The entertainment industry is reinvented each and every year by the emergence of new breakout stars. Not surprisingly, 2010 was no different. I have done my best to put together a list of the five most significant breakout stars of the past year in Hollywood.
1. Drake – As a 24 year old actor/rapper who has been in the spotlight since his teenage years on “Degrassi: The Next Generation”, it is hard for some to consider Aubrey Graham, more known by the stage name “Drake”, to be a true breakout artist. While the Canadian rapper found fame during his acting career and began releasing mix tapes as early as 2006, 2010 has been the year that has propelled him into stardom. Drake’s 2010 debut studio album “Thank Me Later” served as one of the most successful rap albums of the year, falling only to Eminem’s “Recovery”. Drake appears to be the total package and should have a long successful career.
2. Mia Wasikowska – This 21 year old Australian actress is far from a household name, but Wasikowska is quietly on her way to being a prominent leading lady. Wasikowska first gained recognition by mastering a role in HBO’s television series “In Treatment”. This role may have helped her gain the breakout role of her career as she was casted to play the timeless role of Alice in Tim Burton’s modern adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland”. In a less mainstream role, Wasikowska joined Julianna Moore and Mark Ruffalo in one of the most highly praised movies of the summer, “The Kids Are All Right”. Mia Wasikowska is on her way to a brilliant career and will be a household name in no time.
3. Jeremy Renner – Another aberrant breakout star of 2010 is 39 year old actor Jeremy Renner, who has had a long acting career in both television and on the big screen. Renner has made a career out of being a supporting actor, which many believe culminated with 2008’s “The Hurt Locker”. After short stints on different television series, Renner returned to the big screen with arguably his best performance in 2010’s “The Town”. Whether or not Renner pursues future roles as a leading man, finding a job will not be difficult for this talented actor.
4. Emma Stone – In 2007, a young actress captured the eye of many a viewer who had sat down to watch classic teen comedy “Superbad”. This young woman’s name was Emma Stone and for the next two years, she would appear on movie screens across the nation in supporting roles. In 2010, Stone took a step to solidify her newly founded star credibility by taking her first leading role in “Easy A”, a satirical account of life as a teenage girl. Stone also lent her voice to the animated hit “Marmaduke”. In 2010, Stone went from a supporting actress to a budding star. You can expect to see lots of Emma Stone in the coming years.
5. B.o.B – In a hip hop industry dominated by either great lyrics or catchy choruses, B.o.B is the total package. His debut album “B.o.B Presents: The Adventures of Bobby Ray” has experienced an unparalleled level of success. B.o.B’s first two singles, “Nothin’ on You” and “Airplanes”, each reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. With appearances that range from Eminem to Rivers Cuomo, “The Adventures of Bobby Ray” establishes a feeling of legitimacy surrounding B.o.B. As a young man with loads of talent, B.o.B has what it takes to withstand the grind that is the hip hop industry.
