The entertainment industry offers an ever-changing world of on-screen talent, and 2024 has provided many performers with their breakthrough roles in film and television. Here are 5 rising stars audiences should keep an eye on in the future:
David Jonsson
British actor David Jonsson made a splash among independent film fans following his first feature role in “Rye Lane” (2023), which earned him a nomination at the British Independent Film Awards. Jonsson’s stardom was already on the rise following the success of “Rye Lane,” but his appearance in Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus” has captivated fans unknown of his talent.
Jonsson grew up in a working class family in London and decided to pursue acting before joining the National Youth Theatre. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in acting, he landed his first professional role on stage in Almeida Theatre’s rendition of “Mary Stuart.” Jonsson later starred in BBC Two and HBO’s series “Industry” for two seasons and the play “and breathe…,” which earned him a Black British Theatre Award.
“Alien: Romulus” proved to be a critics and financial success, earning Jonsson praise and over $349 million at the box office. With 5 upcoming projects soon to release or in production, audiences should expect to see more of this Afro-Creole actor in the future.
Mikey Madison
With prior acting credits in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) and as the memorable Amber Freeman in 2022’s “Scream,” it can be hard to classify Mikey Madison as a new rising star. However, the back end of 2024 is shaping up to be a breakout year for the Los Angeles native.
After her sister married a film writer, Madison decided to leave the world of competitive horseback riding to pursue an acting career. A series of roles in independent works led to her first major role as Max Fox in “Better Things,” a five-season dramedy series for FX. Since then, Madison has also starred in Anthony Madler’s “Monster” (2018) and voiced Candi in the animated “The Addams Family” (2019).
Madison’s upcoming role, as the titular character in Sean Baker’s “Anora” (2024), is proving to be a career-defining role. The film, detailing the controversial romance between an exotic dancer and a Russian oligarch’s son, has already secured the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
With major outlets and correspondents predicting a Best Actress nomination at the upcoming Oscars for Madison, she is poised to become a more coveted name in Hollywood.
Ella Purnell
Video game adaptations have notoriously been mediocre or bland to watch by the beloved fans of the source material. However, the Ella Purnell-led “Fallout” series for Amazon Prime has proven to alter the course around the year’s rocky slew of adaptations and propel Purnell to true stardom.
Born in the Whitechapel area of London, Purnell started acting in 2009 while attending school and taking acting and singing lessons. Purnell had landed many roles by the time she was 18 years old, such as in “Kick-Ass 2” (2013), “Never Let Me Go” (2010) and “Intruders” (2010). However, she started contemplating whether she wanted to keep acting or attend university and find herself.
Around this time, Purnell was offered a life-changing role in Tim Burton’s “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children” (2016). Her inclusion in the film reignited her passion for acting by connecting her with an idealistic filmmaker, and Purnell quickly found herself with roles in “Churchill” (2017) and the “Yellowjackets” series and voice work for “Arcane.”
The popularity and praise for “Fallout” has made Purnell the latest “it girl” among audiences following the entertainment industry. Despite only one Astra TV Award nomination for her work in the series, her latest slate of releases — including a twisted role in “Sweetpea” and Season 2 of “Arcane” — are sure to keep audiences attuned with the British actress.
Anna Sawai
FX’s “Shōgun” quickly became one of the biggest shows in 2024 due to its cinematography, intricate depiction of 17th century feudal Japan and stellar performances. One such standout is Japanese actress Anna Sawai, who stars as the highly determined Toda Mariko.
Due to encouragement from her mother, Sawai got her start in the entertainment industry at 11 years old when she landed the lead role in the 2004 Nippon TV production of “Annie.” Sawai later joined a boot camp run by Avex Inc., a J-pop entertainment conglomerate, before joining J-pop girl group Faky in 2013 as lead vocalist.
While Sawai continued acting while performing, she left the group in 2018 to pursue a larger acting career. Her first role following her departure was in the British series “Giri/Haji” (2019), but her industry breakthrough occurred after she landed a role in the box-office hit “F9” (2021).
Later roles for Sawai included main roles in “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” and “Pachinko” for Apple TV+. However, her performance in “Shōgun” led to her immense acclaim such as a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, becoming the first Asian actress to win in the category.
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
Named one of ELLE’s Hollywood Rising stars in 2024, alongside Purnell and Sawai, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai has been making a name for himself and other Indigenous actors in the entertainment industry.
The Toronto-born Oji-Cree and Guyanese actor knew he wanted to start acting as a teenager, landing his first role in an unnamed project found through a bulletin board poster requesting young Indigenous actors. While on set, Woon-A-Tai quickly fell in love with the environment of performing and decided to fully commit to an acting career.
Woon-A-Tai’s first role was in three episodes of “Holly Hobbie,” a Canadian children’s show that premiered in 2018. He would guest star in more Canadian series, such as “Murdoch Mysteries,” before landing a feature film debut in Tracey Deer’s “Beans” (2020), the Best Motion Picture winner at the Canadian Screen Awards.
Woon-A-Tai’s breakthrough emerged after he landed the role of Bear Smallhill in the FX on Hulu series “Reservation Dogs,” which premiered in 2021. Airing for three seasons, the series produced by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi was a monumental series for Indigenous representation. It possessed an all Indigenous writing room and directors as well as crew and cast that were predominantly Indigenous North Americans.
After the final season aired, Woon-A-Tai became the first Indigenous actor nominated for a leading actor Emmy award. At the 76th Primetime Emmys ceremony, he made history again by wearing a red handprint on his face to bring attention to the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women nationwide.
His upcoming projects include the Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland-directed “Warfare” and Darren Aronofsky’s “Caught Stealing.” With his collaboration with high profile directors and actors (including Charles Melton and Regina King), Woon-A-Tai is a star who is here to stay.
