10 Actors to Watch

10 Actors to Watch in 2009

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Trade News | Comments (48)

Variety, the print trade publication that, like its cousin, The Hollywood Reporter, is facing imminent extinction because it’s still trying to compete with movie blogs on a magazine budget, has announced its annual 10 Actors to Watch, which is a list of hot up-and-comers, most of whom have had break-out roles this year. You’ll likely recognize most of them. They’re not exactly obscure actors; in fact, most of them — save for Michael Stuhlbarg — are fairly well known already. That said, I don’t disagree with their up-and-coming status — you’ll be seeing a lot of them over the next few years/decades.

Here’s the list:

10. Laz Alonzo (Credits: Fast & Furious, Avatar)

9. Maggie Grace (Credits: Taken, “Lost” )

8. Tom Hardy (Credits: Bronson, Mad Max: Fury Road )

7. Rachelle Lefevre (Credits: Twilight, New Moon)

6. Jeremy Renner (Credits: The Hurt Locker, “The Unusuals”)

5. Nicholas Hoult (Credits: About a Boy, A Single Man, Clash of the Titans)

4. Alia Shawkat (Credits: Whip It, “Arrested Development”)

3.Michael Stuhlbarg (Credits: A Serious Man)

2. Emma Stone (Credits: Superbad, Zombieland)

1. Christoph Waltz (Credits: Inglourious Basterds, The Green Hornet)

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Comments

Mmmmm. Jeremy Renner. Biscuits. Strawberry Jam.

Anyhow [laugh]. I thought he was outstanding in The Hurt Locker.
Excited to see what comes next.

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 30, 2009 12:22 PM

I'm not buying any but Waltz.

Posted by: Cindy at October 30, 2009 12:31 PM

Is Nicholas Hoult old enough to be looking at me like that? I hope so.

Posted by: Caspar at October 30, 2009 12:32 PM

In that pic Jeremy Renner looks like a cross between Elijah Wood and Hoggle from Labyrinth.

Posted by: Carrie at October 30, 2009 12:36 PM

Re this one: Rachelle Lefevre (Credits: Twilight, New Moon)

She'll not be in the New Moon movie cuz she signed up to do another movie
off in Italy or sumthin and can't be there but then said 'whugh happened' but
the movie company had already offered the job to Ron Howard's daughter
(Bryce something) and Rachelle's ticked but it's tough turkey for her.....
and uhm, yeah. Why do I know that showbiz news crap? Ugh.

Strawberry blondes still rock though. Ugga booga. Ramma-lamma. ---:-D

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 30, 2009 12:39 PM

Holy fuck, #5 is the kid from About a Boy??! He has....um....grown up.....nice...uhh....I...ummm............why do I suddenly feel like I'm in a kitchen waiting on some delicious lemonade & Chris Hansen just walked in the door?

Posted by: Cruise at October 30, 2009 12:40 PM

Michael Stuhlbarg reminds me strongly of Joaquin Phoenix. In that pic, anyway - I've never seen him in action.
To me, Renner will always be 'Apt Pupil guy' from Angel. Maybe I ought to watch something newer he's done...
Waltz creeped (crept?) me out so comprehensively in Inglourious Basterds that I'm not sure I want to see him ever again!
Tom Hardy recently played the most bloodless Heathcliff I've ever seen. But his Cathy was cross-eyed, so maybe he has an excuse.

Posted by: Tarn at October 30, 2009 12:45 PM

Emma Stone played Dylan Baker's daughter in Drive and I thought she was awesome. I assmue she was cast because she has a fairly strong resemblance to Lindsay Lohan, but she surprised me by being great and holding her own with Baker.

I have nothing against Maggie Grace but I also don't see anything outstanding about her. She's mediocre.

I want to see Tom Hardy...well, doing anything. I basically just want to see Tom Hardy. Rowr.

Whoever took that picture of young Mr. Hoult should be arrested.

Posted by: Jerce at October 30, 2009 12:50 PM

Nicholas Hoult was genius on Skins. I have no doubt he will go far.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at October 30, 2009 12:51 PM

Nah, Rachelle Lefevre is in New Moon, it's the third one where Bryce Dallas Howard takes over.

Posted by: Carrie at October 30, 2009 12:51 PM

nicholas hoult? those eyes! that saucy finger to his lips!

thanks for making me feel like a pedophile this afternoon...

Posted by: the seaward at October 30, 2009 12:51 PM

In that pic Jeremy Renner looks like a cross between Elijah Wood and Hoggle from Labyrinth.

Ahahahahaha. Too true. But seriously, he's great.

Posted by: commanderfunky at October 30, 2009 1:06 PM

Wow, Nicholas Hoult has biceps.
I feel dirty.

With the exception of Jeremy Renner & Emma Stone, I'm not impressed. Maggie Grace does nothing for me either. She was ok in Jane Austen's Book Club and I only know Laz Alonzo from Miracle at St. Anna, which sucked.

Posted by: Brie at October 30, 2009 1:07 PM

#10 -- Nope

#9 -- Nope (was she trying a little too hard to act like a 12 year old in Taken? creeped me out...)

#8 -- Hell yes Handsome Bob!!

#7 -- Nope

#6 -- Hope he does. Although it's almost too easy to see him fall back into poor movies.

#5 -- Boy Adam Lambert's been working out...

#4 -- Nope. Arrested Development Curse!! David Cross was in god damn Alvin & the Chipmunks, Jason Bateman was in Extract (didn't do well) and Couples Retreat (yikes!), and George Michael has been passed by Jesse Eisenberg.

#3 -- We'll see

#2 -- Christ on a crutch that photo left me weak-kneed.

#1 -- Loved Basterds. Easy movie to watch without having to critically over-analyze. I'll be working on a drinking game when I get my hands on a dvd rip. Although this one won't be as drinking-game inducing as Kill Bill per se.

Posted by: D-Day at October 30, 2009 1:08 PM

Nicholas Hoult, HOKEY SMOKE.

Posted by: caroline at October 30, 2009 1:18 PM

I don't think I'll ever like Maggie Grace. She was so bitchy and horrible on Lost. And she just...radiates spoiled bitchiness. Sort of like Ali Larter but less annoying.

Posted by: figgy at October 30, 2009 1:19 PM

Wait... so the one dude up there is (going to be?) in something called Mad Max: Fury Road? Is this the remake/4th sequel/some shit like that? Have we heard about this?

I'm confused and frightened... and a little cold... HOLD ME, DAMMIT!

Posted by: MM at October 30, 2009 1:55 PM

Oh, and Emma Stone is delicious.

Posted by: commanderfunky at October 30, 2009 1:58 PM

Crap, when did the kid from About a Boy turn into an "I Hope You Feel Bad About Yourself" crush?

And I do feel bad about myself. Thanks a lot for growing up, Nicholas Hoult.

Posted by: Jelinas at October 30, 2009 2:17 PM

Wait... so the one dude up there is (going to be?) in something called Mad Max: Fury Road? Is this the remake/4th sequel/some shit like that? Have we heard about this?

It's supposed to be a continuation of the story. George Miller (the director/creator) has been trying to get it going for years and finally seems to be on the road to getting it going.

As for the list...good luck. The road is littered with plenty of "up-and-comers" that aren't anywhere right now.

Posted by: Fredo at October 30, 2009 2:58 PM

The picture of Hoult creeped me out so much I checked his age on
IMDb. He's 20. It still feels dirty and NOT in a good way. That picture
is creeptacular.

I think Emma Stone has "it" and could be a major star. Jeremy Renner
has "it" AND the acting chops to be amazing. The Unusuals died
before its time.

It will be interesting to follow this and see how far the lets-call-them-
quirky-looking actresses get versus the lets-call-them-quirky-looking
actors. Not that I will follow it, but still.

Posted by: Supercomfypampertimefloatythrone at October 30, 2009 3:26 PM

I will let Waltz do whatever he wants to me as long as he's being a bad nazi. Oh, he also has to bring Emma Stone. My God!

Posted by: admin at October 30, 2009 3:48 PM

Heil Waltz!

Posted by: George at October 30, 2009 4:46 PM

Nicholas Hoult I've only seen on Skins - but he was incredible.

Posted by: trippdup at October 30, 2009 5:21 PM

Oh thank God Hoult is legal...I was getting worried about my sanity. Seriously though...bunk.

Posted by: Joker at October 30, 2009 7:52 PM

I don't recognize any of these folk, or their names. I feel redeemed that I am not a complete obsessive movie nerd (even though i watch movies like wino's drink Aqua Velva and Scope!)

disclaimer: do not drink colognes or mouthwash while watching movies. this overloads the nervous system. These vices must be pursued separately.

Posted by: idleprimate at October 30, 2009 8:13 PM

Add me to the "Whoa! Hoult!" crowd. Rowrrr. 20 is old enough to keep me from feeling creepy... 7 years isn't much of an age difference.

Posted by: MelBivDevoe at October 30, 2009 8:16 PM

Agree with Tom Hardy and Jeremy Renner.

Posted by: sailboat at October 30, 2009 10:17 PM

I love the ones that have been clearly taken at some premier or whatever, and the kids just as obviously don't have access to a make-up artist who thinks a 17 year old should me made up like she's 71. The girls are all clean and smiling and the boys are trying so hard to be butch and I want to hug them, but not in a way that makes me feel creepy (yes, I mean you, Hoult! Stop doing that NOW, young man!)
Lefevre, for instance, looks so cute I can almost forgive her for being in That Movie. Although, isn't there supposed to be a redhead who tries to kill 'em all? Please tell me she plays that one. Then I will like her whole bunches, yes I will.

Posted by: ScienceGeek at October 30, 2009 10:21 PM

@ScienceGeek

Cuz I'm home, sick with a cold. The meds *made* me look this up, on some sort of
TwiddleLight Wiki page.

> Victoria was a nomadic vampire who was a member of James's coven. She was
the mate of James and began a vendetta against Bella Swan in revenge for his
death. To this end, she spearheaded several plots to end Bella's life, including
creating a newborn army in Seattle, with the express purpose of killing her and
destroying the Olympic Coven. However, at the conclusion of the newborn crisis
in Seattle, Victoria's life of violence and malice was ended by Edward Cullen.
OOpsie. Hope that's not spoiler stuff for those still reading the book series [wink].

Posted by: Ms MoMo at October 30, 2009 11:34 PM

Wow, that Nicholas Hoult kid is smokin' hot. And Renner rules, excellent in "The Hurt Locker."

I don't really pay attention to these "hottest" lists, but the eye candy is nice.

Posted by: Slash at October 31, 2009 12:22 AM

ummmm. when did the chubby kid from About a Boy get SO EFFING HOT???

Posted by: katie at October 31, 2009 1:17 AM

I'm so glad Hoult has gone the Christian Bale/Jennifer Connelly route of child star-into-hot-serious-actor, rather than following the Jake Lloyd/Jonathan Lipnicki example. Or worse, the Dustin Diamond example...-shudder-...

Posted by: Ali at October 31, 2009 1:18 AM

So sad that after 20-odd years of splendid work in front of (TV-)cameras (mostly as the bad guy...) it takes a damn Tarantino movie and a nazi uniform for an actor like Waltz to be recognized internationally. Seriously.

That said... damn, Nicholas Hoult! He'd qualify for the list of have-been-children-actors-that-one-always-knew-would-become-hot-someday. Someone tell me such a list already exists, would you?

Posted by: Padame at October 31, 2009 5:23 AM

Keep Ema Stone

86 the rest of these bland motherfuckers....eh maybe keep Renner too.

Posted by: BarbadoSlim at October 31, 2009 9:38 AM

Renner looks like Fillion's palooka kid brother...that being said he was quite good in Hurt Locker.

Posted by: stryker1121 at October 31, 2009 10:35 AM

So according to Pajiba, Emma Stone is both one of the most generic actors in hollywood yet she bares watching...

I know, I know, " Just because she's generic doesn't mean she doesn't bare watching..."

Posted by: John W at October 31, 2009 4:06 PM

Yes. Number 1, that dude was amazing. Everybody else is just boring and generic. Except maybe Nicholas Hoult. He was so cute in About A Boy. I really liked his performance in that.

Posted by: bubblegumshoe at October 31, 2009 8:07 PM

Christoph Waltz and up-and-coming status? Don't let the Europe hear that. He's already respected and famous there. And rightly so, he's a great actor. Basterds only made him known in the States.

Posted by: Arthur Dent at October 31, 2009 9:59 PM

I'm sorry, but I've never been so bored

Posted by: bdog at November 1, 2009 12:59 AM

Yay! Just came in from " ombieland" late show (damn damn damn that nonfunctional sideways N key) and must third and fourth the Emma Stone love. Girl has such an ama ing face I don't even know if she has boobs or not. And for me, that's saying a lot.

Posted by: , (TCFKAB) at November 1, 2009 1:28 AM

I'll watch Emma Stone in anything. And Christophe Waltz in anything.

Put them in a buddy movie! Where they have to drive cross country so she can make it to her wedding to Nicholas Hoult! Waltz plays her crazy uncle who constantly threatens to derail the trip!

Posted by: Daniel Hall at November 1, 2009 8:00 PM

Stone, Waltz, Renner, and Hardy were all fantastic in their roles. Came out of no where for me. I'll pay attention to them from now on. Especially Hardy and Renner.

Bronson wasn't the best film I've seen this year, and the comparisons to A Clockwork Orange made the movie feel kind of flat and built up my expectations to nigh-unattainable levels, but I will be god damned in Hardy wasn't steller as Bronson.

Posted by: chenry at November 3, 2009 9:52 AM

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Posted by: Dustin Rowles at November 5, 2009 12:16 PM

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Posted by: Dustin Rowles at November 5, 2009 12:17 PM

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Posted by: Dustin Rowles at November 5, 2009 12:18 PM

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Posted by: Dustin Rowles at November 5, 2009 12:20 PM

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Posted by: avaa oma blogi at December 21, 2010 1:00 AM

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10 Actors to Watch in 2009

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