Rising stars: Young talents to watch in 2020
They are the up-and-coming actors, musicians, designers, models and TV personalities likely to make their mark in 2020 so pay attention to their faces now — because you’re going to be seeing a lot more of them.
Confidential
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They are young, talented and ready to shine in 2020. Here is a list of actors, musicians, designers, models and TV personalities who will make their mark as the new decade rolls around.
ACTOR
Eliza Scanlen
The former Home And Away star turned in a terrific performance in Sydney Theatre Company’s Lord of the Flies this year.
Scanlen will be seen on the big screen in the Little Women remake, with Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Timothee Chalamet, Laura Dern and Meryl Streep.
ACTOR
Devon Terrell
This Perth-born actor shot to fame when he was plucked from obscurity to play Barack Obama in the HBO movie Barry in 2016.
He has had a spattering of roles since but is expected to explode back on to the scene next year with a major role in Netflix series Cursed, where he will star alongside compatriot Katherine Langford.
TELEVISION
Jock Zonfrillo, Melissa Leong and Andy Allen
Theirs is one of the toughest challenges on television in 2020. The relatively unknown trio, who take over as MasterChef judges from the popular show’s former stalwarts Matt Preston, Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris, are perhaps on a hiding to nothing. If the show falters the finger will be pointed at them. And if it maintains its popularity much of the credit will go to the original trio for laying such a strong foundation. But all have strong food credentials despite their comparatively low profiles: Jock Zonfrillo was named Australia’s Hottest Chef in 2018 and has hosted several TV food shows; Leong has wide experience across all facets of food media and Andy Allen won season four of the show before becoming a co-owner of the popular Three Blue Ducks restaurant group.
Certainly, if the trio are feeling the pressure they are not admitting it. “It is a whole new era so it is not about replacing one thing with another,” Leong told Confidential at the time of their announcement. “It is the next chapter, the next breath of air. We have an opportunity to be who we are, demonstrate our expertise and have fun in our own dynamic and that is what we are going to do.”
ACTOR
Jacob Elordi
It has been a huge year for Euphoria star Jacob Elordi, but things are only getting busier for this Brisbane-born heart-throb.
There’s a second season of Euphoria, a follow-up to hit Netflix movie The Kissing Booth, another movie called 2 Hearts and a big-budget thriller, Deep Water, opposite Ben Affleck and Ana De Armas.
OPERA
Shanul Sharma
This charismatic young tenor is in Opera Australia’s Young Artists’ Program and was brilliant in September’s production of Ghost Sonata, a psychological work staged in the company’s Surry Hills scenery workshop.
He will appear in Opera Australia’s La Juive next year and is very highly thought of by OA artistic director Lyndon Terracini.
ACTOR
Stefanie Jones
In a fabulously raunchy Rhonda in this year’s second outing of Muriel’s Wedding
The Musical, co-star Natalie Abbott as Muriel proved she has the voice and stamina to go the miles as a future star of musical theatre.
ACTOR
Kodi Smit-McPhee
Kodi Smit-McPhee is probably most recognisable when he’s blue, having played Nightcrawler in the X-Men film series. He’s had other notable roles, such as Tolly in the Gallipoli mini-series and Nick in Dolemite Is My Name, and now he returns in crime drama Interrogation opposite Peter Sarsgaard and David Strathairn on CBS Interactive.
MODEL
Mali Koopman
Branded the quiet achiever of the modelling world, Mali Koopman has been tipped to shake up the industry next year. Currently based in NY, Koopman is known for being tall, tanned and effortlessly cool. But modelling is not her only strength, with the 21-year-old an artist on the rise who is currently working on an exhibition that will be held in NY early in the year.The elusive Koopman, who is signed to Chic Management, has shot campaigns for Nordstrom, Emilio Pucci, Claudie Pierlot and Polo Ralph Lauren, walked for Balenciaga, Valentino, Fendi and Calvin Klein and done editorials for Vogue Australia, Harper’s Bazaar Spain, Muse and Vogue Mexico and Japan. In Australia, she has shot the last two Country Road campaigns and features in the latest Viktoria & Woods campaign.
MODEL
Cameron Stephens
After making a name for herself as a breakout curve model during this year’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, 18-year-old Cameron Stephens has hit the ground running.
During what was her first year of modelling, IMG model Cameron worked in Australia and internationally, landing editorial gigs with Vogue Australia, British Vogue, Jones Magazine and Russh Magazine. The fresh-faced teen doesn’t just want to be known for her beauty. She also has hopes to be an advocate and role model for girls with dreams like hers and to campaign for diversity in the fashion industry.
DESIGNER
Danielle Mulham (Posse)
With new designers entering the market and launching labels at a rapid rate, a point of difference is imperative. And that’s why Australian brand Posse has reached global success in just three short years. Founder and director Danielle Mulham travels the globe to seek out unique vintage finds to create a clear and concise collection which she aims will remain in her customers’ wardrobes forever.
With a focus on making women feel feminine and empowered, Posse has founded a strong and loyal fan base, which is evident thanks to her 184,000 Instagram followers and her brand’s burgeoning global following. While 2019 was spent trying to create a more sustainable business model, 2020 will no doubt be momentous, with Posse set to open the wholesale contingency of its business, launching exclusively with esteemed luxury e-tailer Moda Operandi early in the year.
DESIGNERS
Jessica Cadby and Jody Feldhofer (Nice Martin)
It’s been a hasty rise for classic Australian fashion label Nice Martin, which was founded by Jessica Cadby and Jody Feldhofer in 2015. With a penchant for masculine-style garments made in natural fibre fabrics, Cadby and Feldhofer struggled to find just that, so embarked on what would become a favourite with local and international fashion lovers.
With a little help from prominent local bloggers Carmen Hamilton and Yan Yan Chan, Nice Martin has since landed a long list of carefully curated stockists and opened a bricks and mortar store in Byron Bay. The design duo, who named their brand after a Helmut Newton photograph, release new styles each week and have filled a massive gap in the market, earning their place in the list of ones to watch in 2020.
* Additional reporting David Meddows, Elizabeth Fortescue and Cecily Ryan
Originally published as Rising stars: Young talents to watch in 2020
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