Rising On-screen Stars to Watch: Vol 1
[Above: Jeremy Allen White for Calvin Klein]
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. In 2023, a few names caught everyone’s attention.
Emerald Fennell's risqué sophomore feature ‘Saltburn’, propelled actors Jacob Elordi and Barry Keoghan into the brightest of spotlights, and Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers’ saw legendary actor Paul Giamatti earn his first Best Actor nomination at the Academy Awards. Actress Ayo Edebiri’s career went from strength to strength, first on the excellent and much-awarded ‘The Bear’ series (alongside another breakout star, Jeremy Allen White) and then on Emma Seligman’s hilarious and surreal teen comedy ‘Bottoms’. In the world of music, Taylor Swift continues to dominate the headlines but a new popstar entered the fold too: Tate McRae. Her single, ‘Greedy’, has featured in over four million TikTok videos and is currently one of the most listened to songs on Spotify.
For The Bourne Consultancy, who lives and breathes all things talent, there’s nothing more exciting than keeping an eye out for new, rising stars. The team regularly features up-and-coming talent on their Instagram, whether that’s artists, actors, comedians, sportspeople, or content creators to know. In such a fast and ever-changing landscape (it can feel like new ‘stars’ are anointed overnight), the team’s attention is always attuned to what’s just ahead. So, who should brands and agencies know in 2024? We asked the experts in all things talent, the Bourne Consultancy, to share with LBB the stars to watch out for…
Film: Mia McKenna-Bruce
Mia McKenna-Bruce starred in Molly Manning Walker’s coming-of-age feature, ‘How To Have Sex’, charming audiences with her tender and honest portrayal of a teenager on her first girls’ holiday to Greece. Not a stranger to the film and TV screen, Mia featured in episodes of Tracy Beaker Return and EastEnders, and Netflix’s ‘Persuasion’. In January, she was nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star award alongside Ayo Edebiri, Jacob Elordi, Phoebe Dynevor (‘Bridgerton’), and break-out star of the A24 horror hit ‘Talk to Me', Sophie Wilde. “We were absolutely blown away by Mia’s performance and talent, and we can’t wait to see what she does next, especially following on from all the fantastic (and well deserved!) attention she’s gotten recently.”
[Above: (from left to right) Phoebe Dynevor, Mia McKenna-Bruce, and Sophie Wilde]
Film: Sophie Wilde
The Australian actress best known for her breakout role in the horror film ‘Talk to Me’ for which she received AACTA and Saturn Award nominations. She was also nominated for a BAFTA Rising Star Award. Sophie was the lead in the Netflix series ‘Everything Now’ and is set to star in an upcoming erotic thriller ‘Babygirl’ alongside Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson. Bourne comments: “Talk to Me was a fantastic film (one of the scariest films of 2023!) and along with ‘Everything Now’, it really cemented Sophie as one to watch. We love seeing great acting be recognised and also celebrated in the awards circuits.”
Film: Niamh Moriarty
Niamh starred alongside Sharon Horgan and Michael Sheen in recent BBC drama ‘Best Interests’ at the age of 16. As a teenage actor living with cerebral palsy, she said she “felt seen and understood” playing the role and hopes to carve a path in bringing accurate representation to global screens. She has been described as a ‘young revelation’ by critics, and truly loves telling stories. “Niamh is such a huge inspiration and we are in awe of her determination to make the acting industry a more inclusive place. This is just the beginning for Niamh and we can’t wait to see where her talent takes her!” the team says.
Spoken Word: Dan Whitlam
Dan Whitlam is a poet, spoken word artist, rapper and actor from South London. He first came to our attention via TikTok and Instagram, where he posts his spoken word poetry against montages of daily life routines, making the mundane feel inspiring. He has a fantastic voice (which we’re so glad isn’t going unnoticed!) and has featured on BBC Radio London/ Radio 1, as well as in popular BBC drama Trigger Point alongside Vicky McClure. “We are always impressed by the power of spoken word and its ability to evoke emotions. It is such an incredible art form, and Dan never falls short of inspirational, raw relatability,” the team adds.
Music: The Last Dinner Party
Formed in London in 2021, the London indie rock band The Last Dinner Party signed with Island Records in 2023 before releasing their smash single, ‘Nothing Matters’. It immediately became a top 25 hit in the UK and the band won a Rising Star Brit Award in December of last year. The band - consisting of Abigail Morris (vocals), Lizzie Mayland (vocals, guitar), Emily Roberts (lead guitar, mandolin, flute), Georgia Davies (bass), and Aurora Nishevci (keyboards, vocals) - released ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’, their debut album, on the 2nd of February. The Bourne team says: “The fanbase they’ve managed to build up prior to releasing a single song on any streaming platform says it all. They built it on live shows alone and that just proves what a hugely talented and exciting band they are. Their sound is so unique and we have been playing their new album non-stop!”
Music: Olivia Dean
The singer released her studio album ‘Messy’ last year and was selected as the BBC Music Introducing Artist of the Year in 2023 in a testament to her unique voice and songwriting skills. She was featured on Loyle Carner’s track ‘Homerton’ and went on to support him at his OVO arena Wembley shows. In 2024, Olivia will be headlining a European tour and she has committed to only working with female directors for her music videos. She’s been nominated for three awards at the Brits this year: Artist of the Year, Best New Artist, and Pop Act. A newly minted Chanel ambassador, Olivia has already built reputable partnerships with a variety of brands, including Tiffany & Co, Nike, UGG, AMI Paris, Flannels, Prada, and Kickers. Olivia has already made a prominent mark in the music scene and has really solidified her position as a talent to watch.
Fashion: Kai-Isaiah Jamal
The late pioneering fashion designer Virgil Abloh described Kai-Isaiah Jamal as “the voice of their generation.” Kai-Isaiah, is a multi-hyphenate talent: poet, model, performance artist, and trans activist on a mission to interrogate and reshape how society views gender. To date, Kai-Isaiah has fronted fashion campaigns for GCDS, Mugler, and Stella McCartney while London’s Institute of Contemporary Art appointed them as their first-ever poet in residence in 2020. They also featured in a ground-breaking NFT artwork by multidisciplinary artists Warren Du Preez and Nick Thornton Jones. Kai-Isaiah has already made history and is already a recognisable face in catwalks such as Burberry, Off-White, as well as a face for Vogue and Elle. They are truly dominating and we can’t wait to see where they go next.
[Kai-Isaiah's rhymes were featured in Byredo's campaign for the fragrance 'Mixed Emotions']
Sport: Bianca Bustamante
At only 18 years old, Bianca Bustamante made history in 2023 when she became the first female driver to join the McLaren Driver Development programme. She made her racing debut just a year prior, competing in W Series and winning the top honours. Her involvement in the programme will see her get support and coaching to help progress towards Formula 1, IndyCar, and Formula E. Outside of the racing world, fashion has Bianca on its radar with Prada and Burberry already dressing her for events. The Bourne team says: “We have no doubt that Biana will continue her success as both a sportswoman but also a role model for young girls wanting to pursue a career in a male-dominated space.”
The right partnership
When it comes to rising talent and brand partnerships, there is always interest from brands to partner with the ‘next big thing’ for a number of reasons. Usually, these rising stars are relatively green in the brand space, so there is huge scope to do something truly unique and stand out. It can also allow the brand to tap into a new, growing audience. Bourne also notes that timing is everything when it comes to the right talent and brand pairings with Jeremy Allen White and Calvin Klein being the prime example. “This partnership happened while Jeremy was at his peak, which is clear by the reception it generated online.”
“In such an exciting time, with lots of talent out there, it is important for brands to stay up to date and ahead of the trend,” the team adds. However, while it might be exciting to partner with the ‘next big thing’ as soon as possible to capitalise on the attention, it’s essential to allow time for research and careful consideration of the talent to approach. “Ensuring that the partnership makes sense is incredibly important, and in a space where authenticity and relevance holds significant value, brand alignment and understanding of the audience you’re wanting to target is key.”
The entertainment industry is full of up-and-coming talent across different categories and the Bourne team also notes that “social media plays a huge role in giving people a platform and the opportunity to showcase their talent. We can’t wait to discover and get to know the rising stars of 2024 - it’s so exciting to witness a talent’s growth from the very beginning, and watch them be recognised and rewarded for their talent.”
