Rueben's Ramblings

Every year there are new faces introduced to the general viewing audience via television series and/or movies at the box office. This year is no different with very unique and diverse actors and actresses coming to the forefront to capture the attention of audiences all over the country (and in some instances the world).

Here, in no particular order, are the stand outs for 2010:

Gemma Arterton

1. Gemma Arterton – While Gemma made heads turn as Strawberry Fields in the 2008 James Bond movie Quantum of Solace, she also starred as Tess Durbeyfield in the 2008 TV mini-series Tess of the D’Urbervilles and in the box office movie Pirate Radio in 2009. But it has been her work throughout this year that has put her on the map. She starred not only in The Clash of the Titans but also Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and the independent movie Tamara Drewe. She is currently filming Men in Black III.

Isaiah Mustafa

2. Isaiah Mustafa – The guy from the Old Spice commercials who was “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” caused waves across the nation, putting this actor on the map. He appeared as Greta #3 on an episode of Chuck and then had a role in the Tyler Perry movie Madea’s Big Happy Family. Next up he will be seen in the 2011 box office movie Horrible Bosses.

Chloe Moretz

3. Chloe Moretz – This talented 13-year-old has quite a resume for someone so young, including the TV series Dirty Sexy Money and the 2005 box office film The Amityville Horror and (500) Days of Summer. But it was her role as Hit-Girl in the box office movie Kick-Ass that really got her noticed. She also appeared in the films Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the horror flick Let Me In. Among her 7 upcoming projects is the Kick-Ass sequel.

Maggie Q

4. Maggie Q – Already a superstar in Asia, Maggie is making a name for herself on American TV in the CW series Nikita. Her box office credits include Live Free or Die Hard, Mission: Impossible III, Deception and Balls of Fury. She will soon be seen in the box office film Priest.

Jennifer Lawrence

5. Jennifer Lawrence – She burst onto the scene in the independent film Winter’s Bone after appearing in the TBS series The Bill Engvall Show for 2 seasons, and now she will be seen in the Jodie Foster flick The Beaver, the film Like Crazy, the horror movie The House at the End of the Street and the much-anticipated blockbuster X-Men: First Class.

Jimmy Wolk

6. Jimmy Wolk – While his first big starring role on television was the short-lived FOX drama Lone Star, Jimmy made his TV debut in the acclaimed Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Front of the Class. He also appeared in the box office movie You Again with Kristen Bell, Jamie Lee Curtis, Sigourney Weaver, Odette Yustman and Betty White.

Matt Passmore

7. Matt Passmore – Matt is well known in his home country of Australia, having starred in the TV shows MacLeod’s Daughters and Underbelly, but he made heads turn here in the States courtesy of his new A&E TV series The Glades, which is about a Chicago cop who moves to a small Florida town, joining the state police there. The Glades will be back for a second season this summer.

Ruth Wilson

8. Ruth Wilson – Just four years ago, Ruth landed the lead role in the 2006 adaptation of Jane Eyre and then appeared in last year’s AMC remake of The Prisoner. This year she appeared in the 6-part BBC America mini-series Luther alongside Idris Elba. And, it is rumored she will portray Jacqueline Kennedy in the anticipated 2011 film Flying Into Love.

Cast of Pretty Little Liars

9. The Cast of Pretty Little Liars – This new ABC Family Channel series based on the novels by Sara Shepard turned out to be quite the guilty pleasure over the summer. The show stars four up-and-coming young actresses, including Lucy Hale (Privileged), Ashley Benson (Eastwick), Shay Mitchell (Aaron Stone), and Troian Bellisario (NCIS) as well as some very familiar faces to the older TV generation such as Holly Marie Combs (Charmed), Chad Lowe (Life Goes On), Laura Leighton (the original Melrose Place) and Nia Peeples (Fame).

Benedict Cumberbatch

10. Benedict Cumberbatch – Benedict caught the attention of viewers courtesy of his appearance as the legendary Sherlock Holmes in the PBS 3-part mini-series Sherlock that recently aired here in the States and in the UK, but he has appeared in the box office films Atonement and The Other Boleyn Girl and will be seen in the upcoming films War Horse and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.

Who are some of the new faces from this past year who caught your attention either on television or in film? Please share.