Rising Stars Whose Careers Will Take Off In 2021

The Crash & Bernstein star is only 14 years old, but she's already scoring high profile movie roles including the coveted lead in Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

John David Washington is the son of Denzel Washington, and it's clear that acting talent runs in the family. Washington has had an impressive career as a football player, but has since transitioned to acting, appearing in BlacKkKlansman and Christopher Nolan's spy film Tenet. He also appears alongside Zendaya in upcoming Netflix film, Malcolm & Marie.

Hot off his appearance as Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton on Disney+, Daveed Diggs will appear as Sebastian the Crab in the upcoming live-action remake of The Little Mermaid.

She may have been known during 2020 quarantine as Ben Affleck's girlfriend, but she is an accomplished actress in her own right, gaining attention for her work in Knives Out. Her star is on the rise, with upcoming roles in No Time to Die and the Marilyn Monroe biopic Blonde.

The 19-year-old actress became an overnight star following her debut performance in Mindy Kaling's Netflix series Never Have I Ever, which has been renewed for a second season. 

Jodie Comer gained critical acclaim for her role on the hit TV show Killing Eve. Now, she's taking on roles in upcoming movies Free Guy and The Last Duel.

Roman Griffin Davis had a star-making turn in Taika Waititi's Jojo Rabbit. He is currently acting in Camille Griffin's upcoming film Silent Night alongside Keira Knightley.

George MacKay was nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2014. The British actor has big things ahead, including the starring role in Nathalie Biancheri's film Wolf alongside Lily-Rose Depp.

Anthony Ramos recently appeared as the charismatic John Laurens in Hamilton on Disney+, a role which he originated on Broadway. Ramos will star as Usnavi in Lin-Manuel Miranda's next musical-to-film adaption In The Heights.

The Australian actor made her film debut in 2019, playing Beth March in Greta Gerwig's Little Women. In 2021, she will appear in M. Night Shyamalan's film Old.

Odessa Young broke into the movie business with roles in 2015's Looking for Grace and The Daughter, but most recently she can be seen in the CBS All Access miniseries The Stand as Frannie Goldsmith.

This classically-trained British actress can be seen as fighter pilot Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel, but newer audiences will come to know her as Nomi in the upcoming James Bond film No Time to Die.

The 20-year-old singer-songwriter had a breakthrough year with hit singles "Cola" and "Black Dog". Her debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, is set for a January 2021 release.

Tiffany Boone has had a solid acting career over the past decade, but she's set to level up with roles in the Hulu series Little Fires Everywhere and George Clooney's Midnight Sky.

Halle Bailey is one half of the R&B duo Chloe x Halle, a musical act she formed with her sister. But Halle will be stepping into her own as she plays the iconic role of Ariel in Disney's live action adaptation of The Little Mermaid.

Barry Keoghan has acted in such films as The Killing of a Sacred Deer and Dunkirk, and was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award. The next year will be huge for Keoghan, with high profile roles in Eternals, The Green Knight, and The Batman.

While horror diehards know her best as Tree Gelbman in the Happy Death Day movies, Jessica Rothe is on her way to becoming a more mainstream actress. In 2020, she began appearing in David Fincher's drama series Utopia and has some exciting projects in the works.

Oona Laurence got her start at a young age playing the title role in Matilda on Broadway. Now, as a teen, she has gotten roles in Lost Girls and A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting.

Originally known for her work on the VH1 series Hit the Floor, Taylour Paige's career is taking off in a big way. Catch her in the critically acclaimed Netflix film Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Zola, and Boogie.

After being discovered on a beach during spring break by director Andrea Arnold, Sasha Lane starred in the critically-acclaimed film American Honey. Since then, she's had a role on the David Fincher series Utopia and in the movie Hellboy. She will have a lead role in the upcoming Loki series for Disney+.

Paul Mescal is the breakout star of the British drama series Normal People, which earned him a Primetime Emmy nomination. He gained heartthrob status in 2020 and will star in Maggie Gyllenhaal's upcoming film The Lost Daughter.

Johan Hauer-King has starred in films including The Last Photograph and A Dog's Way Home. But expect his career to blow up when he takes on the role of Prince Eric in Disney's upcoming live action remake of The Little Mermaid.

Over the past decade, Jessica Henwick has been accumulating great stage and screen credits. After establishing herself in Game of Thrones and Star Wars: The Force Awakens, she will now tackle roles in the highly anticipated Godzilla vs. Kong and The Matrix 4.

Sophia Taylor Ali had a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy for years, but she's bound to become a household name with her lead role in the Prime Video series The Wilds and as Tom Holland's love interest in Uncharted.

Micheal Ward began acting professionally in 2018 — before that, he worked as a model. In the past few years, he has nabbed roles in The A List, Top Boy, and The Old Guard. Expect to see more work from him in the future.