The Best New Talent of 2005

Amy Adams RED-HOT BREAKOUT

After seven years of supporting roles, Adams, as the sweetheart center of the Southern family drama Junebug, was a revelation. Her guileless Ashley, a seemingly naive pregnant wife dazzled by her city-sleek sister-in-law, is sunny and soulful. The critical accolades (Adams won prizes at Sundance and the Gotham Awards) and It Girl endowment please and worry her: ''I didn't get into acting to have a moment,'' the 30-year-old actress shyly demurs. ''I got into it because of people who've inspired me, like Judi Dench, Holly Hunter, and Jodie Foster. The lifers.''

Next up is another supporting role, in Will Ferrell's untitled NASCAR comedy due in August 2006, and then a princess turn in 2007's Disney film Enchanted. But what she's really wishing for are the ''dark and absurd'' roles that continue to elude her. ''There's plenty of audition tape out there with me screaming and tearing my hair out,'' she says. ''Most of the roles I want, everybody's like, 'Oh, you look too young to play this.' I'm not!'' Tell her that most actresses don't advertise their age, and she laughs. ''Everything I want to do lies in front of me, so why would I wish for my youth? This has been such a great year for me. I would never trade that to be young and confused and firm.'' — Karen Valby

Fall Out Boy BREAKOUT 'BOY' BAND

A humble Chicago pop-punk foursome writ large thanks to From Under the Cork Tree, their second album and a Billboard chart staple since May (the group recently scored a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist). The screaming girls at TRL flipped for their smart-ass breakup anthem ''Sugar, We're Goin Down,'' but don't let that deter you — FOB's spastic power chords, gleeful choruses, and snarkily heartfelt lyrics flow like love letters e-mailed from the Warped Tour bus. If this is emo, sign us up. — WP

Tyler James Williams BREAKOUT TV ACTOR WHO CAN'T DRIVE

As a young Chris Rock, the scrawny, saucer-eyed 13-year-old star of UPN's Everybody Hates Chris endures the traumas of childhood with patient incredulity — even as he's pelted with insults, rejections, and batteries. (A remarkable feat given that Williams' last job involved cavorting with Snuffleupagus.) Too bad the kids of Bed-Stuy circa 1980 don't value sharp comic timing: If they did, Williams would be too cool for school. — WP

Elizabeth Kostova BREAKOUT LONG IN THE MAKING

When you work on a book for 10 years, chances are it's going to be pretty huge. And there was no bigger debut this summer — in pages (640) and buzz — than The Historian, Kostova's fictional tale of the real-life inspiration for Dracula. Its blend of history and intrigue earned it comparisons to The Da Vinci Code and proved America does want to read someone other than Dan Brown. — GC

The Game BREAKOUT PLAYER

Growling out of the West Coast like a name-dropping rabid dog, this gangsta with attitude put Compton back on the rap map with his trunk-jarring major-label debut, The Documentary. The disc crashed into the charts at No. 1 and went on to spawn three crossover hits. An ugly beef with onetime collaborator 50 Cent grabbed headlines, but it's the MC's natural skills on the mic that should help make his quest for longevity much more than a trivial pursuit. — Ryan Dombal