We’ve seen a lot of new faces over the last twelve months, but who are the biggest breakout stars of 2015? Find out here…
5. Taron Egerton
I can confidently say that pretty much nobody knew what a great actor Taron Egerton was a year ago. Apart from a couple of roles in BBC TV dramas and the film ‘Testament Of Youth’, the 26 year old Welshman was a massive unknown before his breakout year in 2015.
That all changed in February, when he took the lead role in the hit action-comedy: ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service‘. Facing against titans of acting including Michael Caine, Colin Firth and Samuel L. Jackson, Egerton proved that he’s a sterling young actor who, with fantastic likeability and chops as an action hero, is surely going to be a force to be reckoned with in the future.
Upcoming projects: Eddie The Eagle (2016), Kingsman 2 (2017), Robin Hood: Origins (2017)
4. Amy Schumer
Much like Chris Pratt did in 2014, Amy Schumer made a big jump from television onto the big screen in 2015. Known in the US for her sketch comedy show ‘Inside Amy Schumer’, the comedian moved into film with a big splash in the summer with Trainwreck.
A fantastically funny on-screen presence combined with a real-world charm, Schumer proved that she is a top-quality actress who can pull off both hilarious slapstick comedy as well as emotional drama, emphasised by her nomination for a Golden Globe, and that’s why she’ll surely be continuing on from her brilliant debut in years to come.
Upcoming projects: None as yet, but rumours suggest she’s in talks with screenwriter Katie Dippold, who wrote Paul Feig’s The Heat and is involved in 2016’s Ghostbusters. (Article at Cinema Blend)
3. John Boyega
In his native Britain, John Boyega wasn’t a total unknown before 2015. His starring role in the 2011 cult hit Attack The Block really impressed me when I first saw it a few years ago, and so we were all really excited to see him in the years biggest film: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens‘.
Outside the UK, however, Boyega was indeed a real unknown, but he soon exploded onto the world stage with his performance as Finn in the newest edition of the beloved Star Wars saga. His fantastic charisma, comedic ability and heroism made him immediately likeable in a film filled to the brim with new faces, and his promotional and social media exploits have turned him into an even bigger star than anyone could have imagined last January. (Seriously, follow him on Twitter (@JohnBoyega), he’s fantastic).
Upcoming projects: The Circle (2016) (also starring Tom Hanks and Emma Watson), Star Wars: Episode VIII (2017)
2. Alicia Vikander
If you’ve been watching Hollywood with a keen eye over the last twelve months, you’ll still likely not have noticed the meteoric rise of young Swedish actress Alicia Vikander.
Despite having some minor roles in Hollywood films over the last three or so years, it was initially her mesmerising turn as the super AI, Eva, in February’s ‘Ex Machina‘ that caught everyone’s attention. Since then, she’s turned into a full-blown star, taking on a role in the slick spy thriller ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’, and then an apparently outstanding performance in Tom Hooper’s ‘The Danish Girl’, which may even put her in contention for an Oscar nomination.
Upcoming projects: Bourne 5 (2016), Tulip Fever (2016) (also starring Christoph Waltz and Judi Dench)
1. Daisy Ridley
Daisy Ridley’s career prior to 2015 is the very definition of a Hollywood unknown. No disrespect to her, but with roles as a stage hand in Channel 4’s comedy ‘Toast Of London’, as well as an episode of Casualty, you wouldn’t have expected her to have such a successful launch onto the big screen.
However, that’s exactly what she did, with her astonishing performance as Rey, in the lead role of year’s biggest film: ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’. Much like co-star Boyega, she managed to hold her own against veterans like Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and others, and rather than playing second fiddle to the beloved older characters of the series, took the initiative and controlled the film brilliantly with a wonderfully assured and entertaining performance.
In my opinion, Ridley’s acting is some of the very best we’ve ever seen in Star Wars (way better than Mark Hamill in the original trilogy), and it’s a definite that she’s got a hugely bright career ahead of her.
Upcoming projects: Only Yesterday (2016) (English dub of Japanese film), Star Wars: Episode VIII (2017)
