The 21 Hottest Stars Under 21

by April P. Bernard

There's a new Lacey in town. While Party of Five's precocious Claudia Salinger was piling on the lipstick and staying out all night this season, the 15-year-old who plays her was maturing in her own, quieter, way-and showing real depth as a performer. "It's hard for me sometimes," says Lacey, "because my character is going through things that I haven't gone through yet or am going through for the first time. I can't really relate it to my own life." No kidding. While Claud had been messing up royally where responsibilities like family and school are concerned, Lacey is making all the right decisions. It's not enough that she's part of one of TV's most emotionally satisfying ensembles. With Lost in Space, she's proving she's got the chops for a movie career. And that's not all, "I would love to write. I would love to direct. I would love to produce," says the Los Angeles-based actress, a little headily. "But I take it one step at a time. I don't want to work just to work. I want to do good work." So far, so good.