Ones to watch: The faces you'll be seeing a lot of in 2018
Want to know the faces and names we’ll all be talking about this year? From Tom Cruise’s ex and Disney’s new big star to the transgender actress who’s taking Hollywood by storm, we round up who’s set to have a very exciting (and busy) 2018!
Getty ImagesFlorence Pugh
Born: 1996
Why watch them? Sometimes one film can turn someone into a star and that’s what happened to Florence Pugh following her portrayal of Katherine Lester in Lady MacBeth. The role saw her win The Evening Standard’s Award for Breakthrough of the Year as well as be nominated for a BIFA. There’s plenty more of Florence to look forward in 2018 as she stars with Liam Neeson in The Commuter, with Dwayne Johnson in Fighting With My Family and Chris Pine in Outlaw King.
Getty ImagesHaley Bennet
Born: 1988
Why watch them? Dubbed the new Jennifer Lawrence, you should recognise American actress Haley from her role as Megan Hipwell in The Girl on the Train . But 2018 will see her career go up a notch as she stars as the female lead in drama, The Red Sea Diving Resort, alongside Chris Evans.
Getty ImagesTilda Cobham-Hervey
Born: 1994
Why watch them? Australian actress Tilda Cobham-Hervey is set to appear in one of the biggest films of 2018, Hotel Mumbai. The film tells the true story of some of the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks and sees Tilda appear as Sally. As well as a great movie, Tilda also bagged herself a boyfriend as she’s currently dating her co-star Dev Patel.
Getty ImagesKodi Smit-McPhee
Born: 1996
Why watch them? The likes of Hugh Jackman and Tom Cruise better watch out because there’s a new kid on the action-movie block, Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee. The son of a professional wrestler, his CV so far includes Planet of the Apes, Let Me In and two X-Men flicks and he’s just been announced as the lead in the film adaptation of fantasy novel, Tunnels.
REXHalima Aden
Born: 1997
Why watch them? Halima’s early life is about as far from the glamorous world of fashion as you can get. Born into a Kenyan refugee camp, Halima moved to the US when she was six. In 2016, she competed in the Miss Minnesota USA beauty pageant and was the first contestant to wear a burkini and hijab. This year she was signed to IMG models and made her modelling debut at Kanye’s Yeezy NY Fashion Week Show. She also became the first hijab-wearing model to be on the cover of Vogue Arabia and walked for the likes of Max Mara and Alberta Ferretti, all in the last 12 months! Phew.
Getty ImagesMena Massoud
Born: 1991
Why watch them? Egyptian-born, Canadian-raised actor Mena Massoud was working towards a degree in neuroscience at Toronto University when he decided to drop out and pursue a career in acting instead. In retrospective, it wasn’t a bad move. His TV role as Tarek Kassar in Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan brought him attention all across America and his appeal is set to go global in 2019 when he appears as Aladdin in Disney’s live-action remake.
REXOdeya Rush
Born: 1997
Why watch them? Israeli-born Odeya may only be 20 but she’s already had quite the career. As a teen she modelled for the likes of Guess, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger and she’s currently wowing cinema-goers in Oscar contender Lady Bird. But 2018 looks to be Odeya’s year and she has three films out, including Dumplin with Jennifer Aniston and Spinning Man with Pierce Brosnan.
REXDaniela Vega
Born: 1989
Why watch them? Chilean actress and model Daniel Vega is well used to breaking down barriers and her role in A Fantastic Woman was one of the most critically acclaimed at the Toronto Film Awards. Now, Hollywood is standing up and paying attention and there’s talk of an Oscar nomination – if it happens, it will be the first for a transgender actress in the Academy’s history.
REXPresley Gerber
Born: 1999
Why watch them? Presley Gerber hit the genetic jackpot. His mother is supermodel Cindy Crawford and his businessman father is BFFs with George Clooney. We think 2018 is the year that Presley will officially strike out on his own and make a name in his own right. With 400,000 followers on Insta and modelling contracts with the likes of Burberry, D&G and Calvin Klein, things are looking promising.
Getty ImagesJorja Smith
Born: 1997
Why watch them? R&B singer Jorja Smith was nominated for Best Female at the MOBOs 2017 and won the BRITs Critics' Choice Award 2017, signalling big things to come. She featured on Drake's mixtape More Life earlier this year.
REXNazanin Boniadi
Born: 1980
Why watch them? Iranian-born Nazanin has dappled in Hollywood already. A former Scientologist, she briefly dated Tom Cruise, but 2018 sees her make a mark on the big screen as she’s set to appear with Armie Hammer and Dev Patel as Zahra in Hotel Mumbai.
Getty ImagesNina Nesbitt
Born: 1994
Why watch them? You may know Nina as the ex-girlfriend of Ed Sheeran, and the inspiration behind his tracks 'Nina' and 'Photograph'. But the 22-year-old singer is an artist in her own right. She scored a UK top 15 album with her debut Peroxide in 2014 and following her latest single 'The Best You Had', she's due to release another record in 2018. We can't wait.
Getty ImagesDanielle Macdonald
Born: 1992
Why watch them? Danielle’s career has slowly been building over the last few years with small parts in shows like 2 Broke Girls, Pretty Little Liars and American Horror Story. But this year’s Sundance Film Festival changed all that as Danielle was met with a standing ovation from critics for her role as rapper Patti in Patti Cake$ . Next year, we’ll be seeing a lot of the Australian as she appears as the lead in Dumplin alongside Jennifer Aniston.
Getty ImagesGoldlink
Born: 1993
Why watch them? Goldlink released his debut album At What Cost earlier this year and the lead single 'Crew' became the song of the summer. Cementing his place as one to watch for next year, the track also earned him a Grammy 2018 nomination, alongside the likes of Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar.
Getty ImagesBillie Lourd
Born: 1992
Why watch them? After tragically losing her mother and grandmother within a day of each other at the end of 2016, we’re pleased to say Billie Lourd has had a better 2017. The daughter of Carrie Fisher is set to grace the silver screen in the franchise that made her mother’s name as she appears as Lieutenant Kaydel Ko Connix in Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Plus, she’s bagged a role in the eagerly anticipated Billionaire Boys Club, out in 2018.
Getty ImagesSigrid
Born: 1996
Why watch them? Norwegian singer-songwriter Sigrid has been tipped as the new Lorde. Signed to Island Records, she released her single 'Don't Kill My Vibe' earlier this year and it's been streamed on Spotify over 13 million times to date. Her debut EP by the same name is out now.
REXEllie Bamber
Born: 1997
Why watch them? Ellie Bamber recently starred in Shawn Mendes’ music video, 'There's Nothing Holdin' Me Back'. This is certainly the case for the young British actress who wowed hard-to-please Tom Ford sufficiently to be cast in his 2016 flick Nocturnal Animals. Next year looks as exciting – she’s bagged a role opposite Keira Knightley and Jack Whitehall in fantasy film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
Getty ImagesKhalid
Born: 1998
Why watch them? Khalid first burst on to the scene with his debut single 'Location' in 2016. He's already huge in the US, with his debut album American Teen hitting number four on the US album chart in March and five Grammy nominations for 2018. He will perform his first headline tour in the UK next February.
Getty ImagesTimothée Chalamet
Born: 1995
Why watch them? 2017 has been quite the year for this American actor - he’s starred in two critically-acclaimed films, Call Me By Your Name and Lady Bird, and garnered a Golden Globe nomination in the process. Next year seems equally as action-packed, as well as more potential award nominations, Timothée is set to appear in Woody Allen’s A Rainy Day In New York.
REXSZA
Born: 1989
Why watch them? The queen of sassy, brutally honest lyrics, 27-year-old Solána Imani Rowe aka SZA, released her debut album Ctrl this year to critical acclaim. She's the most nominated female artist at the 2018 Grammys.
REXBrenton Thwaites
Born: 1996
Why watch them? Home & Away has produced plenty of Hollywood stars (Chris Hemsworth, Isla Fisher, Heath Ledger and Naomi Watts to name but a few) and Brenton Thwaites looks like the show’s latest export. You know you’re on to a good thing when you’re cast as Orlando Bloom’s son in a multi-million-dollar franchise and Pirates of the Caribbean has certainly opened doors for this Aussie actor. With four films and a TV series out in 2018, Brenton is going to be exhausted come December 2018.
Getty ImagesMabel
Born: 1996
Why watch them? If you haven't heard Mabel's chart-topping 2017 hit 'Finders Keepers', where have you been? The daughter of singer-songwriter Neneh Cherry and Massive Attack record producer Cameron McVey started her music career in 2015 with her single 'Know Me Better'. She's currently working on her debut album.
REXMahalia
Born: 1998
Why watch them? Mahalia was signed to Atlantic Records at just 13-years-old, but the Leicester-born singer, now 19, looks like she's heading for stardom in 2018. She's already released two EPs and an album, with more music promised for the new year.
Getty ImagesStefflon Don
Born: 1991
Why watch them? Stefflon Don, real name Stephanie Allen, hit the big time this year with her single 'Hurtin' Me' featuring French Montana. She first appeared in Jeramiah's track 'London' and more recently featured on Jax Jones' and Demi Lovato's 'Instruction'.
REXTayá
Born: 1998
Why watch them? The 19-year-old R&B singer from Liverpool was discovered at age 13. She's now signed to Warner/Atlantic, released her debut EP in September and headlined her first (sell-out) gig in London the following month.
Getty ImagesZak Abel
Born: 1995
Why watch them? You probably recognise his name from Gorgon City's addictive hit 'Unmissable', but Zak has become a star in his own right. His debut album Only When We're Naked was released in October.
