Hollywood — as an industry, a metaphor, a town — is an ever-shifting organism. But no matter how much Hollywood changes, and how much the people inside are subject to forces (AI, capitalism) beyond their control, the idea of it lives on as an encapsulation of something simple: Art that people love, hate, dissect over the dinner table, obsess over online.
That's why fandom in its many forms is a focal point of Teen Vogue's New Hollywood Class of 2025. Our three cover stars — Leah Sava Jeffries, Mckenna Grace, and Mason Thames — are teen titans, photographed by Angalis Field. Each performer has played key roles in projects that have deeply engaged, invested fans.
Mckenna Grace, 19, and Leah Sava Jeffries, 16, both had their first onscreen roles when they were about five years old; as culture editor Kaitlyn McNab notes in a forthcoming Teen Vogue video interview, that practically makes them industry veterans. Thames, 18, started not much later, beginning his career as a preteen. And all three have broken through in a major way in the past few years.
Grace, who had a scene-stealing role in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, has a starring turn in the next Hunger Games installment; Jeffries has a starring role as Annabeth Chase in the critically acclaimed Percy Jackson and the Olympians series on Disney+ (season two coming soon!); and Thames, who helmed the blockbuster live-action How to Train Your Dragon film this summer, appears alongside Grace in the latest Colleen Hoover adaptation, Regretting You.
Each actor has important memories of interacting with fans, whether at Comic-Con, other fan conventions, or being stopped by kids on the street. A young Black girl once told Jeffries how meaningful it was to see Annabeth portrayed as a Black teenager in a complex, fun leading role. Thames has expressed how much he feels a pressure to “do right by” the fans who adore Hiccup. Grace has seen how fandom becomes intergenerational in the response to Ghostbusters, with grandparents, parents, and teenagers all bonding over different iterations of the beloved story.
They have also seen some of the negative sides, of course, but all three stars come back to how fun this is all supposed to be. They've learned when to step away from the screen and how not to take the bad aspects too seriously. They're growing up, figuring out the kind of adults they will become, alongside the fans who love their work and see themselves in their trajectories.
Below, explore their cover stories, written by Kaitlyn McNab (Leah Sava Jeffries), P. Claire Dodson (Mckenna Grace), and Crystal Bell (Mason Thames).
Continuing with our New Hollywood Class of 2025, we have a dozen interviews with the year's buzziest stars, creators, and up & coming celebrities: Benito Skinner! Sean Kaufman! Caleb Hearon! Miles Caton! Priah Ferguson! Marissa Bode! Julia Butters! Lovie Simone! Josie Totah! Fourth! Owen Thiele! Anna Lambe!
Each of these New Hollywood Spotlight interviews, illustrated by artist Laura Passalacqua, includes the rising stars getting real about their approach to making art, how they deal with the highs and lows, and what they're up to next.
And to round out the New Hollywood Class of 2025, we have an editor-curated list of 121 young stars you need to be paying attention to, if you aren't already.
You'll notice we've left out major household names in favor of highlighting those who have had a big, breakout year. You might not be obsessed with them just yet, but don't worry, you will be.
Introducing… Teen Vogue's New Hollywood Class of 2025!
Cover Credits
Photographer Angalis Field
Photo Assistant I/Digi Tech Jacob Holler
Lighting Director Alex Johnstone
Stylist Ali Claire Marino
Stylist Assistant Malu Registre
Stylist Assistant Luna Johnson
Tailor Hailey Desjardins
Prop Stylist Maisie Sattler
Prop Assistant Aisha Gunnell
Mckenna Grace & Leah Jeffries Makeup Artist Tiffany Patton at Paradis
Mckenna Grace & Leah Jeffries Hair Stylist Sergio Estrada at Paradis
Mckenna Grace & Leah Jeffries Makeup Assistant Sebastian Castro
Mckenna Grace & Leah Jeffries Manicurist Rita Remark at Bryant Bantry Agency
Mason Thames Groomer Jessica Ortiz
Retoucher Alberto Maro
Producer Caroline Hughes
Production Coordinator TJ O'Donnell
Production Assistant Elise Snider
Art and Design Director Emily Zirimis
Global Fashion Director Tchesmeni Leonard
Senior Designer Liz Coulbourn
Associate Fashion Editor Samantha Gasmer
Associate Visuals Editor Bea Oyster
Assistant Fashion Editor Crystal Okonkwo
Spotlight Profiles Credits
Illustrator Laura Passalacqua
Editorial Credits
Editor-in-Chief Versha Sharma
Features Director Brittney McNamara
Associate Entertainment Director Eugene Shevertalov
Associate Culture Director P. Claire Dodson
Culture Editor Kaitlyn McNab
Style Director Alyssa Hardy
Talent Manager Paige Garbarini
Senior Social Media Manager Jillian Selzer
Editor-at-Large Sara Delgado
Beauty Editor Donya Momenian
Editorial Assistant Skyli Alvarez
