Have you felt lost when you try to pick new film stars? Many sites list dozens of names, and you do not know who to trust. Rising Stars Who Are Redefining Hollywood will shine a light on the brightest faces.
Rachel Zegler kicked off her career in West Side Story and now stars in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
This guide will lay out key roles, like Florence Pugh in her period drama, and Timothée Chalamet in modern hits. It will mix cast trivia, script insights, and tips from The Hollywood Reporter.
Keep reading.
Key Takeaways
- The article shows 10 actors, ages 21 to 32, from Rachel Zegler to Austin Butler, all praised by The Hollywood Reporter.
- They broke out in major films: Zegler as Maria in West Side Story (2021), Chalamet in Call Me by Your Name (2017), and Pugh in Lady Macbeth (2016) and Midsommar (2019).
- They won or earned nods for top awards: Chalamet (Oscar nom at 22), Zendaya (Emmy for Euphoria), Butler (Oscar nom for Elvis, 2022), and Pugh plus Mescal (British Independent Film Awards).
- They span genres from period drama (Anya Taylor-Joy in The Queen’s Gambit, 2020) to sci-fi (Chalamet in Dune, 2021) and musical biopics (Butler in Elvis).
- Upcoming roles like Zegler in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) and Disney’s Snow White show their rising clout in Hollywood.
Florence Pugh: A New Force in Film
Oxford, England held her first breath on January 3, 1996. Her first role came in The Falling in 2014. The Hollywood Reporter hailed her raw power in Lady Macbeth in 2016. Marcella on TV showed off her range that same year.
Fans still shiver at her eerie turn in Midsommar in 2019. Little Women earned an Oscar nod, and she charmed period drama buffs.
Directors seek her for raw emotional pull, and she digs into indie films as well as studio hits. Cinematography and storyboarding often center on her intense style. Critics and award bodies like British Independent Film Awards took notice.
Her mix of grit and grace sparks chatter in acting labs and screenwriting rooms. Some fans track her moves with the same zeal that d’pharaoh woon-a-tai shows for Moonage Daydream.
Timothée Chalamet: Shaping Modern Cinema
Chalamet earned his first Oscar nod at 22 for his period drama, Call Me by Your Name. That 2017 role showed raw emotion in plain scenes. Critics praised his subtle tone and open heart there.
The Hollywood Reporter hailed him as a rising star under 30. He then tackled teen addiction in Beautiful Boy. Paul Atreides, his lead role in Dune, came in 2021. This sci-fi epic mixed digital effects and broad set design.
Chalamet blends method acting with cinematic storytelling in every take.
Fans await his new work, eager to see bold story beats. Recent lists place him among top actors under 30 worldwide. Directors now trust his craft for heavy drama and deep arcs. Industry peers talk about his stage presence and quiet strength.
Gear like camera work and editing shape each of his scenes. His choices define fresh angles for modern film art. Recognition from magazines and festivals fuels his steady climb.
Zendaya: From TV Star to Hollywood Icon
Born on September 1, 1996, in Oakland, California, Zendaya landed a spot on Disney’s Shake It Up at age 14. She lit up the screen, bright as a button. The Hollywood Reporter soon called her a rising star to watch.
Her spark made viewers feel like they found a friend, not just the next face on TV.
She leapt from TV to films like Dune in 2021 and the Spider-Man franchise with a smooth step. She earned an Emmy for Euphoria, too. That award proved her acting career could soar beyond sitcom sets.
She cheered on Rachel Zegler at premieres, showing support for fellow rising stars. Young fans cheer her for relatability and real talk, and she calls out injustice with grace.
Anya Taylor-Joy: Breaking Barriers in Acting
On April 16, 1996, she arrived in Miami, FL. Anya Taylor-Joy shines in film. She gained early notice in The Witch, that 2015 fear street vibe turned heads. That role was a period drama that felt eerie, real.
Streamers then cheered when she led The Queen’s Gambit in 2020. The Hollywood Reporter hailed her as a rising star. It praised her bold choices. On April 1, 2022, she married musician Malcolm McRae, fans buzzed online.
She jumped into The Mad Ones, an indie pleasure, critics loved her gutsy turn. New Mutants arrived in 2020, she played a heroine with power. Fans whisper she picks scripts like sifting gold from sand.
Her acting career now glows with complex leads. Her path now crosses with peers like Florence Pugh, Paul Mescal, Sydney Sweeney. Upcoming indie films will test her mettle again, she grabs each chance with zeal.
Austin Butler: Embodying Musical Legends
Austin Butler rose from Nickelodeon roles to big screen fame. Born August 17, 1991, he built an acting career on Disney shows and indie films. He earned an Oscar nomination for Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis in 2022.
The Hollywood Reporter praised that portrayal of the King. He walked the red carpet at the 80th Golden Globe Awards in a sharp suit. Fans also spotted him at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, chatting up Rachel Zegler and Michael B.
Jordan.
Butler throws himself into roles with full force, learning dance steps and regional accents. Baz Luhrmann’s set felt electric when he mimicked moves from 1950s period drama rehearsals.
He studied old footage, even met with d’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai for insights. Industry insiders like Alex Garland noted his dedication to transformative performances. Critics call him a rising star who can shift into any era or figure.
This method echoes efforts by actors like Ryan Gosling and Paul Mescal in historical roles. Watching him channel those legends feels like catching lightning in a bottle.
Rachel Zegler: Singing Her Way to Stardom
Rachel Zegler was born May 3, 2001, in Hackensack, NJ. She won the role of Maria in West Side Story (2021), directed by Steven Spielberg, after a 30,000-person casting call. That screen test was a key moment in her audition journey.
Major headlines in The Hollywood Reporter dubbed her a rising star, praising her screen presence and vocal range.
She played Lucy Gray in The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023) and joined Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023) to showcase her action skills. Upcoming projects include Disney’s Snow White, Spellbound, and Lost in Reverie.
Industry insiders point to her bold choices in both indie and mainstream cinema, from Darren Aronofsky’s signature style to big musicals. Regular vocal exercises with a coach, sheet music work, and a reliable microphone help hone her powerful singing.
Halle Bailey: Redefining Classic Roles
Fans cheered in theaters, tears popped in eyes as she first sang “Part of Your World” for Disney. She took on Ariel in The Little Mermaid in 2023, and rewrote the mermaid myth with honeyed tones.
Born on March 27, 2000, in Atlanta, GA, her path glimmered early. She stood beside Queen Latifah in Last Holiday (2006), kicking off an acting career that still sparkles.
Critics at The Hollywood Reporter called her a rising star after her turn in The Color Purple, a 2023 period drama. She blends soul, range, and warmth to reframe a classic tale, setting screens aglow.
Her peers include Florence Pugh, Paul Mescal, and Rachel Zegler, all reshaping what roles can mean.
Paul Mescal: Captivating Audiences Worldwide
Paul Mescal jumped into hearts with his role in Normal People. He hit screens in 2020, aged 24, and earned praise from the hollywood reporter for his raw, honest face-work. He gave his characters real life in The Lost Daughter (2021).
His turn in Aftersun (2022) brought glowing grief to every frame. This Irish rising star landed nods at the British Independent Film Awards. He wins fans with a glance, a sigh, a tear.
He shows an emotional spark few can match.
Mescal showed up in style at the LACMA Art, Film Gala of 2021. He wore a sharp black suit, cracked wise with d’pharaoh woon-a-tai, then flew to the BFI Southbank London screening of All of Us Strangers.
He joked, “I’d do anything to keep stories alive,” and sparked headlines. Reporters saw his bright, open grin and wrote columns. His shift from television series to global cinema felt smooth as silk.
Directors note how he connects like a thread through a tapestry. He proved he can hold his own on any stage.
Sophie Wilde: Australia’s Gift to Hollywood
Sophie Wilde hails from Australia and shines in Hollywood. She played young Rhaenyra Targaryen in HBO’s House of the Dragon. Critics Choice Television Award voters named her for Best Supporting Actress.
The Hollywood Reporter hailed her raw emotion in key scenes. She built her craft on Upright, Janet King, and A Place to Call Home. Directors like Steven Spielberg and Alex Garland might seek her next.
Her shift from TV to major films feels natural. Casting agents spot her strong presence. She brings range to period drama and action roles. Scenes in House of the Dragon thrust her into the rising star club with peers like d’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai.
Each project marks new growth, each role sparks fresh buzz.
Kit Connor: Rising Through Versatility
Connor leaps across genres with ease. He shines in a tense period drama. A Fear Street style thriller showed his darker edge. He voiced a hero in a sci-fi tale by Alex Garland. Each role adds a fresh shade to his range.
The Hollywood Reporter pinned him as a rising star in 2023. He earned a nod at the British Independent Film Awards. Connor sparked buzz when he shared scenes with d’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai.
Directors from Steven Spielberg to Darren Aronofsky would envy such range.
Takeaways
Fans yearn to see where each name will go. These actors bring raw charm, tough grit, and bold art. A trade magazine might call them icons in waiting. Talk swirls like it did for West Side Story.
Their work nods to a filmmaker, yet it feels fresh. Hollywood waits with popcorn and hope.
FAQs
1. What stars are on the “10 Rising Stars Who Are Redefining Hollywood” list?
It names d’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Anna Sawai, Jessie Buckley, Sadie Sink, the actress Rachel Zegler, the actor Paul Mescal, Sydney Sweeney, Jenna Ortega, David Jonsson, Morfydd Clark.
2. What makes the young actor d’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai pop in Reservation Dogs?
He steals the show, he brings humor and heart to each scene in Reservation Dogs, he feels real and alive.
3. How did the teen actor Sadie Sink shake up Fear Street?
She turns chills into thrills, she dives into Fear Street with raw emotion and grit, she makes you sit up and stare.
4. Why does the actress Rachel Zegler stand out in West Side Story?
She belts out every note, she lives the song in West Side Story, she makes the story sparkle with fresh voice.
5. How did the actor Paul Mescal win nods from British Independent Film Awards and praise from The Hollywood Reporter?
He blends raw heart with calm strength, critics at The Hollywood Reporter cheered his turn, and the British Independent Film Awards gave him a well-earned nod.
6. Why do fans buzz about the star Jenna Ortega in American Sports Story?
She tackles each moment with fresh energy, she sets the screen on fire in American Sports Story, she shows range and charm in every frame.
