Jacobi Jupe, age 12, 'Hamnet'; Nina Ye, age 9, 'Left-Handed Girl'; Everett Blunck, age 15, 'The Plague'; Cary Christopher, age 10, 'Weapons'; Miles Caton, age 20, 'Sinners'; and Shannon Mahina Gorman, age 11, 'Rental Family.' Agata Grzybowska/FOCUS FEATURES; Courtesy of Netflix; James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures; VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images; Courtesy of IFC Films; Courtesy of Warner Bros. Share on Facebook Share on X Google Preferred Share to Flipboard Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Send an Email Print the Article Post a Comment Every year, the Critics Choice Association (CCA) nominates actors under the age of 21 in their best young performer category, and this year. Ahead of the Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, The Hollywood Reporter asked the six actors, ranging from age 9 to 20, what their ambitions are for their future in Hollywood. And yes, working with Tom Cruise is still a dream of many just starting out in the industry. Below, Everett Blunck, Cary Christopher, Nina Ye, Shannon Mahina Gorman, Jacobi Jupe and Miles Caton weigh in. Related Stories Music Stephen Schwartz Started 2025 Mentoring Mark Sonnenblick. Now They're Competing Against One Another for Awards. General News The Hollywood Reporter and Spotify Partner on Golden Week Nominees Night Everett Blunck, age 15 The Plague (Independent Film Company) "I hope people can see themselves in the characters I play and that I can use those characters to connect with my audience in an authentic and meaningful way." Cary Christopher, age 10 Weapons (Warner Bros.) "As one of the fastest players on my Little League team, I'd love to one day work on an action movie with Matt Damon or Tom Cruise!" Nina Ye, age 9 Left-Handed Girl (Netflix) "I hope everyone can find their dreams through films." Shannon Mahina Gorman, age 11 Rental Family (Searchlight) "I want the audience to watch me grow up and to share my future acting dreams with them." Jacobi Jupe, age 12 Hamnet (Focus) "My dream is to always be an actor and always love and enjoy it as much as I do now." Miles Caton, age 20 Sinners (Warner Bros.) "My dream for my future in film is to continue to be a part of it and make movies that change and inspire the world." This story appeared in the Jan. 2 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up Rambling Reporter Who Aren't You Wearing? The "Oscars of Porn" Has Its Own Red Carpet Season Sinners Ryan Coogler Recalls Chadwick Boseman Sneaking Into a Press Event to Meet Him Before 'Black Panther' Toni Collette How Kate Winslet's Decades-Long Acting Career Prepared Her for Her Directorial Debut Palm Springs International Film Festival How the Palm Springs Film Fest Became the Event That Oscar Contenders Cut Short Their Holiday Break to Attend box office André Ovredal Horror Movie Gets Title, Release Date from Paramount Palm Spring International Film Festival "Speaking Authentically Is Threatening": How a Palestinian Film Made It to Palm Springs Rambling Reporter Who Aren't You Wearing? The "Oscars of Porn" Has Its Own Red Carpet Season Sinners Ryan Coogler Recalls Chadwick Boseman Sneaking Into a Press Event to Meet Him Before 'Black Panther' Toni Collette How Kate Winslet's Decades-Long Acting Career Prepared Her for Her Directorial Debut Palm Springs International Film Festival How the Palm Springs Film Fest Became the Event That Oscar Contenders Cut Short Their Holiday Break to Attend box office André Ovredal Horror Movie Gets Title, Release Date from Paramount Palm Spring International Film Festival "Speaking Authentically Is Threatening": How a Palestinian Film Made It to Palm Springs