Casting Guild Association names top 10 Rising Stars of 2024
Meet the Casting Guild Association’s Top 10 Rising Stars of Australian screen and stage. We exclusively reveal the winners ahead of the award ceremony on November 15 — and talk to them about their passion and ambitions.
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Exclusive: Meet 10 of the country’s best and brightest on screen and stage – the Casting Guild Association’s Rising Stars for 2024.
The awards have a strong track-record of picking Australian talent who are truly on the cusp of greatness – previous recipients include House of the Dragons star Milly Alcock, Olivia De-Jonge for Elvis, Heartbreak High’s James Majoos and Bump’s Nathalie Morris – and we can exclusively announce this year’s winners.
The Rising Stars include Felix Cameron and Lee Tiger Halley – both from Boy Swallows Universe, who will be presented their gongs at the CGA’s Annual Awards on November 15.
FELIX CAMERON
Felix Cameron played the lead role of Eli Bell in Netflix hit Boy Swallows Universe, for which he won two Logie Awards for Best Actor in a Drama Series and the Graham Kennedy Award for Best Newcomer.
The series spent more than four weeks in the top 10 shows on Netflix in over 50 countries.
Felix has since played a guest role in the highly anticipated CW, Roku and Stan series, Good Cop/Bad Cop after making his acting debut in feature film Penguin Bloom alongside Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln.
Age: 15
Suburb: Macedon Ranges, Victoria
Most memorable work experience?
Boy Swallows Universe. I was there everyday, worked with incredible people, the role was amazing, I had many different challenges and I learnt so much.
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
It’s a pretty great honour to be recognised by casting directors as they are such an important part of the industry. The ones. They understand the acting craft, bring the right combinations of actors together and have had to watch a lot of my work.
Is this something you’ve always wanted to do? What is your earliest moment where you knew this was in your future?
I love having different life experiences. Acting has given me the chance to do this and I like to take things one step at a time.
What advice have you been given from veteran actors that may have helped you along the way so far?
Bryan Brown and I used to chat in between takes, and we spoke about lots of things. As a person it’s important to treat all people with respect, and as an actor to do the work and be prepared.
What is your end goal – the dream?
To have fun, have amazing experiences, travel the world, meet interesting people and tell meaningful stories. I’m passionate about sport, and at the moment cricket season has just begun so that’s filling my time.
ALYLA BROWNE
Alyla Browne is an award-winning actress whose career spans both film and television in Australia and abroad.
Her television credits include playing Nicole Kidman’s daughter in the 2021 series Nine Perfect Strangers and ‘young Alice” in the critically acclaimed Amazon series The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart alongside Sigourney Weaver and Asher Keddie.
Age: 15
Suburb: Sydney
Most memorable moment?
There has been so many but I guess I can’t go past working with George Miller over the six-month Furiosa shoot. George is not only the nicest person but also an incredible mentor who is so open to the ideas of those who work closely with him. I remember all the time spent reviewing what we had just shot with him in his on-set editing van and discussing ways to make it better in the next take. He is so into the details and a true perfectionist …
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
It’s incredible. Looking back over the last five years, there have been outstanding actors who were awarded Rising Star and have gone on to have international careers. It’s such an honour to be recognised this year. I honestly wasn’t expecting it and I’m so excited for what the future holds.
What advice have you been given from veteran actors that have helped you along the way?
I’ve been able to call on Sigourney Weaver for a scene I was shooting on the horror movie Sting. The scene was inspired by Aliens so I called Sigourney for advise on how to react to the spider puppet. It was one of those pinch yourself moments for both me and my director, Kiah Roach-Turner. I also remember being on set with Cliff Curtis in True Spirit and he told me not to get so hung up over the lines ... something that has stuck with me ever since. And I can’t forget Nicole Kidman on Nine Perfect Strangers. She helped me with the scenes we shared but just being in her presence was so inspiring. She is so lovely and giving to all those on set, not just the actors … a true role model.
What is your end goal – the dream?
I don’t think there really is an end goal. So much of what happens in an actor’s career is out of your hands. It’s more about the journey. Apart of the excitement is not knowing what is around the corner. I have been so fortunate that everything has aligned and I’m now being recognised. A lot of it is luck mixed with hard work – (the auditions) the jobs are just the fun part of the process. Ultimately I’d like to write and direct in the post apocalyptic genre. I already have a script taking shape.
COURTNEY MONSMA
Courtney Monsma is currently appearing as Glinda in the Australian production of international hit musical, Wicked.
She is well-known for starring as Princess Anna in the Australian tour of Disney’s Frozen the Musical and as Lillian Milton in the new Australian drama series Paper Dolls.
Age: 27
Suburb: Tallebudgera, Gold Coast
Most memorable moment?
My most memorable work experience would have to be on set of Paper Dolls. It was an incredible opportunity to combine my skills of singing and dancing onto a screen acting platform. Getting to do that alongside a talented cast was such a highlight. It is so memorable due to the challenges and growth made over the period of shooting, as I walked off set learning more about my craft and myself.
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
I feel so elated to be named a rising star and finding out I was brought me a sense of pride that I am on the right track in my journey so far. It’s an honour to be recognised by industry professionals for not only my past and current work but for potential in the future.
The entertainment industry is notoriously hard to crack – how and when did you get your big break?
After studying for a Bachelor of Music at the Queensland Conservatorium I auditioned for a professional musical in my third year of training and gratefully booked the show. From there I have continued working and touring in professional theatre, going on to book lead and title roles like Anna in Frozen and Glinda in Wicked.
I am so grateful for my career on professional stages and would love to incorporate that experience on a film set. I have always had a burning passion for what I do, and I feel as though I knew it from the moment I could think.
My earliest memories are in dance class, or watching movies and becoming so engrossed in the story telling. Specifically, I watched my sister perform in Annie and I remember sitting in the audience having a light bulb moment of “this is actually what I want to do”.
I’m sure the many lounge room concerts was a sign very early on. I am grateful for every bit of advice given to me by mentors as they have shaped me and help my grow. One that has stuck is a simple quote to “trust your gift”.
With the nature of the industry and the self-doubt that follows, it’s easy to forget and I remind myself of that when I’m in those moments in time. Being taught to be disciplined and work hard while staying kind and respectful are the qualities I admire most in those actors I have looked up to on my journey so far.
Actors who are also neurodivergent like me, inspire me as I view it as their superpower within their art.
What is your end goal – the dream?
I’ve always been a big dreamer! The dream would be to perform on a Broadway and West End stage. My goal is to transition more onto screen and get to tell many more stories in that format. A movie musical is the ultimate! My dream is to get the opportunity to continue to do what I love and hopefully inspire people along the way.
DANNY BALL
Danny Ball is an actor and writer with screen credits including Seven’s Home & Away, Stan’s Totally Completely Fine and A Beginner’s Guide To Grief.
Age: 34
Suburb: Coogee
The entertainment industry is notoriously hard to crack – how and when did you get
your big break?
I’d say my first significant break was Loaded, which was a one-man stage adaptation
of Christos Tsiolkas’ novel at Malthouse Theatre, in which I won a Green Room
Award. It was the first time I’d been given an Olympic-level challenge as an actor, and
I owe it to the extraordinary director, Stephen Nicolazzo, for trusting me to deliver
that performance.
What is the earliest moment where you knew this was in your future?
Ever since I could string a sentence together, I told anyone who would listen: ‘I’m
going to be an actor’. It’s always felt like an innate part of me. I’m famously not a
scientist, but I think it’s baked into my DNA somewhere. Working with Rebecca
Massey and Russell Dykstra this year helped me understand how to sustain an
extraordinary career as an actor. I learned that boldness, buffoonery and irreverence
paired with generosity and rigour is a super power.
What is your end goal – the dream?
Working with Pedro Almodovar. Please someone pass on this message! Pedro, I am
your biggest fan and I’ve seen all your films. I’ll learn Spanish. Whatever it takes.
Anything else we should know about you?
I used to work as a dancer in nightclubs. I love the beach. I’m a black belt in karate.
I’m a great cook. I’m half Italian and my family is from Abruzzo and Sicilia.
GRACE CHOW
Grace Chow is an award-winning Asian-Australian playwright, VO artist and actor. She is most well known for playing Constable Cindy Chung in Australia’s critically acclaimed television noir Mystery Road: Origins and for her role as Wendy Hang in the unreleased season two of hit Foxtel drama The Twelve, alongside Sam Neil.
Age: 24
Suburb: Crawley, WA
Most memorable work experience?
On screen, possibly Mystery Road: Origins. We worked in the most beautiful and remote locations – on the edge of a gargantuan mining pit (terrifying) and in the middle of Australia’s largest cattle farm (beautiful). At that point I was still sporting my shaved head.
I remember the makeup artists spray painting it black to look better on screen, so showers at night were always memorable and akin to a horror film.
There was also Aussie screen legend Steve Bisley. At that point, I hadn’t seen the Mad Max films.
So when we shot our second scene together and he floored the car to 170 on a gravel road with the both of us in it … I thought, firstly, “I’m going to die!” and then secondly, “Who is this guy?!” We became good friends.
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising star?
It’s definitely encouraging to be acknowledged in this way and I am very grateful. Being recognised for your hard work feels affirming and that makes you motivated to work harder.
I’m really proud of how I’ve carved a space for myself in this industry. I’ve worked very hard to have come this far as a writer and as an actor. I struggle with this idea of a “big break,” when, really, a career in the entertainment industry is made up of cumulative efforts over a long period of time – every opportunity being a stepping stone to the next.
In the traditional sense of “big break”, however, my first major gig into the international market is as a US series coming out in 2025. I join the main cast across from childhood heroes Leighton Meester and Clancy Brown.
It’s called Good Cop/Bad Cop on The CW and I play a cute dispatcher with a dark streak and a squeaky voice. It’s really opened up the international market to me and I’m excited for the opportunities ahead.
Is this something you’ve always wanted to do?
I’ve always been determined, but I was also realistic about the challenges in this industry. Statistically, I knew the odds were against me, even if I had the drive and the talent. So, I just focused on my training, committing to both my formal education and self-practice. I never allowed myself to get distracted by even my own successes in that time.
I landed my first professional main stage theatre role at the state company in WA and then, later that year, I had been cast in two more shows, shortly followed by my first series regular role on screen and winning the Griffin Playwright’s Award. And only then, after two years of working non-stop, did I come up for breath, and took stock and finally realised that I was on the path I envisioned. It clicked for me that this was my future, when it became my reality.
What advice has helped you along the way so far?
One key piece of advice I was given was to call yourself an artist because, in the end (or even the beginning), no one else will. You need to advocate for yourself – for your needs, your desires, and your worth. And just do it. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission.
What is your end goal – the dream?
To be an actress known for her versatility and acting range with a rigorous writing practice to match. And I’m definitely on my way now. I have bucket list goals, like leading a series, being a staffed writer and also having a feature produced. Another dream is to have bubble tea with Viola Davis at the MET, where Anna Wintour, in a lapse of judgment, declares me fashionable enough to be the next cover of Vogue. If I ever claim the latter has happened, please check for signs of concussion.
JANET ANDERSON
Janet Anderson was cast as Simone in Paramount Plus series The Last King Of The Cross alongside Lincoln Younes and Tim Roth. Other TV credits include ABC series Reef Break and she starred in the one-woman play Collapsible, to rave reviews.
Age: 23
Suburb: Kingsford
Most memorable work experience?
Playing Rosie In Travis Alabanza’s play Overflow was an experience I’ll never forget, and I’m so grateful to have done so early in my career. I think it instilled in me the value of art and how easy it is to change lives with connection. I’ve had multiple trans women tell me that seeing that show helped them discover their identity, and that is something I’ll never really be able to comprehend. Art for the community, by the community. Always.
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
It’s incredible to be joining a legacy of some of the most talented actors Australia has produced. And I’m proud to be bringing trans stories to the forefront. I hope for my career to become a vessel, so that I can bring my community with me throughout.
The entertainment industry is notoriously hard to crack – how and when did you get your big break?
Wait, it hasn’t happened yet, has it? This is just the beginning darling. Doll domination. You’ll see.
Is this something you’ve always wanted to do?
I always knew I wanted to be a performer, but acting as a career wasn’t something I ever thought could happen for someone like me. There was only a handful of trans people I’d ever seen on screen, and all had fought tooth and nail to be there. It wasn’t until my current acting agency happened to see my end of year show in Year 12, something they had never done before or since, that I thought this could be a viable option.
What advice have you been given from other actors that has helped you along the way?
Janine Watson directed me in Hamlet when I was at NIDA, and I remember, whenever I would read a line, she would stop me and say ‘explain it to me’. She didn’t mean that I need to explain what the line meant, she meant to actually communicate the ideas my character was trying to get across. In other words, just talk to each other. Lightbulb moment. Also, box dye is just as good as a salon, if applied correctly. Save your money babe.
What is your end goal – the dream?
After I’m gone, I dream of some young queer kid finding my films somewhere and seeing themselves for the first time, revel in the pure camp of my no doubt iconic career. I’m so endlessly grateful for the trans people who have told stories before me and I hope to do the same for those after me.
LEE TIGER HALLEY
Lee Tiger Halley is an emerging young actor on the rise, with credits including Guss Bell in
Netflix series Boy Swallows Universe as well as in ABC’s 2023 Logie award-winning series Crazy Fun Park, The Heights, and will play the lead role of Bon Scott in feature film The Kid From Harvest Road, which will be released next year.
Age: 19
Suburb: Fremantle, WA
Most memorable moment?
Boy Swallows Universe is my most memorable acting experience so far for sure. Just from the strength of the material, the actors involved and the sheer scale of the production, along with how long we actually spent in Brisbane to shoot the show.
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
It’s very flattering, I think with any of these awards and recognitions it always feels good to know there are some people out there that think so far you are doing something right.
Is this something you’ve always wanted to do? What is your earliest moment where you knew this was in your future?
From a young age I always wanted to be an actor. Obviously it starts out as just a dream at that time but I knew at least I wanted it to be in my future, just from how much fun I had doing classes. It started to become a real possibility for me when I got my first role on a Perth show for ABC TV called The Heights. Simon Baker has offered me a lot of guidance, mainly in terms of keeping your mind right and always being aware that there will be times in this line of work where everything’s going your way but also times where you feel horrible and doubtful. And just to remember that it’s all just a natural part of being an actor, and to be aware of it and not let it build you up or tear you down emotionally.
What is your end goal?
The dream goal would be to have a career where I can have the choice to work on the projects that I want to work on, to do parts and stories that I’m interested in. So much of this job is not having that choice and just working where you can, so I think being able to have influence over your own work would be a great luxury.
MEGAN WILDING
A proud Gamilaroi woman, Megan is a graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Since graduating, she has appeared in many productions for main stage
theatre companies, including Stolen, The Seagull and The Importance Of Being Earnest. She has also appeared on TV series including Gold Diggers.
Age: 33
Suburb: Hurlstone Park
Most memorable work experience?
I think it would be shooting the party episode of Gold Diggers. I was in a big purple ball gown, pretending to be French, and trying not to laugh at silliness that was happening all around me, and I just had a moment of “wow, I love this! This is great!”
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
It’s really lovely. I mean, to get a thumbs up in any capacity for doing something you love is super nice. It’s been a great reminder that I’m on the right path, you know?
The entertainment industry is notoriously hard to crack – how and when did you get your big break?
It is super hard. I don’t know if I’ve had that big moment yet. I think I’ve just been consistent. But if I had to pick a moment where it felt like something shifted in my career, it would definitely be playing ‘Ziggy’ in Mystery Road Origin. I felt like I really surprised myself with that character.
Is this something you’ve always wanted to do?
I’ve always loved stories. In all forms. I love a good yarn. I used to love sitting around and listening to my aunties and uncles tell the craziest stories and how they expressed every emotion under the sun. I’d always wait until the yarns were over and try and do my own little form of entertainment to make them laugh, maybe a little a dance, maybe an unsuccessful cartwheel. It’s always been in there but I never saw it as a serious career until after my dad passed away. When my dad died it forced me to be really honest with myself and I wanted to at least try and follow this passion of mine, and I did and here I am. The dream is to go as far as possible. I’m creating this path as I walk on it. I’d love to go down in history as one of the greats. That’s the dream.
MICHAEL LOGO
Michael plays the main cast role of Brett in both seasons of hit Binge comedy series Colin From Accounts from creators Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall, which has been an international hit. Born in Auckland, raised in Victoria, and proud of his Samoan cultural heritage, he works across stage, screen and as a drama facilitator for Culturally And Linguistically Diverse youth in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
Age: 31
Suburb: Wyndham, Victoria
Most memorable work experience?
Pete Davidson told me I was funny.
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
Feels like I’m doing the right thing.
The entertainment industry is notoriously hard to crack – how and when did you get your big break?
To be honest, I don’t feel like I’ve cracked it yet, but in terms of the scope of my career right now, when season one of Colin From Accounts went to the UK and I was in a clip that the BBC posted on their Insta, that felt pretty big.
Is this something you’ve always wanted to do?
No, I almost joined the Army, and my mum tried to make me study business. But I remember the first time I set foot on a film set, on a short film by Miranda Nation, I knew I wanted to do this for the rest of my life.
What advice have you been given that has have helped you along the way?
I can’t remember who told me this but, “just because you didn’t get the role, it doesn’t mean you’re a shit actor, you’re probably not what they were looking for in that character”. When I started looking at it like that, it hurt less when I didn’t get a role. So it felt more manageable to keep trying.
What is your end goal – the dream?
Hollywood, baby! Star in an eclectic range of film and TV shows while also making my own stuff and helping elevate my people and the next gen in the process. I really love stage combat and if I didn’t need my face for acting, I’d probably want to do a boxing or some other combat sport. Other than that, I love playing PS5 and spending time with my family.
MICHAEL THEO
Michael Theo is an aspiring actor and voice over artist. Recently he played a leading role in the eight-part ABC comedy Austin, and was also the breakout star of the ABC/Northern Pictures documentary series, Love On The Spectrum, which followed Michael and other young adults on the autism spectrum as they explored the unpredictable world of love, dating and relationships.
Age: 30 years
Suburb: West Wollongong, NSW
How does it feel to be named a CGA Rising Star?
I feel very proud and honoured to be named a CGA Rising Star. It is quite a milestone and an impressive accomplishment.
The entertainment industry is notoriously hard to crack – how and when did you get your big break?
I first got my big break back in 2019 when I did Love On The Spectrum. I found out about it through the job agency I was once a client of. I saw it as a chance to help me find a girlfriend because, at the time, that was what I wanted. Love on the Spectrum is a documentary about people on the autism spectrum and their quests for love. Love On The Spectrum then led me to Austin, four years later.
Is this something you’ve always wanted to do?
Acting is something I have wanted to do very much since early childhood. I always felt that acting is what I really wanted to do in the future. In my childhood, I had always hoped to become an actor and really wanted it more than anything. I can’t remember what my earliest moment of seeing this was but I know it was in early childhood that I knew this is what I truly wanted!
What advice have you been given that has have helped you along the way?
Some of the advice I have received includes natural talent can’t be taught. If you know your lines, you won’t have any trouble. Find a way that works for you. Enjoy your time on set. Connecting with the audience is important.
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