70 BENICIO DEL TORO - ACTOR
Since his movie breakthrough as mumbling hood Fenster in Bryan Singer’s The Usual Suspects, the ‘Spanish’ Brad Pitt (he’s actually Puerto Rican) has shown super-savvy taste, alternating smart genre hits (Snatch, Sin City) with edgier auteur projects (21 Grams, Traffic). Riveting as a junkie in the otherwise prosaic Things We Lost In The Fire, he’s currently shooting Steven Soderbergh’s double bill The Argentine and Guerrilla, as Che Guevara – who he was clearly born to play.
What’s next? After spreading commie revolution he’ll go all monobrow in One Hour Photo director Mark Romanek’s remake of The Wolf Man.
69 RYAN GOSLING - ACTOR
He may have been replaced by Mark Wahlberg on Peter Jackson’s The Lovely Bones – “creative differences” – but we still love Gosling. The Half Nelson star took the split with good grace (“Peter Jackson is an incredible filmmaker”) and anyone with his gift for finding the real in unexpected places won’t be unemployed for long. He’s also one of the most fearless actors in Hollywood. Just check out his next project...
What’s next? Starring in Mr Woodcock director Craig Gillespie’s sex comedy Lars And The Real Girl (shy guy falls in love with a silicone sex doll).
68 MAGGIE GYLLENHAAL - ACTRESS
Not even the sickly saccharine sentiments of Mike Newell’s Mona Lisa Smile can damage Gyllenhaal’s reputation for being one of the most passionate and promising actors of her generation. Her astonishing, humanist turn elevated Sherrybaby from its standard junkie-dram roots, while a recent break to have baby Ramona (with fellow thesp Peter Sarsgaard) is coming to a close with the smartest of A-list choices...
What’s next? The Dark Knight, replacing Katie Holmes as DA Rachel Dawes in Chris Nolan’s eagerly awaited Bat sequel. And, if the fellas are lucky, maybe a spot more Agent Provocateur underwear modelling...
67 TIM BEVAN/ERIC FELLNER - PRODUCERS
The Working Title honchos still dominate Brit film, fostering new talent (Wrights Joe and Edgar) and established earners (Richard Curtis, Rowan Atkinson). Hot Fuzz coined it in and despite the disappointment of The Golden Age, WT will be there or thereabouts on Oscar night with the excellent Atonement.
What’s next? Burn After Reading with the Coens, State Of Play with Kevin Macdonald, The Green Zone with Paul Greengrass... That’s quite a slate.
66 LINDY HEMMING - COSTUME DESIGNER
The woman who found those shorts for Daniel Craig in Casino Royale was originally responsible for retooling the tux for GoldenEye. She’s also refined the Batsuit for The Dark Knight. With The Joker’s threads integral to the character, Hemming shows an understanding for story and has a rep as a great collaborator. Chris Nolan writes and directs; she realises his vision.
What’s next? Bond 22. Dum-dada-da-da-de-da.
65 CHARLIE KAUFMAN - WRITER/DIRECTOR
Still the most exciting, inventive and psychedelic writer in movies, even though he’s barely put finger-to-laptop since 2004’s Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. But now...
What’s next? Writer-director debut Synecdoche, New York, the Being John Malkovich-like story of a playwright trying to recreate a scale replica of New York City.
64 VIGGO MORTENSEN - ACTOR
Post-Aragorn, Viggo has forged a partnership with bad boy David Cronenberg. A History Of Violence proved he could do (ir)regular American guy, before shape-shifting to Russian mobster in Eastern Promises.
What’s next? A cowboy in Appaloosa; a German prof in Good; and rumoured for McCarthy adap The Road.
63 KEVIN MACDONALD - DIRECTOR
Following The Last King Of Scotland, Macdonald is currently handling political thriller State Of Play, with Ben Affleck and Russell Crowe – now that’s an intense shoot.
What’s next? Post-State he’s attached to conspiracy thriller The 28th Amendment, about a plot to assassinate the president.
62 KATE WINSLET - ACTRESS
Last year, she told TF it was time for a year-long holiday. Can hardly blame her, after The Holiday... Now our most sparkly and unpretentious actress is back... in Gnomeo And Juliet. We trust her...
What’s next? Recently wrapped Revolutionary Road, opposite DiCaprio, directed by hubby Sam Mendes. Now up for Stephen Daldry’s The Reader.
61 GEORGE CLOONEY - ACTOR/DIRECTOR/WRITER/PRODUCER
Gorgeous George owned the 2006 Oscars, nabbing a Best Supporting Actor gong for Syriana and a writing nod for Good Night, And Good Luck. By the time you read this, he’ll have nabbed a 2008 Best Actor nod for Michael Clayton.
What’s next? Rom-com Leatherheads, the red-hot Burn After Reading, and larynx duties on The Fantastic Mr Fox.
