Worst2First: The Breakout Film Stars of 2021

Worst2First:
The Breakout Film Stars of 2021

2021 was the return of the movies, after a year of theater shutdowns due to the Coronavirus. With that came a slew of big-budget action flicks with smaller independent dramas and everything in between, and included in these movies were actors who made their big-screen debuts, and who left an indelible imprint in cinema, paving the way for these fresh faces to take the big screen by storm in the coming years. They might already be famous musicians, theater performers or television stars, but this year marked their big break on the big screen.

Here are my personal top ten breakout film stars of 2021...

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**

 #10

Lauren Ridloff

For the last two seasons, Lauren Ridloff has been a more-than-welcome addition to the hit zombie series "The Walking Dead" as Connie, a deaf survivor who uses her disability to her advantage. In real life, Ridloff is deaf as well and celebrates it in everything she does. She made her big break this year in the highly anticipated Marvel film "Eternals" as Maccari, the Eternal with the power of super speed. She was also the first actress to portray a deaf superhero on screen, and while she wasn't the headliner, she easily stole the show with her infectious personality. She returns to the small screen for the final season of "The Walking Dead" as she waits for the inevitable "Eternals" sequel to be greenlit.

#9

Meng'er Zhang

Before 2021, Chinese actress Meng'er Zhang was mostly known for her theater work in her home country of China, before traveling to America to appear as Shang-Chi's no-nonsense sister Xialing in the hit Marvel movie "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." In a film featuring standout performances, Zhang's Xialing showcased grit, determination, and a fierceness that was unrivaled, plus she was more than able to hold her own in a fight. She'll be appearing in the next "Shang-Chi" sequel, as well as probably other Marvel productions in the future as everyone knows they like to insert their characters in different properties.

#8

Emilia Jones

Best known as middle child Kinsey Locke in the hit Netflix series "Locke & Key," Emilia Jones also starred in minor roles in smaller films like "One Day," "Youth," and "Two for Joy" before landing her big break in the Apple+ TV movie "CODA," where she plays the only hearing person in her deaf family. Portraying this role isn't easy, as she has to meander between the hearing and the deaf, endure the taunts of other people, and attempt to have a life of her own despite her family's reliance on her. The film has garnered serious Oscar buzz, and the actress has already been nominated for several awards, including the Critics' Choice for Best Young Actor/Actress, and winning coveted awards like the Gotham Independent Film Awards for Breakout Performance. Her next body of work will be 2022's "Cat Person" opposite Nicolas Braun, Geraldine Viswanathan and fellow breakout newcomer Michael Gandolfini.

#7

Anthony Ramos

Best known for his theater work, especially in the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical "Hamilton" where he earned a Primetime Emmy Award nomination, Anthony Ramos didn't really make a big splash in the cinema until this year, having played smaller roles in bigger films like "A Star is Born" and "Godzilla: King of the Monsters." In 2021, he took on the role Lin-Manuel Miranda made famous on stage, playing Usnavi in the hit musical "In the Heights." Highlighting his extraordinary singing talent, Ramos served as the heart and soul of the film, firmly establishing himself as a rising star. In 2022 he's going to be appearing in the animated film "The Bad Guys" as well as the sci-fi thriller "Distant."

#6

Ariana DeBose

Best known for her stage work in hit shows "Hamilton," "Les Miserables" and "Bring It On," Ariana DeBose made her big screen debut in Stephen Spielberg's imagining of the beloved classic "West Side Story" as Anita, a role that earned Rita Moreno her Oscar back in 1962. It looks like history might repeat itself, as DeBose has already earned several award nominations including the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice, and is already a front-runner for an Oscar nomination.

#5

Jodie Comer

Earning a Primetime Emmy Award for her work in the critically acclaimed series "Killing Eve," Jodie Comer transitioned her incredible talent to the big screen this year in not one, but two major epic films. First was the Ryan Reynolds-led action/comedy "Free Guy" where she played the duel role of Millie Rusk and Molotov Girl, as she traversed the real world and the video game world in order to save Reynolds and everyone in the game from getting deleted. Then she appeared in the more critically acclaimed (and less popular) Ridley Scott period epic "The Last Duel" as Marguerite de Carrouges, the real-life woman caught in the middle of a scandal that pitted her husband against his former friend after she accused the later of rape. Comer showcased both her impeccable comedic timing as well as proved that she's a powerhouse dramatic performer, and it's only a matter of time before she finds her next big-screen project.

#4

Rachel Zegler

Before 2018, Rachel Zegler was a sixteen-year-old girl with a modestly famous YouTube channel, but when Stephen Spielberg put out a casting call for the role of the lead character Maria in his upcoming "West Side Story" remake, Zegler was chosen out of 30,000 applicants for the role. It was an inspired choice, as her performance earned her several accolades already, including Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award nominations, and is well on her way to earning an Oscar nomination for her performance as well. Hailed as one of the best newcomers out there, she's set to appear in two epic films: the sequel to DC's "Shazam!" as well as playing the titular Snow White in "Show White and the Seven Dwarfs" opposite Gal Gadot.

#3

Cooper Hoffman

Proving talent runs in the family, Cooper Hoffman made his big screen debut in Paul Thomas Anderson's "Licorice Pizza," where he plays Gary Valentine, a fifteen-year-old child actor who falls for twenty-five-year-old photographer Alana Kane. He plays Gary with a confidence and sophistication wise beyond his characters' years, and it's due to his powerful acting chops - something his late father, Philip Seymour Hoffman, probably taught him. His performance has earned a Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award nomination, and he's already won the National Board of Review's Breakthrough Performance Award, joining the likes of Jennifer Lawrence, Timothee Chalamet, Charlize Theron, and Angelina Jolie.

#2

Alana Haim

Prior to her memorable breakout role as Alana Kane in Paul Thomas Anderson's coming-of-age film "Licorice Pizza," Alana Haim was best known for one-third of the Grammy-nominated group Haim alongside her two sisters (who also play her sisters in the film, alongside their real-life mother and father). Paul Thomas Anderson helped direct several of Haim's music videos, and cast Alana as the lead role of Alana in "Licorice Pizza." She played the role with a talent far beyond expectations, earning her - along with co-star Cooper Hoffman - the National Board of Review's Breakthrough Performance Award, and garnering nominations for both the Golden Globes and Critics' Choice, among many others.

#1

Simu Liu

Before 2021, Simu Liu was a stuntman for films like "Pacific Rim," a minor television star, and stock photo model. Then he got his big break, being cast as the Marvel superhero Shang-Chi in "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," and he absolutely solidified himself as the next big Marvel thing, joining the ranks of previously unknown Marvel actors Tom Hiddleston, Tom Holland, and Chris Hemsworth. Liu's star is shining brighter and brighter, as he'll be appearing in several big-budget Marvel productions in the near future as the martial arts superhero.