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Tired of hearing about Brad Pitt and other mega celebrities? Are you looking for a few fresh faces in Hollywood to follow? The following actors and actresses have gained a lot of attention with their recent work and have plenty of things lined up for the upcoming new year. Let's take a look at some of Hollywood's rising stars.
Chris O'Dowd
Folks from across the Pond know Chris O'Dowd from the British sitcom The IT Crowd, but he made a splash stateside as Kristen Wiig's romantic interest in Bridesmaids. This past year, viewers have seen him in a couple of episodes of the critically acclaimed HBO comedy series Girls and Judd Apatow's latest flick, This Is 40. Look forward to seeing the Irishman continue his work on Girls as well as a few comedic turns in the theatre, with Cuban Fury and Calvary.
Rebel Wilson
You might remember Rebel Wilson as the disgustingly tattooed roommate in Bridesmaids. This year she played the titular Bachelorette (which became the number one downloaded movie on iTunes) and appeared in the surprise summer hit Pitch Perfect, which remarkably made competitive a capella really enjoyable to watch. Her comedic talents landed her as one of Forbes "30 Under 30," and keep an eye on her upcoming sitcom, Super Fun Night.
Adam Driver
As Adam Sackler, Lena Dunham's frequently appalling yet magnetic boyfriend in Girls, Adam Driver has become the poster boy for the self-absorbed modern male figure. Let's not forget Adam's infamous chest, which apparently has been so hypnotic that someone created its own Twitter feed. Fans of the show anxiously await for the new year, wondering what's in store for Sackler after his breakup with Hannah at the end of last season.
Brie Larson
Despite some initial doubts, 21 Jump Street proved to be a comedic and box office smash. Brie Larson rode the wave of positive buzz when the movie came out and will appear in a couple of movies that will debut next year at the Sundance Film Festival. She was cast in the high school drama The Spectacular Now, alongside Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Jennifer Jason Leigh, and in Don Jon's Addiction. In the film, Brie will play the sister of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who stars as a man who's addicted to porn.
Dane DeHaan
In 2012, Dane DeHaan showed audiences his dark side as the troubled teenager with super powers in Chronicle and appeared in the highly entertaining gangster movie Lawless. DeHaan will show up in a slew of dramatic movies next year, including The Place Beyond the Pines, with Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper. But keep an eye out for this guy in the distant future, because it was recently announced that he will play Harry Osborn in the sequel to The Amazing Spider-Man.
Kiernan Shipka
Now that Kiernan Shipka has grown older, the thirteen-year-old actress has become a series regular as Don Draper's daughter in Mad Men and guest starred on a few episodes of Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23, hilariously playing herself. In 2013, Kiernan will continue her role as Sally Draper and is set to appear alongside Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Olsen, who play two girls who make a pact to lose their virginity, in Very Good Girls.
Eddie Redmayne
The Tony-award winning thespian landed the groundbreaking role as Marius in the critically acclaimed Les Misérables. The model-turned-actor (with an amazing singing voice) is one of several young British actors who are getting a lot of notice lately, which also includes The Amazing Spider-Man's Andrew Garfield and Skyfall's Ben Whishaw.
Chloë Grace Moretz
Parents had to cover their children's ears when Chloë Moretz appeared as the foul-mouthed crime fighter Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass. While she only starred in the theatrical off-beat remake of the 70s supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows in 2012, she's got quite the line up for next year. As another one of Forbes "30 Under 30," Chloë will reprise her role as Hit-Girl in Kick-Ass 2; is one of many in an impressive ensemble cast in the comedy Movie 43; and will try her hand in another remake of a 70s supernatural icon, this time starring as the title character in Carrie.
Tom Holland
This young British actor first started off in theater, earning praise for his acting and dancing skills in the musical Billy Elliot. But he earned tremendous praise for his big screen debut this season for his performance in The Impossible, the widely acclaimed film based on true events about a family's experience during the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. Next year, audiences will see him experience more trying events in How I Live Now, which is based on the award-winning British children's book set in the future after the outbreak of World War III.
Armie Hammer
Armie Hammer had everyone seeing double when he played both of the Winklevoss Twins in The Social Network two years ago. This year he and Julia Roberts brought a lighthearted side to the classic tale of Snow White in Mirror Mirror. Although the movie couldn't overtake The Hunger Games at the box office, Armie convinced moviegoers of his leading star charisma. Next summer, he and Johnny Depp will hope to draw millions of Americans with the latest blockbuster version of The Lone Ranger.
Analeigh Tipton
Analeigh Tipton first gained attention when she landed third place on America's Next Top Model. Now that she's appeared in several movies (Crazy, Stupid, Love., where she played a teenager who had a crush on Steve Carell), the twenty-four-year-old was listed as one of Hollywood's "30 Under 30" this year by Forbes and will star in next spring's romantic zombie flick Warm Bodies, alongside John Malkovich and Nicholas Hoult.
John Boyega
Nerds and science-fiction fans will know John Boyega from the cult-hit Attack the Block, where he plays Moses, a quiet yet strong gang leader who's up against an alien invasion. Next year, Boyega will turn in a dramatic role in the theatrical version of the 2007 award-winning novel, Half of a Yellow Sun.
Juno Temple
Juno Temple appeared in a couple of big budget movies this past year, starring as Queen Anne in the outrageously action-packed The Three Musketeers and appearing in a small role as Selina Kyle's accomplice in The Dark Knight Rises. But the beautiful, young English actress has a diverse taste for films, ranging from the dark thriller Killer Joe to the independent film Jack and Diane. Next year she'll continue her trend of diversity with a role in the biopic of the infamous 70s pornographic actress titled Lovelace, and will join Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame in the supernatural fantasy Horns.
Ezra Miller
Last year, Ezra Miller gained the attention of critics with his portrayal of a troubled youth in We Need to Talk About Kevin, and this year he's pulled off another dramatic role as the charming Patrick in the coming-of-age movie based on the beloved novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The talented young actor has also run into trouble with the law when he was busted for possession of marijuana. Will his off-screen antics overshadow his performance on-camera? We shall see when he takes on another film adaptation of a famous novel, this time as the amorous Leon in Madame Bovary, which is currently in pre-production.
Which of these up and coming actors are you looking forward to seeing more often? Are there any movies of theirs that you can't wait to see? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
