Tom Hardy
Is Daniel Plainview from There Will Be Blood (2008)
Hardy – the 31-year-old actor who has so far racked up appearances in Black Hawk Down, Marie Antoinette and Layer Cake – has just completed the knockout role of his ever-blossoming career.
He’s Bronson, Charles Bronson, in the appropriately named Bronson – a tale of one of the uk’s most notorious prisoners. It’s one hell of a performance, as fully absorbed as Daniel Day-Lewis, say.
Photography by Chris Floyd
Simon Kassianides and Jamie Parker
Are Neo and Agent Smith from The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Simon plays yusef in Quantum Of Solace, a key bod in Bond’s revenge romp. Jamie plays Lieutenant Werner von Haeften in Valkyrie, just about the most anticipated thing since Chinese Democracy.
Together they dressed up as the two biggest sci-fi icons of Total Film’s era – Neo and Agent Smith. kassianides is loving his limelight. “I’m a national hero in greece totally because of Bond,” says the native Cypriot former kickboxer.
Photography by Chris Floyd
Dev Patel
Is Renton from Trainspotting (1996)
Another TV star breaking out, the 18-year-old was “about to fly over to the States to appear on the Letterman show” after speaking to Total Film. Which is pretty impressive.
“I’m kind of like a sponge at the moment; I haven’t had any formal training, but I’m up for taking on anything!” he says. It’s world at his feet time, basically.
Photography by Chris Floyd
Anya Lahiri and Edward Hogg
Are Marla Singer and The Narrator from Fight Club (1999)
Happiness all round for two young actors very much on the cusp. There’s The Mighty Boosh film Bunny And The Bull for Ed, Goal! III for Anya and a pipeline bursting with projects for both.
Photography by Chris Floyd
Eva Birthistle
Is Ann Darrow from King Kong (2005)
“Well, I’ve got The Children. It’s a horror about a Christmas that turns into a nightmare. Then there’s Brazuca, about Jean Charles de Menezes. I play his girlfriend.
"I’ve also just finished shooting a film with Timothy Spall called The Wake Wood which is the first Hammer Horror for over 30 years!”
Wow. We only asked if you were busy at the moment… Birthistle – as yet best known for ken Loach’s Ae Fond Kiss – is set for a monster year in ’09.
Photography by Chris Floyd
April Pearson, Tuppence Middleton, Georgia King and Larissa Wilson
Are Lee, Abernathy, Zoe and Kim from Death Proof (2007)
Middleton and Tormented co-stars recreate Tarantino’s four-girl Grindhouse onslaught. “I really enjoyed Tormented as it was totally different to anything I had done," said Pearson of Skins fame.
"I would love to carry that on, showing my versatility.”
Shauna MacDonald and MyAnna Buring
Are The Bride and Go Go Yubari from Kill Bill: Vol 1 (2003)
From the caves of The Descent to QT’s eastern epic. It’s a glammed up (male) fantasy Macdonald and Buring find themselves in – even more sexy dress-up for the latter, who’s next to be seen in Lesbian Vampire Killers, out in March.
“I’m sure I could hear a sigh of relief when I put down the ball and chain!” she laughs. “I love playing girls who kick ass, and I got to kick some very nice ass in Lesbian Vampire Killers!”
As for Macdonald, 2009 first brings the return of her Sarah for The Descent: Part 2. “It’s a really great script. I feel great about it. I honestly think it could be better than The Descent,” she says.
Katie McGrath
Satine from Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Arguably the most familiar to millions here, Mcgrath plays Morgana in BBC smash Merlin. But it’s films where she’s headed with Shrooms director paddy Breathnach’s next work Freakdog due out in 2009.
“I finished filming that on a Sunday, moved to London on the Monday and had the read-through for Merlin on the Tuesday,” she says, sounding a little Craig david. “Which is kind of an actor’s dream really."
Photography by Chris Floyd
Georgia Groome
Is Angela Hayes from American Beauty (2000)
It’s the girl from the brilliant London To Brighton as never seen before. After her London To Brighton curtain call, Angus, Thongs And Perfect
Snogging pushed her into the mainstream, with horror The Disappeared on 2009’s slate.
For now mind, it’s A-levels and catching up with pals after a “hectic/crazy/mental” year.
Photography by Chris Floyd
Carey Mulligan
Is Amélie Poulain from Amélie (2001)
Rave reviews for Chekhov’s The Seagull on Ny’s Broadway are in the bag and in An Education – the sex lib ’60s flick scripted by Nick Hornby – she
takes the lead of Jenny.
“She thinks she’s an existentialist and wants to live in paris. I’ve tried to make smoking not look cool!” laughs Mulligan, fittingly garbed as Amélie.
That’s just the start for her 2009, though. There’s also Jim Sheridan’s Brothers with Jake gyllenhaal and Public Enemies, directed by Michael
Mann and co-starring Johnny depp and Christian Bale.
Photography by Chris Floyd
