25 Actors to Watch for 2023

Lists

Welcome to the first ever Film Updates 25 Actors to Watch list! This list is made up of actors who have had a great 2023 and are set to have an even bigger 2024 across films and television shows. Although we believe in every single actor on this list and their future success, this list was curated and is ranked based on either how successful these actors’ 2023 was, or the nature of their future prospects as well.

NOTE: Although we’d love to include them every year, Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott (alongside a number of other names) have previously been nominated in the Film Updates Awards’ Rising Star category and thus are ineligible.

  1. Zoe Terakes

With a scene-stealing turn in this year’s highly acclaimed future horror classic Talk To Me, Zoe Terakes can next be seen in the highly anticipated Marvel series Ironheart, due in 2024.

  1. Johnny Berchtold

While he may be known for his hilarious TikTok videos, which lampoon everything from horror stereotypes and teen movie tropes, Johnny Berchtold made a major splash in 2023 with his roles in Netflix original Dog Gone and Blumhouse’s The Passenger, as well as Hulu series Tiny Beautiful Things.

  1. Arsema Thomas

Thanks to her warm, empathetic performance as the young Agatha Danbury in Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, Arsema Thomas has cemented her status as an exciting new name in the industry and a new talent to watch out for in 2024.

  1. Amita Suman

Following her break-out role as Inej Ghafa in Netflix’s series adaptation of Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone and Six of Crows novels, Amita Suman is set to undoubtedly reach major new career heights in 2024.

  1. David Jonsson

Following his acclaimed performances in beloved HBO series Industry and rom-com Rye Lane, David Jonsson is poised for a major breakthrough in 2024 with a new Alien film from Fede Alvarez, as well as Agatha Christie adaptation Murder Is Easy alongside Morfydd Clark.

  1. Harry Lawtey

Harry Lawtey first burst onto the scene with his charming, charismatic turn as Robert in HBO’s Industry. He’s set to have a big year ahead of him with what is described as an important supporting role in Todd Phillips’ Joker sequel opposite Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga.

  1. Megan Suri

Known for her supporting role in beloved Netflix series Never Have I Ever, Megan Suri made an impact this year with strong supporting turns in screenlife thriller Missing and Rian Johnson’s murder mystery series Poker Face, in addition to her haunting, searing leading performance in indie horror It Lives Inside.

  1. Sinclair Daniel

In addition to co-starring in Insidious: The Red Door, one of the highest grossing horror films of the year, Sinclair Daniel delivered one of the best TV performances of the year in Hulu series The Other Black Girl, a fun, twisty and surprisingly nuanced thriller based on the book of the same name.

  1. Leo Woodall

Leo Woodall first turned heads with his scene-stealing turn as Jack in season 2 of The White Lotus. He’s all but set for an even bigger 2024 with Netflix’s series adaptation of One Day, as well as globetrotting indie flick Nomad.

  1. Havana Rose Liu

Havana Rose Liu broke out with her impressive performance in 2022 whodunnit No Exit. She’s since managed to cement her status as an exciting new name in the industry with her scene-stealing turn in Emma Seligman’s acclaimed comedy Bottoms, where she was able to hold her own against comedic powerhouses Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott.

  1. Sophie Wilde

With a string of phenomenal performances in 2023, including her highly acclaimed breakout turn as Mia in future horror classic Talk To Me, Sophie Wilde has cemented her status as one of the most exciting new names in the film and TV industry.

  1. Mason Gooding

Following his impressive supporting performance in the new Scream films, as well as his pitch-perfect comedic turn in Hulu series Love, Victor, Mason Gooding is set for a major 2024 with A24 comedy Y2K and action thriller Aftermath, where he is set to play the main villain opposite Dylan Sprouse.

  1. Archie Renaux

The second Shadow and Bone star to feature in this list, Archie Renaux has an exciting year ahead of him with rom-com The Other Zoey due next month, as well as Fede Alvarez’s new Alien film and highly anticipated rom-com Upgraded opposite Camila Mendes, both due in 2024.

  1. Jonah Hauer-King

Known mostly for his performances in British TV shows such as World On Fire and Howard’s End, Jonah Hauer-King broke out in a major way with his performance as Prince Eric in the live-action The Little Mermaid. Next up for him is Sky’s series adaptation of acclaimed novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, as well as satirical social thriller Rich Flu, both due in 2024.

  1. Tom Blyth

Tom Blyth is set for a major 2024 following what will undoubtedly be his breakout role as young President Snow in The Hunger Games prequel The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, due this November.

  1. Young Mazino

Following his Emmy-nominated performance in acclaimed Netflix series Beef, Young Mazino has cemented his status as one of the most promising new names in the film and TV industry for 2024.

  1. Aaron Pierre

With a highly-acclaimed, award-winning performance in Clement Virgo’s Brother and a crucial supporting role opposite Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal in sci-fi drama Foe in 2023, Aaron Pierre is set for an even bigger 2024 with Barry Jenkins’ The Lion King prequel, a Malcolm X and MLK series, and Jeremy Saulnier’s highly anticipated Rebel Ridge all due next year.

  1. India Amarteifio

It’s hard to believe that Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is India Amarteifio’s first leading role since she’s undoubtedly a natural in front of the camera. But thanks to her star-making turn in the show, which resulted in endless awards and acclaim, she has cemented her status as one of the most exciting new names in the industry.

  1. Sophie Thatcher

Following another fantastic performance in Yellowjackets season 2 that somehow topped her already impactful season 1 performance, Sophie Thatcher also managed to impress with her quietly searing turn in sleeper horror hit The Boogeyman. With a starring role in next year’s horror Companion from the producers of Barbarian, it’s only upwards from here.

  1. Cailee Spaeny

With a Volpi Cup win already under her belt thanks to her acclaimed performance in the film, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla is set to launch Cailee Spaeny’s name into the upper echelon of rising young actors to watch for 2024.

  1. Drew Starkey

Following his layered, surprisingly nuanced performance in Outer Banks, which is far better than it had any right to be, 2024 is set to be the biggest year of Drew Starkey’s career thus far thanks to his starring turn opposite Daniel Craig in Luca Guadagnino’s highly anticipated Queer.

  1. Archie Madekwe

Archie Madekwe has slowly but steadily been working his way up the Hollywood ladder with a string of impressive supporting performances under his belt. With an impressive leading performance in the surprisingly good Gran Turismo and a wickedly charming supporting turn in Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, he’s all but set to have the biggest year of his career thus far.

  1. Nicholas Galitzine

With a phenomenal performance in Red, White & Royal Blue and a hilarious supporting turn in Emma Seligman’s Bottoms, Nicholas Galitzine has had a great 2023 thus far. He’s set to have an even bigger 2024 with starring roles opposite Anne Hathaway and Juliane Moore in romantic drama The Idea of You and Oliver Hermanus’ historical drama series Mary & George respectively.

  1. Lily Gladstone

While Lily Gladstone has been steadily working in Hollywood for the past decade, 2023 is set to be the biggest year of her career so far thanks to her acclaimed turn opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, which is already tipped for Oscar glory.

  1. Ariana Greenblatt

Ariana Greenblatt may already have starred in two of the biggest films of all time (Avengers: Infinity War and Barbie) but she’s only just getting started. Following her scene-stealing turn in Barbie and her surprise performance as the young Ahsoka in the Disney+ Star Wars series of the same name, it’s going to be genuinely exciting to see what she decides to do next.