Justin Timberlake

Sure, he's not even the highest-graded former Mouseketeer on this list, but Justin Timberlake has escaped not one but two entertainment industry traps. Not many people expected 1/5th of 'NSYNC to become a respected solo artist, but even fewer expected him to move effortlessly into acting. As far as comedy, Timberlake and Jon Hamm are basically Saturday Night Live supporting cast members at this point, but he's also done well in dramas — even dramas that aren't very good. Southland Tales, Alpha Dogs, and Black Snake Moan all had serious problems, but Timberlake was never one of them. Luckily, The Social Network was universally appreciated, and Sean Parker was the perfect role for him. Canny, Timberlake. Very canny.

Grade: B+

Mark Wahlberg

We may be risking a punch to the face for even bringing this up, but it needs to be said: respected actor Mark Wahlberg was once known professionally as Marky Mark, and was backed up by a crew called the Funky Bunch. You may not expect Zac Efron to succeed as a serious actor, but it's not like you're surprised to see him try; that's what teen stars do. But this guy? No one expected him to show up in Boogie Nights sporting a prosthetic penis and holding his own against Julianne Moore, John C. Reilly, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. While Wahlberg can come off as self-serious and grumpy, there's no denying his talent. (He can even be funny, when he wants to be.) The only thing that's keeping him from a higher grade is shaky judgment in choosing projects. How does a guy who gets nominated for an Academy Award in The Departed also end up in The Happening?

Grade: B+

Heath Ledger

The only Academy Award winner on this list, Heath Ledger was moving towards greatness from humble beginnings. Yes, he was charming in 10 Things I Hate About You, but no one looked at that teen comedy and thought, "I smell Oscar!" It's sad that he never really saw just how far he'd come with Brokeback Mountain, I'm Not There, and The Dark Knight. After years of putting in the time with roles that didn't match his talent level, he finally got the recognition he deserved, but most of it was posthumous. We'll never know just how much he was capable of, but his idiosyncratic performances in those final films are nothing short of fully realized.

Grade: A-

Ryan Gosling

Having stolen tiny hearts on The Mickey Mouse Club, Ryan Gosling seemed to secure his teen-idol status with 2004's The Notebook. How could teen girls (and gay boys) resist the sensitive soul behind those dreamy blue eyes? But Gosling, who had already made a few films about murderers and neo-Nazis, was looking for a career more ambitious than Trapper Keeper cover model. Decidedly teen-unfriendly work like Half Nelson and Blue Valentine practically obliterated whatever softness audiences may have ascribed to him. Everyone still thinks he's dreamy, of course, but the attraction is based on great performances, smart choices, and a general air of artistic integrity.

Grade: A

Leonardo DiCaprio

Even if you've never seen Titanic, you can probably quote at least three lines of dialogue. In 1997, Titanic made Leonardo DiCaprio as internationally famous as, oh, Coca-Cola — and simultaneously yoked him, seemingly forever, to a lightweight image. Luckily, the Official Teen-Idol Playbook has a fix for this: "Convince Martin Scorsese that you are the second coming of a young Robert De Niro." And to everyone's surprise, DiCaprio was up to the task. There's no point in listing the roles — you know them, and the strange intensity he brought to each. DiCaprio's never taken home an Oscar, but we think everyone can agree that it's only a matter of time.

Grade: A

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