There’s nothing we can do about it: time marches on. And where once Winona Ryder was the quirky-but-hot twentysomething lead to vie for, now she’s the thirtysomething crazy pillhead shoplifter that will take your production down.

Thus, we must look to the youth of Hollywood to find the next big thing. Of course, if you are still in high school, fresh off the suckling teat of every Nickelodeon show ever, these actors are probably old news. But for those of us above voting age, thinking of this young bumper crop as possibly holding any serious actors is a shocking thought. Having interviewed all these youngins myself, I can safely say they are topping my personal ‘Ones to watch’ list:

1. Emma Stone

What? Who? After a few years of scene-stealing supporting roles (Superbad, The House Bunny, etc.), Stone is gearing up to break out with her first full-on lead in The Scarlet Letter-inspired teen comedy, Easy A. She’s the perfect blend of sassy, self-mocking redhead and unintimidatingly appealing girl next door. Get ready, world. I predict Stone Fever will knock Swine Flu into the history books.

2. Penn Badgley

Yeah, yeah, you guys all watch him on Gossip Girl and think he’s so hot you’re going to die. He is not news to you. But despite the Gossip Girl fame, it turns out he is actually fairly humble, a good sport, and completely nice. Oh, and smart. Seriously smart. Graduated high school at 13 and uses words like ‘innocuous’ smart. Bet you didn’t know THAT, did you?

3. Michael Angarano

If you’re anything like me, you remember Michael Angarano from playing Jack’s son on Will & Grace. Also if you’re anything like me, you interviewed him last year for Snow Angels and found yourself thinking, my God he’s cute, even though you are like 78 years older than him. I’m not even sure he can legally drink yet. But he can make me into a pedophile, evidently.

4. Rumer Willis

Oh yes, this one shocked me, too. Like the rest of the world, I fell prey to Perez Hilton’s ‘potato head’ PR about her and thought as Bruce & Demi’s kid she must needs be a stuck up little brat. Oh how the mighty are wrong. I saw Ms. Willis doing press for The House Bunny, and she was the veritable picture well-spokenness, graciousness, and poise–even in the face of rude foreign journalists who kept asking her gross, personal questions about her family, Ashton, etc. I never used to think I’d say this, but I’m completely rooting for her.

5. Adam Brody

As a card-carrying member of Gen X, I considered myself too old to watch The O.C., so I didn’t encounter Mr. Brody until later in his career. At which point I discovered what everyone was on about. To me, this kid is the nice-guy-lead heir apparent; if you told me he was Tom Hanks’s love child, I would in no way be surprised. I positively cannot wait to see what he’s doing next. And after that, and then after that, and then…