pretenders

However, there's a new generation of young ladies taking over Tinseltown -- 'lady' being the operative word. These girls are young, talented and surprisingly well behaved, and they're steadily climbing the A-list.

None are old enough to vote, but these teen stars are eclipsing women twice their age on screen and on the red carpet.

Elle and Dakota Fanning

Blonde and cherubic looking, the Fannings are two of the most powerful sisters in Hollywood. Dakota has been a child superstar since she was tiny and now, at 17, her reign doesn't seem to be ending.

Strong performances in I Am Sam and War Of The Worlds as a child mean that she now has her pick of roles as a teen, and has appeared in The Twilight Saga, as well as The Runaways and Push.

Her younger sister Elle (13) has followed in Dakota's footsteps in more ways than one; she has also been a Spielberg heroine, in last summer's Super 8 and is the face of Marc Jacobs with her sister fronting the same designer's signature fragrance Oh Lola.

Elle is definitely the more edgy of the pair, starring in both Sofia and Francis Ford Coppola flicks this year.

Kendall Jenner

The younger half-sister of Kim Kardashian, Kendall's life has been played out on television since she was barely 10 years old. Now 15, Kendall is a regular on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and its many spin-off shows, and almost as recognisable as her older siblings. Her half-brother on the Jenner side is none other than The Hills infamous playboy Brody, so it's clear where she got the good looks, which her momager Kris has parlayed into a successful modelling career.

Kendall still attends high school in Calabasas, California, and is a cheerleader. However, her life is far from normal and when she's at home her every move is followed by an E! camera crew. She's as used to red carpets and runways as she is to homework, but for now Kendall is seemingly unfazed by her family's notoriety.

Hailee Steinfeld

Nominated for an Oscar for a Coen Brothers film, starring alongside Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges, and becoming the face of Italian fashion label Miu Miu; it's been quite a year for Hailee Steinfeld, and she hasn't even celebrated her 15th birthday yet.

Californian Hailee has been acting since the age of eight, but was largely unknown until she was picked from 15,000 girls to play the lead in True Grit, for which she received a Best Supporting Actress Academy Awards nod.

Another fashionista in waiting, Hailee was picked to front Miuccia Prada's younger diffusion line and has worn couture on the red carpet many times. She'll next be on our screens in an adaptation of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Chloe Moretz

She may be only 14 years old, but Chloe has been acting since she was seven. Bit parts in (500) Days of Summer, The Amityville Horror and Diary Of A Wimpy Kid preceded her breakout role as the foul-mouthed action hero Hit Girl in faux superhero story Kick Ass in 2010.

Articulate beyond her years, Chloe stood out next to seasoned veterans Nicolas Cage and Mark Strong, as well as the film's lead Aaron Johnson. Her first film as leading lady was playing a child vampire in art house flick Let Me In, for which she received rave reviews. Smart, sassy and sartorially sussed, Chloe began to make quite the impact on the red carpet, wearing top designers, such as Chanel and Stella McCartney, with effortless style.

She's graced the cover of fashion bible LOVE, is a front row regular at fashion week and seems to have been embraced by the fashion community. Next up for her are two major projects alongside two of cinema's greatest auteurs; Martin Scorsese's Hugo and Tim Burton's Dark Shadows.