Anson Mount

An intense actor, Anson Mount had several credits under his belt when he earned teen fame as Britney Spears' love interest in the coming-of-age dramedy "Crossroads" (2002). Doing his best to avoid being typecast as a lightweight hunk, Mount landed fulltime gigs on "Line of Fire" (ABC, 2003-04), "The Mountain" (The WB, 2004-05) and "Conviction" (NBC, 2006), as well as booking supporting roles in "In Her Shoes" (2005) and "Straw Dogs" (2011). He came into his own as an adult actor when he impressed critics and fans alike in the demanding dramatic lead role of vengeance-seeking Civil War veteran Cullen Bohannon in the railroad-themed Western "Hell on Wheels" (AMC, 2011-16). Unlike many of his contemporaries who found early success in teen projects, Anson Mount actively focused on building a career rooted in heavier roles and more challenging subject matter.