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The Nine Actors Most Likely to Be Anointed Big Stars in 2011

Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/2011 Getty Images
Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/2011 Getty Images

Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life premiered yesterday at Cannes, and amid all the debates of “Boring!” vs.”Masterpiece!” one thing remains constant: the buzz around one of its stars, newcomer Jessica Chastain, who plays Brad Pitt’s wife. Unless you’re a fan of her work on Law & Order: Trial by Jury — and you are not — she’s an unfamiliar face, but one that you will likely be seeing everywhere this year: She’s at the front of the pack of this year’s next-big-things, the actors who are riding a wave of media and industry anointment with their upcoming much-hyped projects. But will they be the next Matthew McConaughey or the next Gretchen Mol? To help you get familiarized with the upcoming crop of “future A-listers!” we’ve put together a slideshow of this year’s fresh faces, along with some key facts and their odds of superstardom. So study up! You’ll want to seem educated by the time Vanity Fair’s “Hollywood” issue comes out.

​The next: Tom HardyPast projects: 300, Hunger, Inglourious Basterds, Fish Tank, Centurion, Jonah HexLikely breakouts: Jane Eyre, Haywire, A Dangerous Method, X-Men: First Class, Shame, … Take your pick. He’s in everything this year.Future projects: At Swim-Two-Birds, Prometheus (the Alien prequel)Press anointment: “Mr. Fassbender, now 34, has moved steadily from background person to ensemble actor to leading man and bona fide pinup.” —Sarah Lyall, New York TimesOdds of superstardom: 2:1. He’s got Laurence Olivier’s jaw, and can do comedy and magazine covers in equal measure. If the X-Men prequel works, he’s got the best role in it. Photo: Jemal Countess/2011 Getty Images
The next: Carey MulliganPast projects: Brideshead Revisited, Cheri, The TempestLikely breakout: Sundance darling Like Crazy, with Jennifer LawrenceFuture projects: Hysteria (about the invention of the vibrator), David Hare’s Page Eight Press anointment: “She is now one of the hottest young actresses on the planet.” —Carole Cadwalladr, the U.K. ObserverOdds of superstardom: 15:2. Pretty Brits with acting chops tend to do well in Hollywood, but unless she catches on big and early, people are going to move on. Photo: Ian Gavan/2011 Getty Images
The next: Andrew GarfieldPast projects: About a Boy, The Weather Man, the original Skins, A Single Man, Clash of the TitansLikely breakout: X-Men: First ClassFuture projects: Bryan Singer’s Jack the Giant Killer, Mad Max: Fury RoadPress anointment: “Nine years after breaking out as Hugh Grant’s adorably nerdy friend in About a Boy, Nicholas Hoult is fast on his way to the A list.” —Maggie Pehanick, Entertainment WeeklyOdds of superstardom: 5:1. He’s got that twinkle in his eye. Plus, he looks really good in a white angora sweater. With a starring role and a franchise sequel already on his docket, his trajectory looks solid. Photo: Chris Jackson/2011 Getty Images
The next: Michelle WilliamsPast projects: Notes on a Scandal, Atonement, Greenberg, KaboomLikely breakouts: Cracks, Little BirdsFuture projects: Dirty Girl, Killer Joe (written by Tracy Letts), Jack and Diane, The Three Musketeers, A Single Shot, The Dark Knight RisesPress anointment: “Juno Temple is one of our best new acting talents.” —Craig McLean, TelegraphOdds of superstardom: 15:1. Thus far her films have skewed to small-audience indies, but she’s making the right choices and impressing the right people, and only one of these films has to catch on for her to blow up. Photo: Frazer Harrison/2011 Getty Images
The next: Keira KnightleyPast projects: Cassandra’s Dream, Brideshead Revisited, Any Human HeartLikely breakout: Captain America: The First AvengerFuture projects: I. Anna, The Great Gatsby (rumored for Jordan Baker)Press anointment: “Everything about her spells star quality.” —Kate Kellaway, the U.K. ObserverOdds of superstardom: 10:1. She’s already been around the block a few times in major roles and so far nothing has stuck; but she’s always had star quality, so hopefully this time it’ll take. Photo: Vittorio Zunino Celotto/2011 Getty Images
The next: James McAvoyPast projects: CranfordLikely breakouts: Thor, Midnight in Paris, War HorseFuture projects: The AvengersPress anointment: “Remember that name. … One day that lad is going to be a star, and deservedly so.” —Lyn Gardner, GuardianOdds of superstardom: 8:1. This kid is basically untested, but he’s in so many huge movies this year with a well-calibrated mix of high- and lowbrow, franchise and indie, that we feel it wise to keep an eye on him. Photo: Kevin Winter/2011 Getty Images
The next: Kate WinsletPast projects: JoleneLikely breakouts: Take Shelter, Coriolanus, Tree of Life, The Help, The FieldsFuture projects: Untitled Terrence Malick Project, The Wettest County in the World (written by Nick Cave)Press anointment: “… possibly the most prolific actor you haven’t yet heard of. Not for long – take your pick of her breakout roles this year.” —Cath Clark, GuardianOdds of superstardom: 4:1. Everyone went crazy over her in Take Shelter at Sundance, and with that kind of momentum going into the highly anticipated release of Tree of Life, it’s just going to happen. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/2011 Getty Images
The next: Jennifer LawrencePast projects: How the West Was FunLikely breakout: Martha Marcy May MarleneFuture projects: Peace, Love, & Misunderstanding, Red Lights, Liberal Arts (written by Josh Radnor)Press anointment: “One thing is certain at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival: actress Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Olsen is this year’s fresh-faced star.” —Sasha Bronner for Little Gold Men, Vanity Fair’s Hollywood blogOdds of superstardom: 6:1. She’s a good actress and the sister of the Olsen twins. People will pay attention. Photo: Jemal Countess/2011 Getty Images
The next: Uma ThurmanPast projects: CommunityLikely breakout: Another Earth, Sound of My VoiceFuture projects: ArbitragePress anointment: “She may be indie film’s new ‘it girl.’” —Josh Weinstein, the WrapOdds of superstardom: 25:1. Film festivals are flipping for her intelligent intensity, and in addition to the roles coming her way, she can write her own. Still, intelligent intensity doesn’t often translate to popular appeal. She’ll need the stars to align to hit stardom.  Photo: Jemal Countess/2011 Getty Images
The Nine Actors Most Likely to Be Anointed Big Stars in 2011