These stars may not all be household names yet, but they’re well on their way to fame and accolades. Here are five stars with breathtaking performances that are definitely worth a watch!
1.) Quvenzhané Wallis
I first saw Wallis at the 2012 Sundance film festival, where the film she starred in, “Beasts of the Southern Wild,” picked up the coveted Grand Jury Prize award. Wallis, who was five at the time of auditions and had no previous acting experience, grounded the fantastical film with her depth and maturity. “Beasts,” which was made by previously unknown indie filmmakers, went on to gain international accolades, and Wallis became the youngest person in history to earn an Oscar nomination. After “Beasts,” she went on to act in the critically acclaimed “12 Years a Slave.” Now 10, she recently wrapped production on a remake of the classic “Annie” film. With her natural chops for acting and plucky spirit, it looks like this pint-sized child star is well on her way to carving out a respectable acting career.
2.) Lupita Nyong’o
The 31-year-old actress burst onto everyone’s radars with her portrayal of slave Patsey in the 2013 film “12 Years A Slave.” Although the actress was alongside seasoned professionals such as Brad Pitt, she held her own and awed the more seasoned pros with her heartfelt performances. The role has earned her several nominations, including best supporting actress for the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for outstanding performance by a female actor in a supporting role. Although “12 Years” is her biggest film to date, it was not her first: the actress worked on “The Constant Gardener,” starring Ralph Fiennes. “He told me only to get into acting if I felt I couldn’t live without it,” she recalled. “It’s not what I wanted to hear, but it’s what I needed to hear.” Her next project is action film “Non-Stop,” which stars Liam Neeson and is available in theaters on February 28. PEOPLE magazine also listed her on one of their “best dressed” lists. She also earned a spot on PEOPLE’s best dressed list.
3.) Hailee Steinfield
17-year-old Hailee Steinfeld first rose to prominence for her portrayal of Mattie Ross in the 2010 film “True Grit.” Her earnest acting earned her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress. She went on to have roles in “Romeo and Juliet” and “Ender’s Game” and has a slate of films coming out in 2014, including “3 Days to Kill,” “Barely Lethal,” and “The Keeping Room.” Plus, the actress is the face of designer brand Miu Miu. She’s a level-headed and grounded individual who brings strength and grace to each performance.
4.) Rohan Chand
We can’t think of a cuter show-stopper than whippersnapper Rohan Chand, who was cast as Adam Sandler’s son in the 2011 film “Jack and Jill.” Chand went on to become Issa in the TV show “Homeland.” The New York native has several films on his upcoming roster, including a spot in Jason Bateman’s upcoming directorial debut, “Bad Words.”
5.) Barkhad Abdi
It’s the kind of rags-to-riches story that America is known for: Somali-born Barkhad Abdi was working as a limousine driver in Minneapolis when he answered an open casting call for the 2013 film “Captain Phillips,” starring Tom Hanks. Although Abdi was a first-time actor, he received nationwide acclaim for his portrayal of the conflicted lead pirate. “I became the character,” he told Matt Lauer on The Today Show. “I tried to get to be that guy for that moment…. I had to come out with all I got. I used a lot of imaginations.” Although he isn’t sure what’s next for him, one thing is for sure: “I want to continue to act.”
Ivy McDowell blogs about fashion and entertainment.
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