Quick follow-up to my Kelvin Harrison Jr. post - I just wanted to add a few names to the list of breakout, downright genius actors who I can only hope will have a long and fruitful career on the screen.
Jonathan Majors — between Hostiles and Last Black Man in San Francisco it is clear this man can do anything. Anything!
Jessie Buckley — not exactly a controversial choice this year, but I’ve only seen Chernobyl and I think she belongs on the list. Still have to see Wild Rose and cannot wait to see her in the S4 of Fargo.
Thomasin McKenzie — JoJo Rabbit and The King in one fell swoop! Incredible gravitas coupled with this intimate pathos, her tastes seem to be wide open so it’ll be interesting to see how her credits develop.
Indya Moore — haven’t even seen Pose yet but Indya had a totally scene-stealing cameo in Queen and Slim and off that alone I’d say they are one to watch.
Kaitlyn Dever — okay, I’m biased because I worked on Unbelievable but… have you seen her performance in Unbelievable? And then rejuvenated your soul watching her performance in Booksmart? Incredible comedic and dramatic range and at only 22 years old she has a journeywoman’s list of credits already.
David Corenswet — admittedly this one is a bit out of leftfield, but I was really taken by his work in The Politician — he somehow grounded his performance against the acting style and elevated environment of the entire rest of the show. Like McKenzie, he wields this incredible pathos while walking a sophisticated tightrope of fatalist, wry self-awareness. Without getting hyperbolic, potentially like a James Dean of the Millennial generation. We’ll see…
And just to be clear, I’m not including already established talents like Florence Pugh, Timothee Chalamet, Chadwick Boseman, Lucas Hedges, Daniel Kaluuya, and many many others - though they’ve all had brilliant years too.