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AGE 28
HOMETOWN Los Angeles, California

"Starting out was difficult," says Jay Hernandez. "When I first got into acting, I couldn't book anything. But after a few years I finally got a break on a low-budget indie." Most actors don't parlay an indie role into Hollywood success, but Hernandez, with his good looks and street-smart personality, soon landed a breakthrough role, starring opposite Kirsten Dunst in Crazy/Beautiful. "After that," he notes, "things started to move pretty quickly. I did The Rookie, Torque, and Friday Night Lights."

When asked how he stays in the game, Hernandez comes off like a veteran actor, not just another "face of the week." "There are so many people who want your job, but I don't take anything just for the money. I've been pretty selective. I see my acting career like playing a game of chess."

Hernandez is currently at work on the  yet-to-be-titled September 11th film being shot by Oliver Stone, a daunting director to act in front of, to be sure. "I never could have imagined it," Hernandez says. "I hoped it would happen one day, but the fact that I am doing this film with him is amazing. I look at it like learning. Everyone has a different style-actors, directors-and working with him is incredible. He's really unconventional and he just feeds you so much. The film is based in reality and he's trying to bring as much truth to the project as possible."

Hernandez believes in a similar sort of integrity. "Acting is like that as well," he says. "It's about finding the truth."

WHERE YOU CAN SEE HIM NEXT: In the forthcoming Oliver Stone film, due this summer.