The Actors You’ll Be Hearing A Lot About in 2016
This award season is set be one the most exciting yet: with the new Star Wars breaking a ton of records, an Independence Day sequel and a new JK Rowling film in the works, there are a lot of big movies out in 2016. And they're introducing a lot of big stars. Want to know who'll be the next Keira, Carey and Leo? Read on.
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Getty ImagesAlicia Vikander
As a Golden Globe nominee for her role in The Danish Girl, Alicia Vikander's year is off to a flying start. The film tells the true story of Danish artist Einar/Lili Elbe, one of the first known recipients of gender confirmation surgery, played by Eddie Redmayne. But will she win that Golden Globe? Stay tuned.
Getty ImagesSaoirse Ronan
She's a nominee for the Best Performance by an Actress award at the 2016 Golden Globes for her role in Brooklyn. The pronunciation of her name has proved at talking point, but no fear, Ryan Gosling has it down. He said: "It's (pronounced) Ser-sha, like inertia".
Getty ImagesBrie Larson
Remember Brie in Trainwreck? She also co-starred in The Gambler opposite Mark Wahlberg. You might also have seen her in The Spectacular Now opposite Shailene Woodley or as Jonah Hill's love interest in the hugely successful film, 21 Jump Street. She's also up for the Best Performance by an Actress award at the 2016 Golden Globes. Good luck, Brie!
GettyDaisy Ridley
Daisy Ridley beat hundreds of aspiring actors to be cast as Rey, one of the leads in the record breaking Star Wars: The Force Awakens movie. She’s been compared to a young Keira Knightley and we expect the film roles will come thick and fast after her Star Wars role.
GettyGal Gadot
Believe us when we say 2016 and 2017 will be all about Gal Gadot. The Israeli actress is set to appear as Wonder Woman – twice. First off, she’ll be working a bit of girl power on Henry Cavill and Ben Affleck in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice and then she’s getting a movie all to herself. BTW – we’re not the only ones who’ve noticed her potential: Gucci have signed Gal as the new face of their Bamboo fragrance.
GettyNeel Sethi
Neel Sethi is only 10 but he’s set to appear opposite the likes of Ben Kingsley, Scarlett Johansson, Idris Elba and Lupita Nyong'o (or at least their voices) in next year’s adaptation of The Jungle Book. He plays Mowgli and had to undergo a grueling audition process before bagging the coveted role. Director Jon Favreau has described Neel as “charismatic” and “talented” and we expect to be seeing a lot more of him in the future.
GettyEve Hewson
Eve Hewson is the 24-year-old daughter of U2 singer Bono but prefers acting to singing. The Irish actress is set to silence her critics when Bridge Of Spies is released later this year; she holds her own against Hollywood heavyweights Tom Hanks and Mark Rylance. Plus, we’re excited to see her as Maid Marian in Robin Hood: Origins with fellow One To Watcher Taron Egerton.
GettyLola Kirke
Yeah, in case you’re wondering, Lola is the sister of Girls’ star Jemima Kirke. She’s already raised eyebrows in Mistress America and Gone Girl (she was Greta) – but with roles in Tom Cruise’s Mena, it might not be long before she’s more of a household name than her big sis.
GettyAlexandra Daddario
Alexandra Daddario has certainly capitalised on her success in the Percy Jackson franchise and the first series of True Detective. She’s landed a role in Nicholas Sparks’ next movie The Choice and replaced Lea Michele in The Layover, a road trip sex comedy (apparently this is a thing), with Kate Upton. Let’s hope boyfriend Logan Lerman is the understanding type because this girl’s career is about to sky-rocket.
GettyChristopher Abbott
If you thought that when Christopher Abbott left Girls, that would be the last you’d see of him, you’re very much mistaken. The actor has three films out in 2016, including war film Fun House with Margot Robbie and Billy Bob Thornton.
GettyAlison Brie
Alison Brie has A LOT on at the moment. Not only is the Mad Men alum planning to marry Dave Franco, she has three movies out in the next 12 months – we’re particularly excited about How To Be Single, the romantic comedy that also stars Dakota Johnson and Rebel Wilson.
GettyKatherine Waterston
You might recognise Katherine Waterston from her appearances in Broadwalk Empire, but she’s hitting the big screen now (and opposite Michael Fassbender too!), as Steve Jobs’ spurned girlfriend Chrisann in the Apple boss biopic. That’s not all - Katherine could well be following in Emma Watson’s footsteps come 2016: she’s bagged the role of Porpentina “Tina” Goldstein in the film adaptation of JK Rowling’s Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, and she’s got herself another handsome co-star in the form of Eddie Redmayne. Some people have all the luck.
GettyKaia Gerber
Kaia Gerber was always destined for stardom: her mum is Cindy Crawford and her dad is BFFs with George Clooney (no, we’re not jealous at all). The gorgeous 14-year-old signed a modeling contract recently, and 2016 sees her make her film debut in Sister Cities, so stay tuned!
GettyJohn Boyega
Peckham-born John Boyega impressed us in Attack The Block but he's blown our hats off with his role as Finn in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
GettyTeresa Palmer
Try not to be too envious of Teresa Palmer: the Australian model and actress is set to star opposite Kate Winslet and Casey Affleck in heist drama Triple 9 and then it’s straight into Nicholas Sparks’ The Choice, where she plays the female lead. Margot Robbie better watch out – there’s another blonde Aussie in town!
GettyTaron Egerton
Word on the street is that there was a delay in confirming the second Kingsman movie, not because of Colin Firth’s schedule but because of Taron Egerton’s. That’s how in-demand he is. As well as the spy flick, Taron appeared in Legend this year and he’s set to play Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards in 2016’s biopic about the British ski-jumper. Plus, he’ll be stealing from the rich in Robin Hood: Origins, and he has still has time to dress well; GQ named him in their best-dressed British men list.
GettyBel Powley
It’s not been a bad year for Bel Powley: she appeared opposite Alex Skarsgard in indie flick Diary Of A Teenage Girl and with Nicholas Hoult and Kristen Stewart in sci-fi romance Equals but 2016 is set to be even busier with four films due out. Trust us, if you don’t recognise Bel’s trademark pout now, you will in a few months’ time.
GettyEmory Cohen
Emory Cohen’s breakout role was in The Place Beyond The Pines and there’s certainly something of Ryan Gosling about this young New Yorker. Check him out in upcoming western By Way Of Helena, acting his pants off with Woody Harrelson and Liam Hemsworth.
GettyMaika Monroe
With a name like Maika Monroe, this Californian blonde was always destined to be a Hollywood film star – and that’s what she’ll be by the end of this year. Among the five films she’s got coming out is Independence Day: Resurgence in which she plays Bill Pullman’s now-grown-up daughter Patricia.
GettyElla Purnell
Ella Purnell has made a career out of playing the “younger” versions of main characters: she was a “young” Keira Knightley in Never Let Me Go and portrayed the teenage Angelina Jolie in Maleficient but that’s all about to change. Nineteen-year-old Ella is about to be one of the break-out stars of 2016 thanks to her portrayal of Emma in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children.
GettyKaitlyn Dever
Kaitlyn Dever’s CV is already pretty impressive with TV appearances in Last Man Standing and Justified so we’re not completely surprised that her name is starting to circulate in film circles. The actress has a packed schedule for next year, including the Catherine Keener drama We Don’t Belong Here.
GettyJessie Usher
We expect Independence Day: Resurgence to be one of the biggest films of the year so its newest star Jessie Usher is in for an exciting few months. It’s been assumed that he’ll continue his TV show Survivor’s Remorse but we think it won’t be long before the American actor catches the film bug. The offers are said to be already flying in.
GettyAnya Taylor Joy
Anya Taylor Joy was born in Miami but splits her time between England and Argentina. Her biggest role to date was a bit part in Endeavour but Ridley Scott is about to change her life. The famous film director cast her in his new sci-fi thriller, Morgan, with a few some names you might have heard of – Kate Mara and Paul Giamatti, anyone?
GettyAlma Jodorowsky
Alma Jodorowsky is one of those annoying people who’s just good at everything: she’s a singer, model and actress. The French star has already wooed the fashion world and is an ambassador with Lancome but now her attention has been turned to acting – you might recognise her from Blue Is The Warmest Colour and Kids In Love with Cara Delevingne.
GettyBrenton Thwaites
Brenton Thwaites will be hoping the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise will work its magic on his career in the same way it has with that of Sam Claflin and Orlando Bloom. The Aussie actor and Home & Away alum is set to appear in the next installment, Dead Men Tell No Tales, in 2017. If you want to see what all the fuss is about, you can see his lovely face in Gods Of Egypt with Gerard Butler.
GettyBillie Lourd
Billie Lourd is Carrie Fisher’s daughter and, though we know that she’s in the new Star Wars movie, the rumour that she’ll be playing Princess Leia in a flash-back scene has been denied. Billie is well on her way to forging her own career anyway, thanks to her portrayal of Chanel #3 in Scream Queens.
