Joel Kinnaman
Zac Efron
The Exciting Actor: A former Disney darling who's a byword for 'pretty, six-packed young things', Efron's following in DiCaprio's footsteps as a pretty boy attempting to mould himself into an actor proper.
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: Efron's going about it the right way - after exercising his acting chops with dramas Parkland and The Paperboy , he's trying comedy on for size with grown-up chucklers That Awkward Moment and Neighbors .
Word is he's rather good…
Andrew Garfield
The Exciting Actor: Though The Amazing Spider-Ma n mostly elicited yawns, nobody could deny that Andrew Garfield was a fantastic Peter Parker - nerdy, relatable, funny. And he's back in the spidey suit again in 2014 for what looks like a superior sequel.
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: This year is all about The Amazing Spider-Man 2 for Garfield, and from the trailer, we're expecting nothing short of, yes, amazing.
Also on the horizon - Silence with Martin Scorsese…
Felicity Jones
The Exciting Actor: Jones won the Special Jury Prize at Sundance in 2011 for her role in Like Crazy and has been making interesting movie choices ever since, including Albatross , Hysteria and Ralph Fiennes' upcoming Dickens movie The Invisible Woman.
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: Jones has been teasing us about her role in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 all year, and she's still doing it.
Will she play Black Cat? If anybody was perfect for the role, it's Jones. Fingers crossed.
Jack OConnell
The Exciting Actor: Terrifying in both Eden Lake and Harry Brown , Brit actor Jack O'Connell swung by Skins where he made an impression as wild card James Cook before heading back to the movies.
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: He'll be fighting his way through 300: Rise Of An Empire alongside Sullivan Stapleton, but Starred Up is O'Connell's most exciting title - he plays a prison inmate with serious anger issues.
Aaron Paul
The Exciting Actor: Best known for playing Jesse in Breaking Bad , that show's end has given Paul the opportunity to try out a little big screen stuff - and he's not picked just any old rubbish, either.
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: He's got a role in Ridley Scott's Exodus (also starring Christian Bale as Moses), but it's Need For Speed that's got our motor purring - Paul plays a street racer who's just been released from prison.
We're hoping for Fast & Furious -style thrills…
Scarlett Johansson
The Exciting Actor: One of those rare actresses who can jump from tiny indie fare to massive blockbusters without ever losing face - a trick this 29-year-old New Yorker will be pulling throughout 2014.
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: She's already won a Best Actress award for her voice-only role in Her (at Rome), and her alien indie Under The Skin is getting mucho praise.
Then there's Captain America: The Winter Soldier to look forward to and a reunion with Robert Downey Jr in Chef …
Idris Elba
The Exciting Actor: Otherwise known as the Busiest Actor Working Today, Elba's bid farewell to Luther (for a while), but he's not looked back with a cadre of exciting projects on his Coming Soon list.
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: Mandela all but guarantees him awards recognition (the Academy loves a biopic) and Elba's working with the best - Sean Penn and Javier Bardem in The Gunman and Cary Fukunaga on Beasts Of No Nation.
Amy Adams
The Exciting Actor : Four-time Oscar-nominated actress best known for her fiery red locks and her ability to do just about anything, from Disney musicals ( Enchanted ) to gut-punching drama ( The Master ).
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: Adams continues to work with the best the movies have to offer, including Tim Burton (Big Eyes ), David O. Russell ( American Hustle ) and Spike Jonze ( Her ).
Then, of course, she's slipping back into Lois Lane's heels for Batman Vs Superman , which shoots in 2014…
Jared Leto
The Exciting Actor: Though he generally favours his music (Leto's the frontman of 30 Seconds To Mars) over movies, when Leto turns his hand to acting he knocks it out of the park. And 2014 is no different…
Why 2014 Could Be Their Year: Leto's sole movie credit this year is Dallas Buyers Club , but he's unforgettable as a cross-dresser with AIDS.
If he doesn't get a supporting actor nod at the Oscars this year, we'll eat our hat.
