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Top 10 Rising Actors & Actresses

By James Powell · September 12, 2014

Remember when you first saw Hugh Jackman as Wolverine in X-Men, or maybe Scarlett Johansson in The Horse Whisperer and you thought that they were to become the huge stars they are today (I doubt it), but its performances like those that can turn a nobody into house hold names.  A new wave of young, fresh talent is now making its way in the industry and we are now just experiencing what they have to offer. Here is my list of the Top 10 Rising Actors\Actresses in the industry today you should look out for.

10. Dave Franco

Dave Franco has climbed up the ladder quietly over the years immersing himself in the television game with stints on shows like Greek and Scrubs, before landing roles in big blockbusters such as 21 Jump StreetWarm BodiesNow You See Me and more recently Neighbors. He will also appear in his brother’s latest production of the adaption of the book, The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside the Room and will star as Greg Sestero alongside his brother playing the legend Tommy Wiseau. In addition he will also appear with Vince Vaughan in Business Trip and will reprise his role for the sequel to Now You See Me.

9. Imogen Poots

Poots had the fortunate upbringing in the industry from her television producer father and got her start appearing in minor roles in V for Vendetta, before getting her big break with 28 Weeks Later, where she started to make a name for herself. Since then, she has appeared in such films as Me and Orson WellsJane Eyre, and Filth. But 2014 has been her biggest year yet, with more predominated roles in That Awkward Moment and Need for Speed, and will also be featured in Terrance Malick’s latest film, Knight of Cups which she will co-star beside three Academy award winners in Christian Bale, Natalie Portman and Cate Blanchett.

8. Dane DeHaan

DeHaan, who got his start in the revival of American Buffalo, has since then made quite the impression on everything he has touched, with roles on In TreatmentTrue Blood and performances in ChronicleLawless before truly coming into his own as Lucien Carr in Kill Your Darlings for which he also received mass critical praise. This year for DeHaan only brought him even more commercial stardom The Amazing Spider- Man 2 playing Harry Osborne and was singled out as being a bright spot in an otherwise lukewarm movie. DeHaan upcoming projects include playing the iconic role of James Dean in Life due out next year and in Justin Chadwick’s Tulip Fever.

7. Dakota Johnson

Johnson who just so happens to be daughter of Don Johnson, made her feature film debut at 10 in Crazy in Alabama, which starred her mother Melanie Griffith, but it wasn’t until years later when she returned to acting in The Social Network in a minor role, and popping up in other smaller roles in Beastly21 Jump Street and The Five Year Engagement. Johnson also had a stint in Television starting in Ben and Kate, but was canceled after only one season.  She then appeared alongside Aaron Paul and Poots in Need for Speed, with her biggest claim to fame due out next year when she stars in the highly anticipated adaption of Fifty Shades of Grey.  

6. Chadwick Boseman

A late bloomer to the party, Chadwick Boseman worked his way through the industry acting in Television in such shows as Law and Order and Castle playing in minor roles, before getting stints in Lincoln Heights and Person Unknown. During that time he also appeared in The Express alongside Rob Brown and Dennis Quaid. But Boseman’s big break didn’t come through until last year where he played the iconic role of Jackie Robinson in 42, where he received widespread critical acclaim. Since then, it has been nothing but praise for Boseman as he popped up in Draft Day and Get on Up which has been lauded as an unforgettable performance and one that will be in discussion come Oscar season.

5. Elizabeth Olsen

No it’s not Mary Kate or Ashley Olsen, but rather the more talented younger sister, Elizabeth Olsen. Olsen, like her sisters, started acting from a young age, but it wasn’t until 2011 where she started in the critical acclaimed Martha Marcy May Marlene (how’s that for alliteration) and received numerous amounts of praise for her performance. Since then it’s been nothing but up for Olsen, with roles in Kill Your Darlings, the remake of OldboyGodzillaVery Good Girls and a role as The Scarlett Witch in The Avengers: Age of Ultron.  

4. Michael B. Jordan

Jordan started off with minor roles on TV, but it was his small yet pivotal role as Wallace on The Wire which garnered him more attention. That role propelled him to other stints on All My ChildrenFriday Night Lights and Parenthood. Jordan’s large majority of work came in 2012, appearing in Red Tails and Chronicle; however last year is where Jordan broke out into the public eye with Fruitvale Station, with his performance being highly praised.  Jordan also starred in That Awkward Moment, and was recently named to portray the grandson of Apollo Creed in the Rocky spinoff Creed, and is also set to star in the Fantastic Four reboot playing Johnny Storm.

3. Emilia Clarke

Another London born, Emilia Clarke had a keen interest for acting at the age of 3, and got her start doing work in London’s Drama and TV centre, before getting her big break in 2010 by being casted as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones. The show has never looked back since and has become one of the highest rated shows of the decade with Clarke being nominated and receiving awards, most notably an Emmy nomination for her work on the show. She has also started to get her foot in the ring with film, playing a role in Dom Hemingway and Terminator: Genisys playing Sarah Connor.  

2. Shailene Woodley

Woodley started her career at a young age landing small roles on TV, until 2008 when she was casted in The Secret Life of The American Teenager playing a 15- year-old girl who discovers she’s pregnant, with the show running five seasons on ABC Family. In 2011 she made her feature film debut in The Descendants, with her performance being well received by critics and it has been more of the same since with her performance in The Spectacular Now gaining her a nomination for an Independent Spirit Award. However, this year has been Woodley’s year as she appeared in two massive commercial successes in Divergent and in the film adaption of The Fault In Our Stars with her performance as cancer patient Hazel Grace Lancaster being called as Oscar worthy.

1. Miles Teller

Teller who got his first pieces of work appearing in short films, made his feature film debut in Rabbit Hole, which was very well received by critics and followed that up with appearing in the remake of Footloose and in the screwball comedies 21 & Over and Project X. But it was his role alongside Shailene Woodley in The Spectacular Now which won over critics. This year Teller started in That Awkward MomentDivergent and will appear in Whiplash alongside J.K. Simmons which premiered at Sundance to critical acclaim. Teller has also been cast as Dan Aykroyd in the untitled Jim Belushi biopic and as Dr. Reed Richards in the Fantastic Four reboot.