The Variety list of 10 Actors to Watch casts a speculative eye into the future, predicting the rise in profile of actors who have done some brilliant but perhaps under appreciated work over the last year.
Their list is brilliant as always, and the actors included are sure to have bright futures ahead of them. We decided to put together our own list of our fave rising stars.
Honourable mentions go to Karan Brar, who smashed in in Pacific Rim: Uprising; and to Loan Tran (who you might know as Kelly Marie), who’s recently made a triumphant return to the public eye in an NYT op-ed after racist attacks following Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
1. Brian Tyree Henry
Having had his big break in Donald Glover’s award winning Atlanta, Henry then proceeded to work harder than any single person in Hollywood with a whopping 7 film credits listed for 2018. He’s in everything from Hotel Artemis to all the films we’re most excited for come festival season: If Beale Street Could Talk, Widows, White Boy Rick, and even Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.
2. Jessica Henwick
A minor character in Star Wars: The Force Awakens that everyone loved so much she ended up heavily featured in the Poe Dameron spin-off comic books, you’ll recognise Henwick for her TV roles as Nymeria Sand in Game of Thrones and Colleen Wing in Marvel’s Iron Fist. We’re looking forward to seeing her in 2019’s Underwater, alongside Kristen Stewart.
3. Joivan Wade
With minor roles on Eastenders and Doctor Who, the Brit got his big break in the States this year as Isaiah in The First Purge, the fourth in the hit horror franchise. We can’t wait to see him in British rap drama VS. later this year, and he’s been cast as Cyborg in DC’s new TV show Doom Patrol, alongside Orange is the new Black’s Diane Guerrero.
4. Julian Dennison
The 16 year old stole our hearts in Thor: Ragnarok director and fellow New Zealander Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016), and really showed his brilliant range as Firefist in Deadpool 2. This young star has a bright future ahead of him, including the 2020 monster movie sequel, Godzilla v. Kong.
5. Lakeith Stanfield
Yet another Atlanta alum who made waves with Get Out, Stanfield’s specific brand of humour coupled with his considerable skill makes him definitely one to watch. The leading man in Sundance darling surrealist comedy Sorry to Bother You, he also stars in the upcoming Come Sunday from Netflix alongside Chiwetel Ejiofor, and The Girl in the Spider’s Web with Claire Foy.
6. Lana Condor
You can’t have missed Netflix’s latest, To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before, where Condor is delightful as teenager Lara Jean, whose secret love letters are mysteriously sent out to all her crushes, past and present. Condor also had a cruelly cut part as superhero Jubilee in X-Men Apocalypse back in 2016. She’s set to star in Alita: Battle Angel, and coming of age flick Summer Night.
7. Laura Harrier
From the prettiest girl in school to radical activist, Harrier’s filmography includes Spider-Man Homecoming and BlacKkKlansman. She’s proven she can wow audiences of superhero blockbusters and Cannes classics alike – we can’t wait to see what she can do when she’s given a leading role, rather than playing a girlfriend character!
8. Naomi Scott
Seemingly on a mission to reboot all our childhood faves, Scott played the pink Power Ranger in last year’s reboot, and is set to star as Princess Jasmine in Disney’s live action Aladdin next year. It’s also been announced she’ll star in the upcoming Charlie’s Angels reboot alongside Kristen Stewart and newcomer Ella Balinska (not the previously rumoured Lupita Nyong’o!).
9. Tessa Thompson
Rivalling Henry for most projects in the year, Thompson has starred in everything from film hits Sorry to Bother You and Annihilation to award winning TV Westworld and Dear White People. We can’t wait for Creed II later this year, as well as the Ragnarok duo Thompson and Chris Hemworth-led Men in Black spin off in the works! Not to mention the announced Passing alongside Ruth Negga.
10. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Abdul-Mateen proved his chops as the most charismatic bad guy ever as Cadillac in Netflix’s The Get Down. You might recognise him from The Handmaid’s Tale and The Greatest Showman, but you certainly won’t miss him as the sinister Black Manta in Aquaman this year. He’s also set to star in Jordan Peele’s next project Us, as well as an announced Watchmen TV series.