Owen Cooper and Marisa Abela among stars on Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list
By Georgia Bates, Press Association
Adolescence actor Owen Cooper and Industry actress Marisa Abela are among the stars featuring on the 11th annual Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list.
The list recognises the region’s “most dynamic young innovators, entrepreneurs and changemakers” who are “shaping the future of Europe and beyond”.
Alongside Cooper and Abela, other list-makers include Brit-nominated singer Sienna Spiro, British actor Louis Partridge, and singer-songwriter Absolutely.
Teen actor Cooper, 16, became the youngest ever Emmy winner for best supporting actor for his performance as 13-year-old Jamie Miller in the Netflix drama Adolescence.
The star, who also collected a Golden Globe for the role, recently appeared as Young Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation and in the BBC series Film Club.
He is joined on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list by Abela, 29, who won a Bafta for best actress in 2025 for her role in the hit BBC drama Industry as young graduate Yasmin Kara-Hanani.
She has also appeared in Back To Black (2024), inspired by award-winning singer Amy Winehouse who died in July 2011 at the age of 27, as well as Barbie (2023) and She Is Love (2022).
Other names include Enola Holmes actor Partridge, 22, and Die On This Hill singer Spiro, 20, who was recently nominated for a Brit Critics’ Choice Award.
Absolutely, 22, born Abby-Lynn Keen, is the younger sister of Brit Award-winning singer Raye and began her career as a songwriter and background vocalist.
The I Just Don’t Know You Yet singer is supporting Raye on her 2026 This Tour May Contain New Music tour.
English rugby union player Ellie Kildunne, 26, Dutch DJ Mau P, 29, and content creator Grace Keeling, better known as GK Barry, 26, have also appeared on the list.
“As we enter a new era for Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe, this year’s Gen Z honourees represent a generation inspiring their peers and redefining ambition, innovation and impact in today’s world,” Alexandra York, associate editor, 30 Under 30, said.
“From building industry-defining businesses to shaping culture on a global scale, they are setting the pace for what comes next.”
The stars join the likes of actress Jessie Buckley, musician Fred Again, and singer Olivia Dean who have previously appeared on Forbes’ annual 30 Under 30 Europe list which aims to spotlight the next generation of talent.
According to Forbes, the average age of honourees this year is 27 – with the youngest being 15-year-old actor Alfie Williams, who starred as Spike in the 2025 film 28 Years Later and its 2026 sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
The honourees this year hail from more than 20 countries, with London, Zurich, Berlin and Paris being the most popular cities the list-makers call home.
The list spotlights talent from 10 sectors including, art & culture, entertainment, social impact and AI.
Candidates for the list are evaluated by Forbes staff and a panel of expert judges including The Day Of The Jackal actress Lashana Lynch and Dragons’ Den investor Steven Bartlett.