Precious, released this week is one of those rare films that doesn't rely on big names to draw in the audience. It contains not one but two breakthrough performances from its leads, Gabourey Sidibe (in her screen debut) and Mo'Nique (who became so popular off the back of the film that she now fronts her own chat show!).
As we wait and see how the future pans out for Sidibe, we pick out our other top ten movie talents to watch out for over the next few years, from child stars to late bloomers just hitting their stride.
1. Saoirse Ronan
Irish teenager Saoirse Ronan wasn't in Atonement for long but for the brief time she was on screen she made a huge impression for what was an incredibly mature performance for someone so young. As the young Briony Tallis she was the lynchpin of the plot and gave Romola Garai and Vanessa Redgrave a hard act to follow portraying the older Briony. Soon on our screens again in Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones, we think Ronan will only improve over time.
2. Michael Shannon
Amongst all the marital screaming and shouting that went on in Sam Mendes' Revolutionary Road was the quiet, powerful performance of the relatively unknown Michael Shannon. Shannon showed up briefly as the mentally unstable son of Leo and Kate's neighbours and earned an Oscar nomination for his trouble. You'll be able to see Shannon in four big releases set for 2010, including anarchic Western comic book adaptation Jonah Hex and Joan Jett biopic The Runaways.
3. Noel Clarke
Ok, so maybe to us Noel Clarke will forever be Mickey Smith from Doctor Who but he has his eyes set on much higher things! Clarke is a triple threat; prolific in not only the acting side of the industry but also in writing and directing. He already has the hugely successful Kidulthood and Adulthood under his belt and is currently finishing up work on 4.3.2.1, a less than traditional heist movie given the fact the its four leads are female.
4. Sharlto Copley
Sharlto Copley is obviously not one to let the grass grow under his feet. Making his big screen debut in last year's sci-fi hit District 9, Copley has obviously adapted well to the change in career! His performance as pen-pusher turned alien hybrid in Neil Blomkamp's film was brilliant enough to bring him to the attention of Hollywood and this year we'll be able to see him in the highly anticipated big screen make-over of The A-Team. We have a feeling that's not going to be the last we see of him!
5. Andrea Arnold
Arnold has been on our radar since 2006's brilliant drama Red Road - a film that because of it's less than cheerful nature was hugely popular with critics but never found a cinema audience. This year though, writer/director Arnold made a much bigger impact thanks to Fish Tank; the story of a young girl escaping her grim life through her love of street dance. This year we can't wait to see her take on that English classic, Wuthering Heights starring Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick alongside Gemma Arterton.
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