Revealed: Top 12 rising stars of Aussie screen

Revealed: Twelve of the nation’s brightest up-and-coming actors have been named 2023 Rising Stars by the Casting Guild of Australia. See who made the cut.

A scene from Bump, with Oly (Nathalie Morris) and Santi (Carlos Sanson Jnr). Picture: Roadshow Rough Diamond

Exclusive: They’re 12 of the brightest up and coming talent on Aussie screens, and Insider can exclusively reveal the Casting Guild of Australia’s ‘Rising Stars’ for 2023, with Bump stars Nathalie Morris and Carlos Sanson Jr leading the pack.

With past recipients including the likes of House of the Dragon’s Milly Alcock and Elvis standout Olivia De-Jonge, this is the first year the CGA has extended the group beyond 10 — a reflection of the growing homegrown talent pool from which to choose from.

While the aptly named Rising Stars will officially receive the honour at the CGA’s annual awards on November 24, here’s who they are — and why their stars are on the rise.

Bernie Van Tiel

For Beatboxer, musician and Class of 07 star Bernie Van Tiel, being named a Rising Star isn’t about the recognition — it’s being able to represent that’s important.

“For me, it’s not about accolades … it’s about being able to represent queer people of colour who feel like opportunities like this are unreachable,” she says.

Bermie Van Tiel.

“I love playing. My inner child gets to call all the shots, and I trust her with every decision.

“I get to learn interesting skills and meet interesting people. I also love seeing people’s reactions as the plot plays out.

“Watching them get invested means we succeeded at our jobs.”

Ben Turland

Ben Turland. Picture: Getty Images

Neighbours star Ben Turland says being a Rising Star is validation for the countless hours he’s poured into my craft.

“I want to continue growing as an actor overall, I don’t ever want to stop learning or growing,” the 25-year-old Sydney actor says.

“I always knew I wanted to be in the arts, especially dancing as that was my first love in the arts, but it was only until I was 16 that I really discovered acting.

“The more I indulge in the acting world the more I grow as a person.”

Along the way he’s had to pick up jobs in cafes, social media and trade work to get by — but never lost the motivation to continue the hustle.

“Maintaining a healthy relationship with my heart and my mental health has been a struggle to uphold but has been the most important thing to me.

“Comparison is the killer of joy and the goal overall is just to be the best version of yourself you can be.”

Raj Labade

Raj Labade.

Sydney 23-year-old Raj Labade says it’s an affirming thing to feel recognised by an organisation that is responsible for such a big part of the work created by the entertainment industry in Australia.

“Sometimes it can feel like you send these auditions into a vacuum and it’s very rare to get feedback so I feel very lucky to be part of this year’s list,” The Office Australia actor says.

“There are never any guarantees in this industry but I do take it as a positive, exciting accolade and now it’s up to me to continue to do the work and make the most of it.

“I think it’s the attempt to communicate something from within that feels human and authentic and if it’s done well for someone to say yes, that’s how I feel.”

Kartanya Maynard

Kartanya Maynard.

Tasmanian 28-year-old Kartanya Maynard says the honour reflects the work she’s done on screen — but also the work that never made it to screen.

“As actors we’re putting in self tapes that may only be a minute long but so much effort goes in to making that minute as perfect as you can,” the Deadloch and Gold Diggers actor says.

“To know that work is being appreciated means a lot. I’m a big believer in protecting one’s manifestations for their future but I will say that I really just want to work my heart out on this. I had always wanted to be an actor, but I kept it to myself.

“I think I did that because I assumed that it would never happen for me.

“I finally made the decision to pursue acting when I received a mentorship grant from Performing Lines Tasmania.

I was given the opportunity to get mentorship in whatever creative field I wanted to, so I used it to burst through my bubble of self-doubt. The rest is history.”

Emma Harvie

Emma Harvie. Picture: Seven

Colin From Accounts star Emma Harvie is ‘chuffed’ at being a Rising Star – kind of how she felt when she was voted a SRC rep in Year 2 of primary school.

“It’s a lovely vote of confidence to be recognised by the Casting Guild – casting directors watch actors every day – their bullshit detector is impeccable,” she jokes.

“When we were kids my sister wanted to be a lawyer so I thought I could be a judge – I think the main appeal was the wig and robe.

“I loved performing from a young age, and that didn’t really go away.

“I forgot my piece at a piano concert once, I was probably eight. I remember thinking ‘oh no this is stage fright, how am I going to be an actor’ so I guess I knew early.

“Spoiler alert – I got over the stage fright.”

Harvie, says her work is “being silly” 90 per cent of the time – another huge drawcard to stay in such a volatile industry.

Natalia Abbott

Aftertaste and musical theatre’s Natalie Abbott says this is a “pinch me” moment in her career.

“Some of my favourite Australian actors, who I look up to, have been Rising Stars — it makes me feel like the hard work is paying off in a way,” the Muriel’s Wedding star says.

Natalie Abbott in ABC comedy Aftertaste.

“I want to work and work and hopefully never stop … I’m my happiest when I’m working.

“I’d love to tell more Australian stories and originate more musical theatre roles and try my luck overseas in film and TV land.

“Work, work, work.”

And this is a long time coming — after graduating from university Abbott was dropped by two acting agencies and couldn’t get a call-back in four years.

“It was hard to work to pay for classes but never having any time to go to classes because you’re busy working,” she says.

“It was also hard on the soul getting rejected.

“I went to so many open calls and I always got cut, until Muriel’s Wedding 2.0. I worked in retail for a few years to help pay the bills.

“To be totally honest, this is what makes me happiest in the world.”

Nathalie Morris

Bump star Nathalie Morris tells Insider the accolade assures the Sydney 26-year-old feel like she has a real future in the industry.

“It’s a confidence boost for sure — a nudge to keep going,” she says.

“I just want to tell really entertaining and powerful stories, on stage and screen. I also love that I get to reflect on and talk about life constantly as part of my job – it feels really human.”

Nathalie Morris. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

While Bump is her career highlight so far, Morris was just 11 when she knew this was the path she wanted to take, after watching a local theatre production.

“Over the years, acting just became part of who I was,” she says.

“I think my main challenge has been to quieten the critic in my head. Sometimes I can misdirect my focus on to myself in this job, and when I start wondering how good I’m doing and what people think of me, my work isn’t as good and the job’s not as fun.

When I focus on being in service to the work … then it’s really enjoyable, and I do my best work.”

The self-confessed introvert says the most important thing on her journey was staying true to herself.

“ I definitely didn’t know any of that when I first started working and I found myself in situations where I didn’t really recognise myself, because I was just saying yes to everything … that still happens sometimes, but I’m slowly getting a better sense of myself and how I like to present and work.”

Carlos Sanson Jr

Fellow Bump star Carlos Sanson Jr says being named a Rising Star is like seeing his childhood dream unfold in front of his eyes.

“I’ve put a lot of work into this, it’s rewarding for that to be acknowledged — I’m incredibly grateful, hopeful, and focused on what’s next,” he says.

Carlos Sanson Jnr. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I want to continue telling moving stories, playing great characters and in doing so, maybe I can inspire the next generation of younger actors.”

Growing up he always wanted to be an actor, and one day it all clicked. But chasing his dream has not been without its challenges.

“I started by working retail full-time to fund my studies at drama school – I was working in the morning and in class at night,” he recalls.

“It was definitely a grind – but that period of time reminds me now to be so grateful when I get to earn my money doing what I love. I think it takes a certain type of person to withstand the ups and downs … I’ve been challenged for sure.”

One of his biggest ‘pinch me’ moments was presenting at the AACTA awards with co-star Claudia Karvan.

“Only a few years earlier I was working at those awards as a runner – and now our show was nominated for ‘Best Drama’ and I was being ushered by a runner to speak in a room full of the very people I’d looked up to since I was a kid. It was a full circle moment for sure.”

Perry Mooeny

Indigenous 27-year-old Perry Mooney says this represents a ‘welcome’ into an industry that felt so out of reach for her as a child.

“It gives me hope in the sense that I feel like I can help continue this path for mob, of all ages, to pursue their dreams in this industry,” says the Brisbane based Gold Diggers actor.

Perry Mooney.

“This year has been incredible for me, I’ve pretty much been able to live my dream every day. I’ve always known that I wanted to do this.

“Being the eldest in our family, I always felt responsible for the entertainment. The attention definitely didn’t hurt when I was a kid but, weirdly, it’s less about that now and more about the stories that I can help tell.

“Currently I’m working on and off in a warehouse, packing orders – it’s great when you’re in between gigs. I think my biggest inspiration is me … of course there’s also the aspect of representing my mob.

“Doing what I do fills me with so much pride that I can’t help but want to do it more, for not only myself (and, at times, for my inner child) but for my mob.”

William Lodder

Sydney 23-year-old William Lodder says he very much appreciates the honour

and recognition.

“I try and work to my best degree and give every opportunity all that I’ve got, and to be recognised for this is a real honour,” he says.

William Lodder.

“It gives me comfort and motivation to know there is a new generation of actors, like myself that are lining the path for others to show what we can bring to the table and what we have to offer.

“I know as soon as I’m looking for a specific end point or ‘made it’ destination, I’m in it for the wrong reasons.

“The process of it, and how I can better myself as a human being and make fun, entertaining projects that people like, that’s what I strive to do.”

William McKenna

William McKenna.

Melbourne’s William McKenna, 23, says being named a Rising Star makes him want to work three times harder – and give them all a big hug, he jokes.

“Creating theatre, film and television can be incredibly self indulgent,” he says.

“But when done right, it can create cultural change.

“It can shift a singular perspective to a greater empathy. It can provide a wonderful escape for those who need.

Those are the goals. Entertain others. And find out later it served me as well.”

McKenna has played Ed Kennedy in The Messenger, Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Maurice Bernhardt in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Bernhardt/Hamlet.

“I thought I became an actor because it was exciting and different to other jobs – I’ve learned that this job is probably more therapeutic then I realised.”

Costa D’Angelo

Costa D’Angelo.

Melbourne 22-year-old Costa D’Angelo says being recognised for something he’s so passionate about makes his family proud – and that’s always been his number one goal.

“The future of this industry is bright, but we still need to put in the work,” the Neighbours and Wog Boys Forever actor says.

“It’s so important to have good work coming out of Australia because we’re the underdogs

in this industry.

“We have so many amazing stories yet to be told, it all starts with the young people. We have to live and breathe it.

“My parents would tell me that if you want to excel at anything you have to be obsessed with it.

“I think a lot of these up and comers are, and they will be the ones to keep pushing this industry in the right direction.

“My ultimate goal is to work around the world.

“I want to work with actors and directors I grew up watching at the cinemas, work alongside the people that inspired me in the first place, and maybe inspire another generation of Aussie kids to do the same.”