Ellen Page

Pint-sized actress Ellen Page has done everything in her power to set herself apart from the mainstream. Beginning her career in her native Canada, Page debuted in the 1997 TV movie Pit Pony when she was only ten years old, playing the role of Maggie Mclean; the movie was then spun off into a series, in which she reprised her role from the film. Her ability to handle complex emotions and dialogue at a young age impressed directors, and she continued to build up her resumé, consciously avoiding the typical teenage girl roles of most movies, which she found to be sexist. In 2005, Page took on the challenging lead role in Hard Candy, a film about a young girl who lures in and traps a man she believes is a sexual predator. Her performance was praised as haunting and real, and soon after that Page contrasted it with a lighter role, playing Kitty Pryde in 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. By then, audiences and critics alike were noticing Page's impressive screen presence, and she signed on for several projects for the next year, including Juno with Michael Cera. She also joined the cast of An American Crime, playing a true-life victim of torture and murder at the hands of a demented housewife played by Catherine Keener.

As the pregnant title character in Jason Reitman's Best Picture Oscar nominee Juno, Page served up a brilliant portrait of an articulate teen dealing with the ramifications of such a major life event. Her witty, touching work earned her universal praise, as well as Best Actress nominations from the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Academy, and a host of kudos that dubbed her the breakout star of the year. - Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide