On-screen Stars to Watch: Vol 2

Above: Cailee Spaeny in Bulgari's 'Reveal Your Light' spot for Omnia fragrance.

Every year brings a new crop of talent that captivates audiences, with breakout newcomers popping up seemingly out of nowhere alongside known names ‘hitting it big’ thanks to cornerstone projects. With the major awards shows now wrapped, the winners are basking in their well-earned glory while the nominees are likewise enjoying the warm after-glow of the pre-awards press circuits. 

For the second volume of the series, The Bourne Consultancy team decided to pick not only the rising stars to watch but also ones already captivating people’s attention. For Bourne, these stars are just getting started, however, and brands should be thinking of working with them sooner rather than later - before they become truly unattainable. The list is then a mix of some up-and-comers and some names that we’ve definitely heard before and cannot wait to see more of in due course. 

Read on to find out who The Bourne Consultancy can’t stop talking about right now. Check out the first part of the series here too. 

Film: Dominic Sessa

Appearing on screen next to the legendary Paul Giamatti would be a tall order for many actors. Yet Dominic Sessa's debut in ‘The Holdovers’ proved that he can not only share a screen with the acting titan, but also hold his own. His sensitive and wry performance instantly made him a name to watch and he was recently cast alongside Rose Byrne and Demi Lovato in the upcoming drama ‘Tow’. “We were so blown away by his performance in ‘The Holdovers’ and couldn’t believe it was his debut acting role. That is pure talent and we are so excited for his journey ahead,” the Bourne team says. 

Film: Cailee Spaeny

Cailee Spaeny already had an impressive number of acting credits to her name before landing her breakout role in the titular ‘Priscilla’, Sofia Coppola’s searching and incisive biopic with Jacob Elordi playing Elvis Presley. Her portrayal of Priscilla was highly lauded and earned her a Best Actress win at the Venice Film Festival and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture last year. This year, she shares the screen with Kirsten Dunst in Alex Garland’s dystopian tale, ‘Civil War,’ and will appear in ‘Alien: Romulus’ which is currently in post-production. “She is an incredibly strong actress and has shown outstanding versatility in her roles, making her a very exciting talent to watch,” says the Bourne team. 

Film: Colman Domingo

Colman’s career spans three decades and countless roles but recently he has stepped into the spotlight as a leading man in films like ‘The Colour Purple’ and ‘Rustin’. He earned an Oscar nomination for his part in the latter, making him the first Afro-Latino and openly gay man to be recognised in the Academy’s 96-year old existence. On TV, he’s part of a buzzy ensemble cast in HBO’s ‘Euphoria’. Colman is also a regular fixture on ‘best dressed’ lists thanks to his imaginative and boundary-pushing approach to fashion. He was also recently included in the 2024 TIME 100 List. 

“We love a multi-faceted talent and the combination of Colman’s captivating performances on-screen and his taste and love for fashion make him a force to be reckoned with in the brand space. From a personal perspective, we’ve really enjoyed watching his career blossom into an Academy Award nomination and think he’s only just getting started!” 

Film: Anna Sawai

The lead in Netflix’s hit show, ‘Shogun’, Anna Sawai is a triple-threat: she’s an actress, singer, and dancer. She made her acting debut at the age of 11 and hasn’t stopped working since, even being part of popular Japanese girl band, Faky, for five years. Anna has also appeared in the hit franchise ‘Fast & Furious’ and the Apple TV’s multigenerational family drama ‘Pachinko’. “Anna’s performance in 'Shogun stood' out to us as something special, and it’s no surprise to us that her talent transcends into other forms. She is an incredible actress and definitely a star on the rise - watch this space!” 

Music: Lola Young

When Amy Winehouse’s manager steps out of retirement to manage a career, it’s a sign of real talent being present. Nick Shymansky is currently managing Lola Young, who the Bourne team says “has the most incredible singing voice that genuinely stops you in your tracks.” Lola released her new single ‘Wish You Were Dead’ earlier this year and has just announced a UK and European tour. “We loved her debut EP in 2023 titled ‘My Mind Wanders and Sometimes Leaves Completely’,” the Bourne team adds. Even bigger things are definitely on the horizon for Lola as she’s just been co-signed by Snoop Dogg and SZA. 

Music: RAYE

RAYE’s name won’t be new to music lovers. Her album, ‘My 21st Century Blues’, was released in 2023 to critical acclaim and she won a record-breaking six awards at the most recent BRITs. She broke another BRIT record when she received the most nominations in the award’s history. Before her solo career, RAYE was a songwriter for the music industry’s biggest names including Beyonce, Rihanna, John Legend, and Little Mix. 

“Raye is dominating the music scene right now and we’ve enjoyed watching her success within the mainstream. We are so excited to see what she does next, and we have a feeling it’s going to be big."

Music: Tyla

The unabashedly sexy song ‘Water’ put the singer Tyla on the map, which she has followed up with a self-titled album. It received widespread critical acclaim and she’s made Billboard history too with the highest debut on the Hot 100 for any African female soloist. She is also the youngest African artist to win a BRIT award. Outside of the music industry, brands are starting to take notice of Tyla, especially in the fashion space. This is not surprising given her show-stopping look at the latest Met Gala, which earned her the top spot on several best dressed lists.

Music: Chappell Roan

The name Chappell Roan may not be familiar to most - yet - but her breakout single ‘Red Wine Supernova’ has already been heard by many. The catchy and unapologetically queer and campy pop hit captures the feelings of fun and excess that are also reflected in Chappell’s quirky, eye-catching aesthetic. “Gloriously unserious pop” was what the music magazine Pitchfork said of her style, praising the optimism and energy of her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’. It’s undoubtedly going to be the sound of the summer. She made waves with her recent Coachella performance, which is where the Bourne team spotted her, and has already opened for Olivia Rodrigo on the ‘Guts’ world tour. The team comments: “After seeing her Coachella performances and all the hype that she's gotten, we had to include her on our list! She has definitely had a sharp rise in popularity that’s set to continue over the coming months.”

Sport: Russ Cook aka Hardest Geezer

Russ Cook, aka The Hardest Geezer, recently achieved what seems unimaginable to most: he ran the entire length of Africa. The project took a whole year to complete, raising £700,000 for charity in the process. He ran across the Sahara, stretches of rainforest, and mountain ranges; he also was also robbed and held at gunpoint alongside experiencing health scares and visa issues. However, nothing deterred him from completing what he set out to do. “He represents ultimate perseverance, dedication, and strength. All eyes are on him at the moment and we can’t wait to see what he does next (after a long, well-deserved break of course!),” says the Bourne team. 

Sport: Luke Littler

Though only 17, Luke Littler is a darts sensation. Currently, he’s PDC World Youth Champion, the Bahrain Masters Champion, and the Belgian Darts Open champion. His championship match was the most viewed sporting event, outside of football, in Sky Sports history, racking up 3.7 million views. It’s no wonder that Luke has quickly earned a spot on Forbes’ list of ‘30 Under 30’ people to watch. It’s clear to the Bourne team that Luke is “just getting started” and that his career will only be going from strength to strength in the time to come. 

Keeping up with the who’s who of new and rising stars in the industry isn’t easy but the Bourne team is diligent when it comes to the task. “As with part one, it was hard to condense a shortlist of stars when there’s new, exciting talent cropping up constantly. The summer is always a fantastic time for music and film releases (last summer’s ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’?!) and we can’t wait to discover the talent that will come out of it. Watch this space for volume three!”