Greetings and Happy New Year’s Eve. As we head into 2025, let’s take one final look at the year’s smartest and sexiest with our 18th annual Pajiba 10, which sees four new Hall of Fame members and four new entrants. I would also like to add that Dev Patel also made the list, but the publisher mistakenly forgot to mention he was already in the Hall of Fame, which sort of makes him the first person to make it four times.
Here they are, and Happy New Year. We’ll see you back on the other side.
10. Florence Pugh
After a busy couple of years stealing scenes in Oppenheimer and bringing a jolt of electricity to Dune: Part Two, newly minted Pajiba 10 Hall of Famer Florence Pugh continues to command attention in everything she does. Her turn as Princess Irulan proved she can make an impact even in limited screen time, while her work in 2023’s Oppenheimer showed her ability to bring depth to potentially thankless roles. Her sophisticated performances are matched by a delightful off-screen authenticity that makes her even more appealing. Given the number of votes Andrew Garfield received, the fall’s We Live in Time was also clearly a favorite among our readership. Whether Pugh is dominating prestige films or charming everyone in her cooking videos, she brings a magnetic energy that’s impossible to ignore and looks to continue that in 2025 in her forthcoming MCU entry Thunderbolts.
9. Aubrey Plaza
Coming off her scene-stealing role in the second season of The White Lotus, Hall of Famer inductee Aubrey Plaza continued to captivate audiences in Agatha All Along and, presumably, Old Ass (I can’t imagine she racked up too many votes for her role in Megalopolis). Her intensity in dramatic roles proves she’s far more than just the deadpan comedian we first fell for. Her eye-roll aura, commanding screen, and millinieal droll make her impossible to look away from, and it’s no wonder she’s earned a permanent place in the Pajiba pantheon. She’s come a long way since Parks and Rec, although I suspect the glow of that role is why she’s such a frequent presence here.
8. Colin Farrell 
Farrell is making his second appearance on our list because — while he has always been a fantastic actor — he wasn’t quite Pajiba material in his youth. However, Farrell has had a remarkable year with his critically acclaimed role in Sugar and his continued work as The Penguin in the surprisingly excellent Max series. His evolution from a rakish bad boy to a distinguished character actor continues to impress. It is a credit to his magnetic Irish charm that he made the list in spit of that penguin walk and the mountain of prosthetics covering that handsome face, although it’s worth noting, too, that fatherhood has sat very well with Farrell over the last decade.
7. Brett Goldstein
The man still best known for the bearded and gruff Roy Kent joked earlier this year on a talk show appearance that, since shaving for his role in Shrinking, he (jokingly) realized that women apparently did only like him for his looks. Truthfully, however, his shaven face has not deterred his fans, who love his soft vulnerability in this season of Shrinking, as well as his work behind the scenes as writer and co-creator. Anyone who follows him on Instagram also knows that he’s one of the most thoughtful and generous actors around, and as good as he consistently is, he never fails to credit those around him. We look forward to seeing him in 2025 in At the Sea with Amy Adams and Jenny Slate.
6. Michelle Yeoh
Yeoh, who topped this list the year of a historic Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All At Once, has kept busy this year with roles in The Brothers Sun but likely is on everyone’s mind this Pajiba 10 season because of her role in Wicked. Yeoh continues to exude the kind of elegant confidence that comes from being absolutely masterful at what she does. The grace she brings to both action and drama is mesmerizing, proving why she’s earned her legendary status in the Pajiba 10 Hall of Fame.
5. Lupita Nyong’o
Making her second appearance on our list, Lupita Nyong’o brought both terror and heart to her role in A Quiet Place: Day One and clearly made a huge impression with her voice work in the celebrated animated film The Wild Robot. Her combination of remarkable talent and striking presence makes every performance memorable. Whether she’s in serious drama or action-horror, she radiates an intelligence and poise that’s utterly captivating, and she has big projects on the horizon, including a role in Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey in 2026.
4. Jonathan Bailey
Newcomer Jonathan Bailey continued to make us swoon in Bridgerton, proving his ability to bring smoldering intensity to any period and then turned around and did so again in the fantasy world of Oz in Wicked. Whether in period costume or modern dress, he brings passionate energy that elevates every scene he’s in, making this first-time appearance unlikely to be his last, especially as he has another Wicked entry on the horizon, as well as a leading role opposite Scarlett Johansson in the next Jurassic World movie.
3. Melanie Lynskey
Thank you, and finally. Lynskey has been a perennial favorite around these parts and a fixture on the publisher’s Pajiba 10 list for years. Making an impressively strong first showing on our list, Melanie Lynskey soars to number three despite a relative lack of projects (she was in the little-seen Tatooist of Auschwitz), primarily because the third season of Yellowjackets is about to arrive and she has a career’s worth of goodwill. Her bewitching screen presence combines vulnerability with radiance, whether she’s playing a suburban cannibal or a post-apocalyptic leader. The complexity she brings to every role makes her truly magnetic, and her subtle power draws you in and doesn’t let go. She is tremendous. Truly. May this be the beginning of a three-year run.
2. Manny Jacinto
Manny Jacinto isn’t just having a moment—he’s announcing his arrival with flair. From his role in The Fall Guy to flexing (literally and figuratively) in The Acolyte, Jacinto makes it all look easy. Armed with unfairly good looks, ridiculous talent, and, yes, those arms, he’s proving he’s far more than just a pretty face (even though, wow, that face). His leap from swoon-worthy romantic lead to bona fide action star showcases a range and work ethic that’s impossible to ignore. And those arms? Don’t worry, we’ll be seeing more of them soon in the Freaky Friday sequel and Colin Jost’s romcom Love Language.
1. Zendaya
Zendaya owns 2024. Between serving up smoldering in Challengers and wielding quiet power as Chani in Dune: Part Two, she’s proven she can master any genre thrown her way. Watching her evolve as an actor has been nothing short of thrilling—every role she takes on is a masterclass in depth and nuance. Whether she’s a fiercely driven tennis coach, the heart of Arrakis, or swinging through NYC with Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, her presence is magnetic. Poised, wickedly talented, and undeniably sharp, Zendaya ascends to the top spot in her Hall of Fame year. What’s next? Oh, just casually wrapping Kristoffer Borgli’s The Drama alongside Robert Pattinson, diving into season three of Euphoria, and tackling Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey. No big deal.