The Late Robert Redford Takes the Top Spot on This Week’s List of Most Popular Celebs

Some weeks are all about surprise comebacks, breakout turns, or a new project that puts a familiar name back in the conversation. This week’s lineup mixes Hollywood legends, powerhouse filmmakers, television favorites, and several fast-rising stars whose recent roles and upcoming releases have everyone looking up their work.

Below, we spotlight each person’s career highlights and calling-card projects. It’s a quick, friendly refresher on what they’re best known for and where you might have seen them lately. Dive in and catch up on the credits that shaped their momentum—and the ones likely to keep it going.

15. Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman first broke through as a young TV star and cemented a cult following with ‘Arrested Development’, which showcased his deadpan timing and ensemble leadership. He later headlined and executive-produced ‘Ozark’, directing multiple episodes and earning major awards recognition for the show’s tense, slow-burn crime storytelling.

In film, Bateman has led comedies like ‘Horrible Bosses’ and ‘Game Night’ and delivered nuanced dramatic turns in projects such as ‘The Gift’. He also directs features and series, building a parallel career behind the camera that emphasizes sharp character work and precise tonal control.

14. Katherine LaNasa

Katherine LaNasa is an actress and producer known for film and television roles spanning comedy and drama, including ‘The Campaign’ on the feature side and series work in ‘Deception’, ‘Longmire’, and ‘Imposters’. She brings a background in dance to screen performance, adding precision and movement to character work.

Her career includes recurring parts and guest appearances across network and cable, often portraying sophisticated, quick-witted characters. As a producer, LaNasa has also helped shepherd projects that align with her strengths in character-driven storytelling.

13. Emma Myers

Emma Myers broke out as Enid Sinclair in ‘Wednesday’, winning notice for a vibrant, scene-stealing turn opposite a gothic lead. She has since added family comedies and young-adult projects to her résumé, including ‘Family Switch’.

Myers continues to expand into headline roles with titles like ‘A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder’ and high-profile studio releases such as ‘A Minecraft Movie’. Her trajectory points toward a slate that mixes genre, comedy, and contemporary YA storytelling.

12. Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega became a global name with the title role in ‘Wednesday’, adding to film credits in the horror space with ‘Scream’ and ‘X’. She began with Disney Channel’s ‘Stuck in the Middle’ and built a profile through voice and live-action work before transitioning to edgier material.

Ortega continues to balance franchise entries with auteur-led projects, including upcoming work connected to ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’. Her choices reflect a strong foothold in genre storytelling while maintaining broad appeal across streaming and theatrical releases.

11. Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney earned widespread attention with ‘Euphoria’ and ‘The White Lotus’, demonstrating range across drama and dark comedy. She has since headlined features including ‘Anyone But You’ and ‘Immaculate’, expanding from ensemble turns to marquee lead roles.

Sweeney also produces through her company Fifty-Fifty Films, developing projects that foreground character-focused narratives. Her screen work spans teen drama, thriller, romance, and horror, with a run of recent releases reinforcing her versatility in both television and film.

10. Brad Everett Young

Brad Everett Young is an actor and photographer whose ‘Dream Loud’ photo series spotlighted television casts and helped raise visibility for numerous shows and performers. His on-camera credits include appearances such as ‘Boy Meets World’, alongside a steady stream of creative work behind the lens.

As a photographer, Young is known for dynamic, stylized portraits of actors and musicians, collaborating widely across TV and music communities. His cross-disciplinary profile—straddling performance and portraiture—has made him a recognizable creative figure in Los Angeles–based entertainment circles.

9. Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio established himself as a leading actor with early critical roles and global stardom in ‘Titanic’, then developed a long-running collaboration with Martin Scorsese on titles such as ‘The Departed’, ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for ‘The Revenant’.

DiCaprio’s career spans psychological thrillers, historical dramas, and character-driven epics, including ‘Inception’ and ‘Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood’. He also produces through Appian Way, backing narrative features and documentaries that align with his interest in ambitious, socially resonant storytelling.

8. Paul Thomas Anderson

Paul Thomas Anderson is a celebrated writer-director whose films—‘Boogie Nights’, ‘Magnolia’, ‘There Will Be Blood’, ‘The Master’, ‘Phantom Thread’, and ‘Licorice Pizza’—are known for ambitious storytelling, meticulously crafted visuals, and complex character ensembles. He is also recognized for frequent collaborations with actors like Daniel Day-Lewis, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Vicky Krieps.

In addition to features, Anderson has directed acclaimed music videos and shorts, bringing a distinctive visual language to different formats. His body of work has earned sustained awards recognition and enduring critical discussion, with ‘Punch-Drunk Love’ standing as a defining turn in his exploration of romance and anxiety.

7. Olivia Cooke

Olivia Cooke broke through with roles in ‘Bates Motel’ and acclaimed indie projects such as ‘Thoroughbreds’, then expanded to large-scale films with ‘Ready Player One’. She reached a global audience as Alicent Hightower in ‘House of the Dragon’, anchoring political intrigue with grounded, character-driven work.

Cooke’s filmography balances studio projects and independent films, often spotlighting tense, psychologically rich characters. With a strong foundation in both period drama and contemporary thrillers, she continues to alternate between TV ensembles and lead film roles.

6. Charlie Sheen

Charlie Sheen became one of TV’s most recognizable leads with ‘Two and a Half Men’ and later headlined the sitcom ‘Anger Management’. His film career spans hits like ‘Platoon’, ‘Wall Street’, and ‘Hot Shots!’, blending prestige dramas with broad, quotable comedies.

Born into an acting family, Sheen established himself early with a string of high-profile films before transitioning to long-running television success. He has also appeared in ensemble and cameo roles across features and series, remaining a familiar figure in popular culture.

5. Pierson Fodé

Pierson Fodé drew notice on daytime television with ‘The Bold and the Beautiful’ before moving into film and streaming projects like ‘The Man from Toronto’. He has also starred in the feature ‘Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List’, extending his reach to young-adult audiences.

Beyond acting, Fodé has producing credits and a background in modeling, which helped him pivot across formats from network TV to digital series. He continues to add action-comedy and romantic-comedy titles to his filmography, while maintaining a presence in television guest roles and recurring parts.

4. Tom Pelphrey

Tom Pelphrey is known for riveting TV work in ‘Ozark’ and ‘Banshee’, as well as a sharp supporting performance in David Fincher’s ‘Mank’. Earlier in his career he earned recognition on daytime television with ‘Guiding Light’, showcasing an intensity that has carried across genres.

Pelphrey’s recent slate features prestige limited series and films, including ‘Love & Death’, adding to a résumé built on complex, often morally tangled characters. His blend of stage training and screen presence has made him a go-to for emotionally high-stakes roles.

3. Owen Cooper

Owen Cooper is an actor associated with the series ‘Adolescence’, building attention through work in developing projects and screen roles that lean into grounded, contemporary storytelling. His credits reflect a focus on character-forward material in drama and coming-of-age spaces.

Beyond lead and supporting turns, Cooper has appeared in independent productions and shorts, using each role to expand his range. With ‘Adolescence’ at the center of his recent profile, he’s positioned among the new faces to watch as the show’s audience grows.

2. Stephen Graham

Stephen Graham earned wide acclaim for visceral, lived-in performances, first breaking out with ‘This Is England’ and later transforming into Al Capone in ‘Boardwalk Empire’. His film work includes standout roles in ‘The Irishman’, ‘Boiling Point’, and ‘Snatch’, reflecting a range from crime epics to tightly wound character pieces.

On television, Graham has anchored intense ensemble dramas and delivered memorable guest arcs, including in ‘Line of Duty’. He is also known for projects that reunite him with frequent collaborators, bringing a consistent, layered presence to British and international productions across film and TV.

1. Robert Redford

Robert Redford is an Academy Award–winning filmmaker and actor whose legacy spans from early star turns in ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ and ‘The Sting’ to directing milestones like ‘Ordinary People’. He also became a key industry builder by founding the Sundance Institute and the Sundance Film Festival, which helped launch countless independent films and careers.

On screen, Redford’s blend of charisma and craftsmanship carried through movies such as ‘All the President’s Men’, ‘The Natural’, and ‘The Horse Whisperer’. Behind the camera, he continued directing and producing distinctive dramas, while also mentoring new voices in independent cinema through Sundance’s labs and programs.

Tell us who you’d bump up or down in this lineup in the comments!