The 2010 PNR Rising Stars Honors List
THE FIFTH ANNUAL POPCORN N ROSES RISING STARS LIST – 2010
For the fifth year in a row, Popcorn N Roses has announced its list of young actors and actresses we think you should keep an eye on. Given our track record, it’s a good bet that one or more of these talented young stars will explode sometime in the next year or so…
TOP TEN MALE RISING STARS 2010
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1. JOSH HUTCHERSON
You’ve seen his face for years, but not until the past two years has Josh really become known to fans around the world. Starting off with your typical pre-teen roles in movies like "Zathura" and "Firehouse Dog", he graduated into more diverse roles and showed that he’s comfortable playing ANY part. From the traumatized robbery victim in "Fragments" to the somewhat heroic teen explorer in "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" to the vampire-obsessed friend in "Cirque Du Freak", Josh has made every part his own. If the buzz surrounding "The Kids Are All Right" is any indication, he may find himself watching his dream of winning an Academy Award come true sooner rather than later. |
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2. LOGAN LERMAN
He first declared his intention to be an actor to his mom when he was just 2 1/2 years old. Since the tender age of four, Logan has been building a solid resume. Critics have praised his performances throughout the years no matter what type of role he’s played. We’ve had our eye on him since 2007’s "3:10 To Yuma", and we think that 2010 is the year Logan joins Hollywood’s A-List! |
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3. KYLE GALLNER
Kyle has already gained a following thanks to recurring roles on hit series like "Smallville" and "CSI: New York". Now that he’s moving into starring film roles, he’s continuing to stretch and grow with every performance and every new acting challenge. He’s played horror in "Haunting In Connecticut" and comedy in "Cherry", and he’s always spot on. And the more he does, the higher visibility he will get, and send his career skyrocketing. |
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4. BRANDON T. JACKSON
Already working hard for the better part of the past decade, Brandon’s talent as a comedian has served him well., and made him one of the best character actors in the business. Whether it’s the angry young rapper Alpa Chino in "Tropic Thunder" or the half-goat demigod in "Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief", Brandon continues to prove that he can handle whatever the scriptwriters send his way. |
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5. AARON JOHNSON
It takes special talent to pull off playing a character that is so unlike yourself it’s scary. But in his breakthrough role in 2010’s "Kick Ass", that’s exactly what Johnson did – he buried his thick London accent beneath a generic New York City one and came out amazing his growing legion of fans. Not one to rest on his laurels, his role as the young John Lennon in "Nowhere Boy", due out October 2010, has him on the watchlist of many a critic as well as fans worldwide. |
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6. IDRIS ELBA
The oldest performer on this years’ Rising Stars list has been chugging away as one of the most in-demand character actors around. But 2010 has handed him some plum roles and we think he’s about to break through as one of filmdom’s top leading men. No matter what the part – good guy, bad guy, guy next door – Idris has what it takes to make you believe he is who he is on screen, And that talent is about to push him farther than he’s ever gone before. |
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7. LUCIAN MAISEL
At barely 15, the youngest of the male Rising Stars this year has an amazing gift for just being himself on screen. Lucian managed to quietly upstage the legendary Robert DeNiro in every scene they had together in last winter’s comedy "Everybody’s Fine". In their few scenes together, the pair had a chemistry that was truly electric. With several more movie roles under his belt since then, as well as a quirky short film , "The Grayest Of Days", that you can watch online, Lucian is poised at the brink and we think he’s got stardom written all over him. |
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8. EZRA MILLER
Ezra Miller is an amazing young man. Not quite 18, the young actor has been plying his trade and making himself a legion of fans. From his recurring role on the hit USA Network series "Royal Pains" to his hilarious turn as Vinnie Jr in the sleeper hit "City Island", this classically trained opera singer has talent oozing out of him. And as if that’s not enough, his band, Sons of An Illustrious Father, has thousands of friends on MySpace and Facebook – their quirky, neo-folk style is making fans whereever they go on tour. |
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9. ALEX PETTYFER
It’s taken the UK native four years to move from kiddie fare like "Alex Ryder:Operation Stormfront" to his starring role in the upcoming film "Beastly". But Alex is standing on the edge, and after seeing the trailer for that modern-day "Beauty And The Beast" tale, I know he’s finally going to make it all the way. His good looks definately wow the ladies, and his acting skills charm the critics, so he’s got it made, no matter which way he goes. |
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Jake is gaining momentum these days thanks to a string of amazing character roles that has shown off his skills with accents, with physical prowess, and with charm. Already a heartthrob to the millions of women who tune in to the cult CW hit "Supernatural" for his recurring role on that show, his turn in "Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" gave him a whole new audience, and it continues to grow as each new role shows off his growing and considerable ability to morph completely into each character he plays. |
TOP TEN FEMALE RISING STARS 2010
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1. MIA WASIKOWSKA
The vast variety of roles that Mia plays continues to amaze me. This Aussie beauty has yet to actually play an Australian in a role that I’ve seen, but no matter – she’s got it all. From her role as southern white-trash teenager Pamela Choat in the critically acclaimed film "That Evening Sun" to her wonderful turn in the title role of "Alice In Wonderland" and in every role in-between, Mia has shown that she will take the bull by the horns and jump into whatever she’s asked to play. And she hits the mark every time. |
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2. CHLOE GRACE MORETZ
The youngest person on this year’s Rising Stars list,, just-turned-13 year old Chloe is just AMAZING, and perhaps the most natural child actress to come along since the days of my childhood, when Kristy McNichol was the standard-bearer for incredible young actress talent. From her brilliant and hilarious scene-stealing part in "[500] Days of Summer" to the uproarously foul-mouthed Hit Girl in "Kick Ass", Chloe has nailed it every time. And next up, Chloe plays a bloodsucker of the non-Hollywood type as the little vampire next door in the "Let Me In", the American remake of "Let The Right One In". Her performance, as seen in the trailer, is mesmerising and terrifying, and I will definately NOT miss this or anything else Chloe chooses to do. She is going to be a light in Hollywood’s starlet pool for DECADES to come… |
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3. EMMA STONE
Emma’s natural beauty is a big asset to her, but look beyond the pretty face and you find one of the best and most talented young ingenues in the business today. She can plays serious or funny, as her turn as Wichita in "Zombieland" showed, and she’s got charm that just oozes out of every role she’s taken on. From her first professional role as Laurie Partridge in the VH1 pseudo-reality series pilot version of "The Partridge Family" to her most recent roles, Emma has a style that makes you watch every move she makes, and turns you into a fan for life. |
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4. SCOUT TAYLOR-COMPTON
Scout is already proving she can handle a variety of roles, from the terrified girl next door Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie’s remake of "Halloween" and "Halloween 2" to tough cookie and aspiring rock goddess Lita Ford in "The Runaways". It also doesn’t hurt that her incredible acting talent is further boosted by being an extremely beautiful young lady. It’s only a matter of time before Scout is in-demand for a variety of roles. |
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5. ALIA SHAWKAT
Her turn in the television critical hit "Arrested Development" got her noticed, but Alia’s acting in "Amreeka" really turned heads. And when she’s not playing up her dramatic side, she can be hilariously funny, like in "Whip It", where she plays Rising Star alumni Ellen Page’s best friend Pash. Whether she’s in the lead or a supporting character, Alia commands the screen when she’s on it – you can’t help but notice the character she’s playing, because she makes every part she plays unforgettable. |
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6. CAREY MULLIGAN
With an Academy Award nomination already on her resume, Carey is ready to jump into more roles where she can prove what a fantastic actress she is. Whether she’s the lead or a player in an ensemble drama, she makes every part a part of her soul, and makes sure you don’t miss her. Somehow, I don’t think this year is the only time we’ll see her name on the Oscar ballot… |
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7. ALEXANDRA DADDARIO
Be it on state, on screen, or on TV, Alexandra brings her acting talent whereever she goes. Her beauty, poise, style, and grace make it impossible to ignore her when she’s on screen. She can play drama or comedy equally well, and even did pretty well with some down and dirty fighting action in "Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief’. Whatever role this east coast beauty decides on next, you can bet she wil make sure you never forget her name, because you’ll want to tell your friends about her performance. |
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8. ROONEY MARA
As one of the principle stars of the recent remake of "A Nightmare On Elm Street", Rooney made Kim sit up and take notice, and she’s going to do that to everyone in the not-too-distant future. With a host of new roles she’s working on now, and morphing from character to character without looking back, she is already building up a huge following. The sky is the limit, and she’s bound to make it all the way. |
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9. ZOE KAZAN
You’d never know that this young beauty is already 26, thanks to her wonderfully youthful looks. As the youngest daughter in the comedy "It’s Complicated", she turned heads, and now the granddaughter of legendary director Elia Kazan is stepping out and being noticed. With a B.A. in drama from Yale, she’s also got the proof of her talent. Although stage work like her recent runs in "The Seagull" and "A Behanding In Seattle" are her first priority, she also continues to act in movies and occasionally on television. With her triple threat of talent, she could become the first Rising Star alumni to grab the big three – Oscar, Emmy, AND Tony… |
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10. ZOE KRAVITZ
When it comes to pedigrees, Zoe, in LOLSpeak, Haz it! The daughter of rocker Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet and the granddaugher of "The Jeffersons" co-star Roxie Roker, this young beauty is already steeped in Hollywood tradition. As an actress, model, and musician – her band is called Elevator Fight – Zoe gives her all to every single project she’s involved with, and with her beauty, she’s gonna be giving Halle Berry a run for her money one of these days…. |
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