The 2010 Popcorn N Roses Rising Stars List

by TCKirkham | created - 21 Jun 2011 | updated - 02 Jul 2012 | Public

This is PNR's fifth annual list of the hottest Rising Stars in the biz, as originally presented on PNR's podcast "Subject:CINEMA" in July 2010, with comments as originally presented on our site's announcement. Beginning this year, the list is ranked 1-10 in order by gender - 2010 Male list is 1-10, females 11-20 in order.

This list can be viewed in its original format at Popcorn N Roses/Subject:CINEMA . You may also listen to and/or download the original podcast here

1. Josh Hutcherson

Actor | The Hunger Games

Joshua Ryan Hutcherson was born on October 12, 1992 in Union, Kentucky to Michelle Fightmaster, who worked for Delta Air Lines, and Chris Hutcherson, an EPA analyst. He has one younger brother, Connor Hutcherson. From the age of four, Josh knew that he wanted to be an actor. In order to pursue his ...

You’ve seen his face for years, but not until the past two years has Josh really become known to fans around the world. Starting off with your typical pre-teen roles in movies like "Zathura" and "Firehouse Dog", he graduated into more diverse roles and showed that he’s comfortable playing ANY part. From the traumatized robbery victim in "Fragments" to the somewhat heroic teen explorer in "Journey To The Center Of The Earth" to the vampire-obsessed friend in "Cirque Du Freak", Josh has made every part his own. If the buzz surrounding "The Kids Are All Right" is any indication, he may find himself watching his dream of winning an Academy Award come true sooner rather than later.

2. Logan Lerman

Actor | The Perks of Being a Wallflower

One of today's leading talents across both independent and mainstream film, Logan Lerman is an immensely talented actor who takes on challenging roles and brings dynamic characters to life on screen.

Logan was born in Beverly Hills, to a Jewish family. His parents are Lisa (Goldman), who worked as ...

He first declared his intention to be an actor to his mom when he was just 2 1/2 years old. Since the tender age of four, Logan has been building a solid resume. Critics have praised his performances throughout the years no matter what type of role he’s played. We’ve had our eye on him since 2007′s "3:10 To Yuma", and we think that 2010 is the year Logan joins Hollywood’s A-List!

3. Kyle Gallner

Actor | Smile

Kyle Gallner was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He started his career by following his sister along to one of her auditions.

Perhaps best know for his role as Cassidy "Beaver" Casablancas on the CW's lone hit series, Veronica Mars (2004), actor Kyle Gallner had been appearing in films and on ...

Kyle has already gained a following thanks to recurring roles on hit series like "Smallville" and "CSI: New York". Now that he’s moving into starring film roles, he’s continuing to stretch and grow with every performance and every new acting challenge. He’s played horror in "Haunting In Connecticut" and comedy in "Cherry", and he’s always spot on. And the more he does, the higher visibility he will get, and send his career skyrocketing.

4. Brandon T. Jackson

Actor | Tropic Thunder

Brandon Timothy Jackson was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Beverly Yvonne (Bozeman) and Wayne Timothy Jackson. His parents are both pastors, and his maternal grandfather was a Pentecostal child preacher. He credits his sense of humor to both his father and his life straddling the ...

Already working hard for the better part of the past decade, Brandon’s talent as a comedian has served him well., and made him one of the best character actors in the business. Whether it’s the angry young rapper Alpa Chino in "Tropic Thunder" or the half-goat demigod in "Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief", Brandon continues to prove that he can handle whatever the scriptwriters send his way.

5. Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Actor | Kick-Ass

Aaron Taylor-Johnson is an English stage, television, and film actor.

He was born Aaron Perry Johnson in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, to Sarah and Robert Johnson, a civil engineer. He has a sister, Gemma Johnson, who had a small role in his movie Tom & Thomas (2002). Aaron is of ...

It takes special talent to pull off playing a character that is so unlike yourself it’s scary. But in his breakthrough role in 2010′s "Kick Ass", that’s exactly what Johnson did – he buried his thick London accent beneath a generic New York City one and came out amazing his growing legion of fans. Not one to rest on his laurels, his role as the young John Lennon in "Nowhere Boy", due out October 2010, has him on the watchlist of many a critic as well as fans worldwide.

6. Idris Elba

Actor | Beasts of No Nation

An only child, Idrissa Akuna Elba was born and raised in London, England. His father, Winston, is from Sierra Leone and worked at Ford Dagenham; his mother, Eve, is from Ghana and had a clerical duty. Idris attended school in Canning Town, where he first became involved in acting, before he dropped...

The oldest performer on this years’ Rising Stars list has been chugging away as one of the most in-demand character actors around. But 2010 has handed him some plum roles and we think he’s about to break through as one of filmdom’s top leading men. No matter what the part – good guy, bad guy, guy next door – Idris has what it takes to make you believe he is who he is on screen, And that talent is about to push him farther than he’s ever gone before.

7. Lucian Maisel

Actor | Everybody's Fine

Lucian Maisel is known for Everybody's Fine (2009), Summerhood (2008) and Detachment (2011).

At barely 15, the youngest of the male Rising Stars this year has an amazing gift for just being himself on screen. Lucian managed to quietly upstage the legendary Robert DeNiro in every scene they had together in last winter’s comedy "Everybody’s Fine". In their few scenes together, the pair had a chemistry that was truly electric. With several more movie roles under his belt since then, as well as a quirky short film , "The Grayest Of Days", that you can watch online, Lucian is poised at the brink and we think he’s got stardom written all over him.

8. Ezra Miller

Actor | The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Ezra Matthew Miller was born in Wyckoff, New Jersey, to Marta (Koch), a modern dancer, and Robert S. Miller, who has worked at Workman Publishing and as former senior V.P. for Hyperion Books. Ezra has two older sisters and is of Ashkenazi Jewish (father) and German-Dutch (mother) ancestry. Ezra has...

Ezra Miller is an amazing young man. Not quite 18, the young actor has been plying his trade and making himself a legion of fans. From his recurring role on the hit USA Network series "Royal Pains" to his hilarious turn as Vinnie Jr in the sleeper hit "City Island", this classically trained opera singer has talent oozing out of him. And as if that’s not enough, his band, Sons of An Illustrious Father, has thousands of friends on MySpace and Facebook – their quirky, neo-folk style is making fans whereever they go on tour.

9. Alex Pettyfer

Actor | Magic Mike

Alexander Richard Pettyfer was born in Hertfordshire and raised in Windsor. His mother, Lee (Robinson), is an interior designer. His father, Richard Pettyfer, is a fellow actor. His parents divorced and Alex now has a younger half-brother, James, from his mother's re-marriage to a property ...

It’s taken the UK native four years to move from kiddie fare like "Alex Ryder:Operation Stormfront" to his starring role in the upcoming film "Beastly". But Alex is standing on the edge, and after seeing the trailer for that modern-day "Beauty And The Beast" tale, I know he’s finally going to make it all the way. His good looks definately wow the ladies, and his acting skills charm the critics, so he’s got it made, no matter which way he goes.

10. Jake Abel

Actor | Malignant

Jake Abel was born in Canton, Ohio, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Malignant (2021), Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (2013) and Supernatural (2005). He has been married to Allie Wood since November 9, 2013.

Jake is gaining momentum these days thanks to a string of amazing character roles that has shown off his skills with accents, with physical prowess, and with charm. Already a heartthrob to the millions of women who tune in to the cult CW hit "Supernatural" for his recurring role on that show, his turn in "Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief" gave him a whole new audience, and it continues to grow as each new role shows off his growing and considerable ability to morph completely into each character he plays.

11. Mia Wasikowska

Actress | Alice in Wonderland

Mia is an Australian actress, born and raised in the country's capital, Canberra. She is the daughter of photographers Marzena Wasikowska and John Reid. Her mother is Polish and her father is an Australian of British ancestry. She has an older sister, Jess, and a younger brother, Kai. At age eight,...

The vast variety of roles that Mia plays continues to amaze me. This Aussie beauty has yet to actually play an Australian in a role that I’ve seen, but no matter – she’s got it all. From her role as southern white-trash teenager Pamela Choat in the critically acclaimed film "That Evening Sun" to her wonderful turn in the title role of "Alice In Wonderland" and in every role in-between, Mia has shown that she will take the bull by the horns and jump into whatever she’s asked to play. And she hits the mark every time.

12. Chloë Grace Moretz

Actress | Kick-Ass

Moretz is best known for her work in the sci-fi thriller series The Peripheral, created by Scott B. Smith; the Mattson Tomlin-directed sci-fi thriller Mother/Android; Neil Jordan's thriller Greta; Roseanne Liang's Shadow in the Cloud, which claimed the Midnight Madness People's Choice Award at the ...

The youngest person on this year’s Rising Stars list,, just-turned-13 year old Chloe is just AMAZING, and perhaps the most natural child actress to come along since the days of my childhood, when Kristy McNichol was the standard-bearer for incredible young actress talent. From her brilliant and hilarious scene-stealing part in "[500] Days of Summer" to the uproarously foul-mouthed Hit Girl in "Kick Ass", Chloe has nailed it every time. And next up, Chloe plays a bloodsucker of the non-Hollywood type as the little vampire next door in the "Let Me In", the American remake of "Let The Right One In". Her performance, as seen in the trailer, is mesmerising and terrifying, and I will definately NOT miss this or anything else Chloe chooses to do. She is going to be a light in Hollywood’s starlet pool for DECADES to come…

13. Emma Stone

Actress | La La Land

Emily Jean "Emma" Stone was born on November 6, 1988 in Scottsdale, Arizona to Krista Jean Stone (née Yeager), a homemaker & Jeffrey Charles "Jeff" Stone, a contracting company founder and CEO. She is of Swedish, German & British Isles descent. Stone began acting as a child as a member of the ...

Emma’s natural beauty is a big asset to her, but look beyond the pretty face and you find one of the best and most talented young ingenues in the business today. She can plays serious or funny, as her turn as Wichita in "Zombieland" showed, and she’s got charm that just oozes out of every role she’s taken on. From her first professional role as Laurie Partridge in the VH1 pseudo-reality series pilot version of "The Partridge Family" to her most recent roles, Emma has a style that makes you watch every move she makes, and turns you into a fan for life.

14. Scout Taylor-Compton

Actress | Halloween

Scout Taylor-Compton began acting with a featured role in the A.F.I. film A.W.O.L (2006) starring David Morse. Since then, her performances in seven independent films, over fifteen student films, and three music videos formed a firm foundation that led to her leading role in MGM's Sleepover (2004). ...

Scout is already proving she can handle a variety of roles, from the terrified girl next door Laurie Strode in Rob Zombie’s remake of "Halloween" and "Halloween 2" to tough cookie and aspiring rock goddess Lita Ford in "The Runaways". It also doesn’t hurt that her incredible acting talent is further boosted by being an extremely beautiful young lady. It’s only a matter of time before Scout is in-demand for a variety of roles.

15. Alia Shawkat

Actress | Arrested Development

Alia Shawkat was born in Riverside, California, to Dina Burke and actor Tony Shawkat. Her maternal grandfather, Paul Burke, was also an actor. Her father is from Baghdad, Iraq, and her mother has Irish, Italian, and Norwegian ancestry. Success arrived early for Alia. Her career began at the young ...

Her turn in the television critical hit "Arrested Development" got her noticed, but Alia’s acting in "Amreeka" really turned heads. And when she’s not playing up her dramatic side, she can be hilariously funny, like in "Whip It", where she plays Rising Star alumni Ellen Page’s best friend Pash. Whether she’s in the lead or a supporting character, Alia commands the screen when she’s on it – you can’t help but notice the character she’s playing, because she makes every part she plays unforgettable.

16. Carey Mulligan

Actress | Never Let Me Go

Carey Hannah Mulligan is a British actress. She was born May 28, 1985, in Westminster, London, England, to Nano (Booth), a university lecturer, and Stephen Mulligan, a hotel manager. Her mother is from Llandeilo, Wales, and Carey also has Irish and English ancestry.

Her first major appearance was ...

With an Academy Award nomination already on her resume, Carey is ready to jump into more roles where she can prove what a fantastic actress she is. Whether she’s the lead or a player in an ensemble drama, she makes every part a part of her soul, and makes sure you don’t miss her. Somehow, I don’t think this year is the only time we’ll see her name on the Oscar ballot…

17. Alexandra Daddario

Actress | Baywatch

Alexandra Anna Daddario was born on March 16, 1986 in New York City, New York, to Christina, a lawyer, and Richard Daddario, a prosecutor. Her brother is actor Matthew Daddario, her sister is actor Catharine Daddario, and her grandfather was congressman Emilio Daddario (Emilio Q. Daddario), of ...

Be it on state, on screen, or on TV, Alexandra brings her acting talent whereever she goes. Her beauty, poise, style, and grace make it impossible to ignore her when she’s on screen. She can play drama or comedy equally well, and even did pretty well with some down and dirty fighting action in "Percy Jackson And The Olympians: The Lightning Thief’. Whatever role this east coast beauty decides on next, you can bet she wil make sure you never forget her name, because you’ll want to tell your friends about her performance.

18. Rooney Mara

Actress | The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Actress and philanthropist Rooney Mara was born on April 17, 1985 in Bedford, New York. She made her screen debut in the slasher film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary (2005), went on to have a supporting role in the independent coming-of-age drama Tanner Hall (2009), and has since starred in the horror ...

As one of the principle stars of the recent remake of "A Nightmare On Elm Street", Rooney made Kim sit up and take notice, and she’s going to do that to everyone in the not-too-distant future. With a host of new roles she’s working on now, and morphing from character to character without looking back, she is already building up a huge following. The sky is the limit, and she’s bound to make it all the way.

19. Zoe Kazan

Actress | Ruby Sparks

Zoe Swicord Kazan was born in Los Angeles, California, to screenwriters Nicholas Kazan and Robin Swicord. She is the granddaughter of director Elia Kazan. She is of Greek (from her paternal grandfather), English, and German descent.

Kazan received her BA in Theater from Yale University. In the fall ...

You’d never know that this young beauty is already 26, thanks to her wonderfully youthful looks. As the youngest daughter in the comedy "It’s Complicated", she turned heads, and now the granddaughter of legendary director Elia Kazan is stepping out and being noticed. With a B.A. in drama from Yale, she’s also got the proof of her talent. Although stage work like her recent runs in "The Seagull" and "A Behanding In Seattle" are her first priority, she also continues to act in movies and occasionally on television. With her triple threat of talent, she could become the first Rising Star alumni to grab the big three – Oscar, Emmy, AND Tony…

20. Zoë Kravitz

Actress | The Batman

Zoë Kravitz has captivated audiences in diverse group of acclaimed major motion picture films, notable independent releases and blockbuster franchises including The Batman, Mad Max and Fantastic Beasts, as well as the celebrated EMMY® Award-winning series Big Little Lies.

Following her role both ...

When it comes to pedigrees, Zoe, in LOLSpeak, Haz it! The daughter of rocker Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet and the granddaugher of "The Jeffersons" co-star Roxie Roker, this young beauty is already steeped in Hollywood tradition. As an actress, model, and musician – her band is called Elevator Fight – Zoe gives her all to every single project she’s involved with, and with her beauty, she’s gonna be giving Halle Berry a run for her money one of these days….



Recently Viewed