The following list highlights the actors and actresses on television and on the big screen who really caught viewers’ attention throughout this year. They appear in no particular order:
Jenna-Louise Coleman
1. Jenna-Louise Coleman – Jenna is the new companion of Doctor Who on the legendary, long-running sci-fi series, appearing earlier this year in one of the final episodes featuring Amy and Rory, the Doctor most recent companions and who appeared in the Christmas Day episode. Jenna-Louise had roles in the U.K. series Emmerdale, Waterloo Road, Dancing on the Edge and Room at the Top as well as the made-for-TV movie Titanic and the box office film Captain America: The First Avenger.
Douglas Booth
2. Douglas Booth – Douglas appeared in the box office film (that ended up going straight to video) entitled LOL that starred Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore as well as roles in the mini-series The Pillars of the Earth and Great Expectations. He will appear in next year’s film adaptation of Romeo & Juliet alongside Hailee Steinfeld and the 2014 film Noah that will star Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Emma Watson and Logan Lerman.
Gina Carano
3. Gina Carano – Mixed martial arts expert Gina starred in the box office movie Haywire that came out in January of this year, starring opposite Michael Fassbender, Antonio Bandares, Michael Douglas and Ewan McGregor [among others] and she will be seen in next year’s The Fast and the Furious 6, starring many of the original franchise actors as well as next year’s In the Blood alongside Cam Gigandet and Danny Trejo. She is also one of the first actresses to be cast in the proposed female-based version of The Expendables that is being planned for 2015.
Josh Hutcherson
4. Josh Hutcherson – Josh is no stranger to box office films, but this year he appeared in the book to film adaptation of The Hunger Games as well as the three-years in the making reboot of Red Dawn. Among his other movie roles are Journey to the Center of the Earth and the film’s sequel. He will appear in the third Journey to the Center of the Earth movie set for next year as well as the second film adaptation of The Hunger Games trilogy also set for next year. Among his other film roles are Zathura, Bridge to Terabithia, Firehouse Dog and the critically-acclaimed The Kids are All Right.
Mackenzie Foy
5. Mackenzie Foy – Mackenzie landed the role of one of the most-talked about fictional characters in the young adult genre: Renesmee Carlie Cullen, the daughter of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan in the final Twilight saga movie. She appeared in episodes of Hawaii Five-0, FlashForward and R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour. She has three upcoming projects including the film Plastic Jesus with Hilarie Burton, The Conjuring with Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson and Wish You Well with Josh Lucas and Ellen Burstyn.
Suraj Sharma
6. Suraj Sharma – Suraj is a complete newcomer to acting, but he landed one of the most-buzzed-about roles: that of the lead character in the book to film adaptation of the best-selling novel Life of Pi as directed by Ang Lee. You can bet that he will be much in demand now that the film is out.
Zoe Kazan
7. Zoe Kazan – Zoe wrote and starred in the indie film Ruby Sparks earlier this year that received critical acclaim and she has four projects in the works, including In Your Eyes with Nikki Reed and Jennifer Gray, Some Girl(s) with Kristen Bell and Jennifer Morrison, The F Word with Daniel Radcliffe and Amanda Crew and The Pretty One with Jake Johnson and Ron Livingston. Previously she starred in episodes of Bored to Death and Medium as well as roles in the box office films I Hate Valentine’s Day, It’s Complicated and the indie films Me & Orson Welles and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.
Stephen Amell
8. Stephen Amell – Stephen is the hot lead on The CW series Arrow that has taken the 2012-2013 TV season by storm. Among his other TV credits are roles in Queer as Folk, the short-lived Beautiful People, The Vampire Diaries, 90210, Hung, Private Practice and Heartland. He also appeared in the made-for-TV movies The Cutting Edge: Fire & Ice and Justice for Natalee Holloway.
Lara Pulver
9. Lara Pulver — Lara turned heads in her role of Irene Adler in the mini-series Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia. Prior to that Lara appeared in episodes of Robin Hood, MI-5 and True Blood. She will also be seen next year in the new TV series Da Vinci’s Demons.
Jay Ryan
10. Jay Ryan – New Zealand born Jay is the star of the new remake of Beauty And the Beast on The CW alongside Kristin Kreuk; but he got his start in TV shows like Hercules and Xena followed later by the Australian soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in episodes of Sea Patrol, Offspring and Legend of the Seeker. His first big break here in the states came from his small recurring role in the short-lived TV series Terra Nova.
Sutton Foster
11. Sutton Foster – Sutton made a big splash on TV this year in the ABC Family series Bunheads, but she is best known for her work in theatre, appearing in the Broadway play Thoroughly Modern Millie and Anything Goes (both of which she won a Tony) and Little Women and Shrek the Musical [among others]. She also appeared in episodes of Flight of the Conchords, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Royal Pains.
Tom Weston-Jones
12. Tom Weston-Jones – Tom got noticed by American viewers thanks to his role in the new BBC America period piece TV series Copper as well as his role in the mini-series World Without End. His other TV credit is the long-running spy series MI-5 (also known as Spooks in the U.K.).
Jessica Pare
13. Jessica Pare – Jessica turned heads as Megan Calvet Draper on the critically acclaimed and award-winning AMC drama Mad Men. Prior to that she had guest roles in episodes of the short-lived series Jack & Bobby and Life and she appeared in the box office films Wicker Park and Hot Tub Time Machine.
Dean Geyer
14. Dean Geyer – Dean is making heads turn as Brody Weston, the new hottie from NYADA that took Rachel’s heart on Glee. Much like the aforementioned Jay Ryan, Dean appeared in the Australian soap opera Neighbours (yes, he’s Aussie) and had a recurring role in the short-lived TV series Terra Nova. He also competed in the 2006 Australian Idol and holds a black belt in karate.
Quvenzhane Wallis
15. Quvenzhané (pronounced Qui-ven-ZHEN-ay) Wallis – Quvenzhané is the young actress catching attention for her riveting debut performance in the independent film Beasts of the Southern Wild that has been receiving rave reviews all year. This impressive youngster will next be seen in next year’s planned box office film Twelve Years a Slave that will star Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Paul Giamatti [among others].
Daniel Lissing
16. Daniel Lissing – Daniel is one of the cast members of the soon-to-be-defunct ABC drama Last Resort where he appears as Navy Seal James King. This Aussie appeared in the down under TV shows Home and Away, Out of the Blue, Packed to the Rafters and Crownies. He will soon appear in the film John Doe alongside Jamie Bamber.
Kara Hayward
17. Kara Hayward – Kara made her acting debut in the much-buzzed-about indie film Moonrise Kingdom, starring alongside the likes of Bruce Willis, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, Edward Norton and Tilda Swinton. Her next project will be the teen drama film The Sisterhood of Night that will co-star Georgie Henley (from The Chronicles of Narnia franchise).
Skylar Astin
18. Skylar Astin – Skylar starred in this year’s musical-comedy Pitch Perfect alongside Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow and Rebel Wilson and was one of the voices in the top-rated animated film Wreck-It Ralph. He appeared in the box office film Taking Woodstock as well as episodes of Girls and House. He has two projects coming up: 21 and Over with Miles Teller and Justin Chon and Cavemen with Camilla Belle and Chad Michael Murray.
Who are some of the new faces from this year who caught your attention either on television or in film? Please share.
TOMORROW: New Faces of 2013
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