Variety is pleased to announce its annual list of 10 Actors to Watch, an honor the publication has bestowed since 1998.
Variety VP and executive editor Steven Gaydos says, “Actors to Watch turn up in edgy little indies, studio blockbusters and from all corners of the world. You’ll see some of these actors in upcoming awards season films, and you will have seen some of them in current summer hits. We feel they all have one thing in common: uncommonly bright futures.”
Past honorees include many future Oscar winners and nominees such as Viola Davis, Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Patricia Clarkson, Samantha Morton, Lupita Nyong’o, Michael Shannon and Melissa Leo.
This year’s honorees will be feted in the Oct. 6 issue of Variety, in conjunction with coverage of the Hamptons International Film Festival, which runs Oct. 8-12. This marks the fourth year Variety has collaborated with the festival to present Actors to Watch.
David Nugent, artistic director of the festival, says, “The Hamptons International Film Festival is delighted to partner with Variety again in highlighting the work of these actors whose work thus far promises bright futures ahead. We have a long history of celebrating the next wave of acting talent at early stages of their career including Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Adam Driver and David Oyelowo, and this year’s group is amongst the best we’ve had.”
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These are the year’s 10 Actors to Watch:
Christopher Abbott, the star of “James White,” soon to be seen in “Criminal Activities” and “Fun House”
Bel Powley, the breakout star of “Diary of a Teenage Girl,” soon to be seen in Drake Doremus’ “Equals” and as the titular character in “Carrie Pilby”
Emory Cohen, seen in “The Place Beyond the Pines” and “Beneath the Harvest Sky,” soon to be seen romancing Saoirse Ronan in “Brooklyn”
Rebecca Ferguson, currently wowing audiences in “Mission Impossible — Rogue Nation,” soon to be seen in Stephen Frears’ “Florence Foster Jenkins” and “The Girl on the Train”
Thomas Mann, star of the Sundance hit “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl,” soon to be seen in “Some Freaks” and “The Preppie Connection”
Jason Mitchell, currently earning raves as Eazy-E in “Straight Outta Compton,” soon to be seen in “Keanu”
Maika Monroe, star of “The Guest” and “It Follows,” soon to be seen in “Independence Day: Resurgence”
Keith Stanfield, now on screens as Snoop Dogg in “Straight Out of Compton,” previously seen in “Short Term 12” and soon to be seen in Oliver Stone’s “Snowden”
Tessa Thompson, recently seen in “Selma” and soon to star in “Creed” and “War on Everyone”
Jessie T. Usher, star of “Survivor’s Remorse,” soon to be seen in “Independence Day: Resurgence”
For more information on the Hamptons International Film Festival, visit hamptonsfilmfest.org.
