Ten rising actors poised to steal the TV, film and theatre spotlight

They’re the ten talented young faces tipped to take centre stage in theatre, TV and film. Here are the Casting Guild of Australia’s top 10 Rising Stars for 2022.

On the rise: Hattie Hook, left, James Majoos, main picture, Maggie McKenna, top right, and Shaka Cook.

Remember these faces – you’ll be seeing a lot of them.

Every year, the Casting Guild of Australia shortlists 10 actors they tip to break out big in the world of film, TV and theatre. These are awarded the honour of being named CGA Rising Stars. Past winners have included Milly Alcock (House of the Dragon), Eliza Scanlen (Little Women), Katherine Langford (13 Reasons Why) and Olivia DeJonge (Elvis).

This year, The Sunday Telegraph can exclusively reveal 2022’s top ten, who will receive their awards at the CGA Awards on December 2.

Here are the ones to watch and why:

Hattie Hook.

HATTIE HOOK

Hattie Hook is travelling to the top fast. Growing up in Mount Eliza in Victoria, she says Harry Potter inspired her to become an actor. “I was absolutely obsessed with the movies as a kid and always acting out the scenes in our garden shed,” she says.

But it was her dance teacher who got her started. “She got me an audition for the Australian tour of Annie, which ended up being my first professional gig.”

After that, there was no stopping her, appearing on stage in Mary Poppins, movie Of An Age and TV series’ Savage River and Ten Pound Poms.

“Playing Ebony in Of An Age was so much fun, she’s an absolute tornado of a person. Making that film was one of the best experiences of my life,” she says.

As for the future, Hattie, 20, says she’s inspired by actors Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma Stone and Florence Pugh, but her ambition is more modest – “to be employed! I hope to be doing things that make me feel happy and creatively fulfilled, in whatever form that takes,” she says.

Michelle Lim Davidson. Picture: Instagram

MICHELLE LIM DAVIDSON

Born in South Korea and growing up in Newcastle, Michelle Lim Davidson is a recognisable face on Play School and TV series’ The Newsreader and After the Verdict. But Michelle 35, says she was painfully shy when younger. “Never in a million years did I think I would become an actor,” she says.

Michelle says she’s inspired by Killing Eve actor Sandra Oh. “I’m in awe of her and have so much respect for her as an actor and producer.” Similarly, Michelle is combining acting with writing – her play Where We Love is Home was selected for the Rough Draft development program at Sydney Theatre Company earlier this year. As for the future, “I hope I have the opportunity to act both onstage and on screen,” she says. “I would also like to write a book and continue developing new work for the theatre.”

Sana'a Shaik.

SANA’A SHAIK

South African born Sana’a Shaik moved to Perth with her family when she was 16 and it was there her love of acting was born. “Once I graduated from university, I finally knew this was it for me,” she says, “I just wish I did a degree in performing arts, not commerce!”

Sana’a is, however, destined to be big business, having worked on TV series Jack Irish, Fam Time, Dive Club and US TV thriller Reckoning. Movies include 2067 with Kodi Smit-McPhee and upcoming Nomad. “We travelled around the world twice filming it,” she says.

Sana’a, 30, says she’s inspired by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Michaela Coel to write as well as perform. “I have so many ideas and to write and star in my own projects would be a dream come true,” she says.

Shaka Cook. Picture: Supplied

SHAKA COOK

Yinhawangka and Yindjibarndi man Shaka Cook grew up in the Pilbara, WA and is one Australia’s most exciting actors. “Acting definitely wasn’t something I planned, I kind of fell into it,” he says. “Two very important people showed me the door, Debbie Douglass and Michael Leslie. They got us into dancing and choreography and during our school holidays we did workshops,” he says.

Shaka has wowed in stage show Hamilton and on-screen in TV series Black Comedy and Operation Buffalo as well as movies Top End Wedding, The Flood and upcoming Kid Snow. Describing his inspirations as, “everyone from Hugh Jackman, to the late Chadwick Boseman,” Shaka, 30, says his ambitions are “to see myself on the big screen starring, directing, producing and writing. Telling stories that inspire us, that move us, that allow us to dream.”

Christopher Bunton. Picture Naomi Jellicoe

CHRISTOPHER BUNTON

World Champion Down syndrome gymnast Chris Bunton is also an accomplished actor. Chris, 30, from Sydney, made his movie debut in Down Under and has gone on to appear in Nude Tuesday, Relic and Kairos. Recently he appeared in TV series It’s Fine, I’m Fine, which he also co-wrote.

Mabel Li. Picture: Tim Hunter.

MABEL LI

Sydney actor Mabel Li made her TV debut in the AACTA-award-winning series, The Tailings and is soon to star in Safe Home. She was recently nominated for a Silver Logie and won an Asian Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for New Gold Mountain.

James Majoos.

JAMES MAJOOS

James Majoos, 25, is Darren in Netflix’s Heartbreak High and was recently seen in Sydney Theatre Company’s Grand Horizons. James, from Melbourne, also starred in stage show Fangirls and Vivid White.

Maggie McKenna. Picture: Justin Lloyd

MAGGIE (MAX) MCKENNA

With parents Gina Riley and Rick McKenna, Maggie (Max) McKenna, 26, was born to act and made a dramatic theatre debut in 2017 as Muriel in the musical Muriel’s Wedding. Relocating from Melbourne to LA to study, Maggie (Max) has appeared in Open Slather and The Doctor Blake Mysteries as well as musicals Dear Evan Hansen and Jagged Little Pill.

Steph Tisdell. Picture: James Pendelis

STEPH TISDELL

One of Australia’s brightest comedy stars, Queensland’s Steph Tisdell, 29, is a proud Yidinji woman and well-known face. As well as her stand-up career, she made her ‘serious acting’ debut in TV series Total Control and is also a lead in the Amazon Prime show Class of ’07.

Tuuli Narkle. Picture: Prudence Upton

TUULI NARKLE

Western Australian Tuuli Narkle’s first major role came as Ruby in the play Stolen and set her on her acting path. Tuuli, who is of Aboriginal and Finnish descent, has appeared in Black is the New White and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall for the Sydney Theatre Company and Cyrano for Melbourne Theatre Company. On-screen, catch her in comedy series All My Friends Are Racist, Mystery Road: Origin and Bad Behaviour.

* From November 18, audiences can meet this year’s Rising Stars as part of a 10-day series on CGA’s Instagram, with a new interview posted each day in the lead up to the official in-person presentation at the CGA Awards ceremony on Friday, December 2 in Melbourne.