while graciously accepting McQueen’s guidance throughout the process.
“Sometimes it was giving me a lot of love,” Heffernan recalls fondly about the director’s management style. “Sometimes it was letting me do what I was doing because he liked it. Sometimes he had some tweaks. And I got taught that that’s fine, even though I was sensitive about it at first.” His previously limited acting experience didn’t hinder his ability to resonate with audiences on screen, a skill he attributes to the advice imparted by Ronan, who taught him to view acting as personal connection rather than mere pretense.
“You’re not pretending to be someone else,” Heffernan explains. “You’re just being yourself in someone else’s shoes. And it doesn’t feel like a job. It feels like an activity.” This refreshing perspective comes with a caveat: “When it isn’t fun, it feels like a job. When it feels like a job, it isn’t fun.”
For Nykiya Adams, the key to successfully performing in Andrea Arnold’s “Bird” was focusing on reacting. At just 12, Adams had never acted before being cast as Bailey, yet her authenticity radiates through the screen. Filmmaker Andrea Arnold discovered her while scouting in schools across Essex, England, searching for the perfect fit for her powerful coming-of-age drama about a girl confronting life’s hardships.
“Bailey’s just a more extreme version of myself,” Adams reflects, embracing her character’s quirks and unpredictability. The unique shooting style required that she receive the script in pieces each day, crafting a simultaneous discovery experience in her portrayal. “Andrea only gave us scripts day by day, so I didn’t know anything that was happening. When Bailey was finding out all this stuff, it was me actually finding that out as well.”
Despite placing sports over acting as her primary passion, Adams relished the transformative journey of embodying Bailey, which included the bold decision to cut her hair on camera while improvising scenes with her co-stars. Ultimately, the character empowered her to embrace authenticity. “She’s weird, but she’s not weird,” says Adams. “She’s unpredictable. And Bailey’s a very forgiving character. She’s very wise. She knows what she’s doing.”
Surprisingly overwhelmed by the praise for “Bird” and the glamorous networking opportunities at prestigious film festivals like Cannes and Toronto, where she encountered Jacob Elordi, Adams feels a deep sense of achievement. “If you ask my family what I’m like, I would stop in the middle of a shopping center and look at myself in the mirror,” she laughs. “So seeing myself everywhere is a bit of an achievement.”
Alongside these experiences, Adams envisions a sustained career in acting, deeply valuing the connections she made on set, especially with “Top Boy” star Jasmine Jobson, portraying Bailey’s struggling mom. “From your first film, you can get to learn a lot of things,” she notes thoughtfully. “Like you might not even want to act anymore. You might want to do something more behind the scenes. But I’m so proud. I’m the first person in my family to actually make something like this.”
Michelle Lemuya Ikeny says she had never considered acting before landing the lead in the movie “Nawi.” Hailing from Lodwar, Kenya, the 15-year-old never envisioned a future intertwined with the film industry, let alone the opportunity to discuss her role in “Nawi,” Kenya’s official entry for the international feature Academy Award. Cast in the film after filmmakers scoured various schools in Turkana County, the community pivotal to the story, Ikeny admits, “I never had this in mind. I never knew I could act. But it was an amazing job.”
Ikeny embodies Nawi, a determined teenager striving for admission to a girls’ school in Nairobi, only to face the harsh reality of her father selling her into an arranged marriage with an older man — a custom still prevalent in the Turkana region. Nawi’s act of rebellion ultimately showcases her fierce spirit, yet its implications weigh heavily on her fate. “I love the way she was so ambitious, and I love the way she was assertive enough to stand up to her father and say no to the practice,” she shares passionately. “I also come from that community, and they don’t see a problem with practicing that. So for me, it was a bit challenging. But at the same time, I also wanted to save these lives of these young girls and give them a voice.”
Ahead of filming, Ikeny dedicated two weeks to rehearsing with an acting coach, while also drawing from her experiences interacting with young victims of arranged marriages. “I found it easy to play this role because I’ve interacted with girls who are victims of this practice,” she explains. “And then I tried really hard to follow the director’s instructions, since they know best, and to try to fit in the shoes of the character.”
Similar to Nawi’s ambitions, Ikeny is a dedicated student and is currently attending a boarding school in Nairobi, with aspirations to pursue a career in medicine or law. Her passion for acting, sparked by this experience, presents new avenues for the future. Above all, she feels privileged to contribute to a film that carries a powerful message. “I hope it gets the exposure it needs all around the world because people need to know what’s happening there,” she says earnestly. “I hope this film can create awareness, and maybe we could find help from them and [involve] people with other ideas on how we can fight this.”