NEWSOK!'s Breakout Stars of 2009
Dec. 31 2009, Published 7:25 a.m. ET
The celebrities making headlines right now are the old ones whose stardom is quickly fading. As part of OK!'s Year in Review we've taken some time to acknowledge the new stars who worked hard this year and whose time in the spotlight is still burning bright!
•Kris Allen
Accomplishment of the Year: Oh ya know, that little contest he won called American Idol. Kris knocked his competition out on the show though he never thought it was in the bag. Kris told OK!, "I don't think anybody considers themselves a front-runner. I don't think Adam was like, "I'm the best," or Danny Gokey was like, "I'm the best," you know we don't consider ourselves that way. And I definitely did not. I was striving harder and harder to get through every week. Well, he did and has since debuted his self titled album this year!
Why We Noticed: Kris became more noticed when everyone started asking, "Hey, where did Kris go?" His runner-up, Adam Lambert, started to steal some of his spotlight and then his fans stepped in to help bring him back where he belonged! As the official winner, he should be noticed!
What to Expect Next: Performances! We want to see Kris in concert and put his talent to good use! He's kicking off the new year right by performing for the Billboard's New Year's Eve Live special on the Fox network.
•Susan Boyle
Accomplishment of the Year: She might say it was the accomplishment of her lifetime, but she may still have more in her! Susan stunned viewers on Britain's Got Talent when she performed "I Dreamed a Dream," which then quickly became a huge YouTube hit. Since then Susan's I Dreamed a Dream album debuted at No. 1.
Why We Noticed: Susan told OK! why we noticed her, "Put it this way: A woman who went on Britain’s Got Talent with mad hair, bushy eyebrows and the frock I was wearing had to be noticed. Come on! I know it’s a cliché, but it’s a bit of a Cinderella story." Couldn't have said it any better!
What to Expect Next: Susan revealed to OK!, "I dream about security, about one day finding the right person and continuing to make people happy with my music. My advice to those who dare to dream is don’t give up. If I can do it, anyone else can." We hope that all her dreams come true in the new year. We expect she continue to wow crowds with her beautiful music!
•Lady Gaga
Accomplishment of the Year: She sang for the queen of England! Of, course she was also incredibly successful with her music career this well, but she managed to turn herself into a fashion icon and performance showstopper.
Why We Noticed: If her music wasn't enough to grab our attention, her performances and costumes were! Lady Gaga had some interesting fashion choices this year, but we can't help but love it!
What to Expect Next: More music, more creepy performances and definitely more crazy fashion ensembles!
•Zach Galifianakis
Accomplishment of the Year: A fixture on the comedy scene for years now, Zach finally crossed over to mass audiences by cracking us all up in the hit comedy of the summer The Hangover was his biggest accomplishment — so far! His jock-strap-and-wolf-shirt-wearing self is a character we won't be sick of in the new year.
Why We Noticed: Though we tried in some scenes with all our might, he was kind of hard not to notice in The Hangover!
What to Expect Next: Hopefully The Hangover sequel! Zach told OK!, "“We haven’t seen a script. When I see a script I’ll get into it. I’m looking forward to it.” The funny man added, "Just working with those idiots again will be fun."
•Anna Kendrick
Accomplishment of the Year: Though the Twilight Saga: New Moon was a huge success it was not Anna's biggest accomplishment of the year. Anna had a more prominent role in Up in the Air starring opposite George Clooney. She's even earned herself a best supporting actress nomination for the 67th Golden Globes Awards!
Why We Noticed: She's funny! Anna caught our attention in New Moon by her witty little comments made towards Bella, but when she was given the opportunity to really shine in Up in the Air she did!
What to Expect Next: We'll be seeing her back in Twilight Saga: Eclipse in June, but with her success in Up in the Air we expect to see her in more prominent roles in the new year!
•Taylor Lautner
Accomplishment of the Year: Taylor took Twilight to a whole new level in 2009. Not only did he give costar Robert Pattinson a run for his money, but setting fans on a team Jacob rather than team Edward track, he also dated country singing sensation Taylor Swift.
Why We Noticed: His beautiful abs were in our face! When his shirt came off our mouths dropped! Suddenly, the 17-year-old grew up and from his former Twilight self and could be found shirtless on every magazine cover!
What to Expect Next:So far Taylor has two films coming out in 2010, Twilight Saga: Eclipse and Valentine's Day where we'll all get to see him kiss his now ex-girlfriend Taylor. He's been set to star in some new films in the next few years including Cancun, which would be the first project from the small production company Taylor shares with his dad.
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•Carey Mulligan.
Accomplishment of the Year: Big year for Carey. Her role in An Education has earned her leading actress nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Awards and if that isn't enough her part in Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps introduced her to her now boyfriend Shia LaBeouf!
Why We Noticed: Anna Wintour noticed so we had to notice! Her nomination, dating life and personal sense of style was enough to turn our heads and keep them that way.
What to Expect Next: Carey has a lot of films coming out in 2010. The anticipated Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps, of course, Never Let Me Go with Keira Knightley and several others. She won't be losing any steam in the new year!
•Chris Pine
Accomplishment of the Year: Starring as Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek made this hottie's year. Suddenly the former Princess Diaries 2 and Just My Luck love interest found a different role to take on with complete success.
Why We Noticed: He's one hot trekky who could fill William Shatner's shoes! That's impressive!
What to Expect Next: Look for Chris to star as the latest Hollywood hottie to take on Jack Ryan, Tom Clancy's CIA hero as well as a Star Trek sequel!
•Saoirse Ronan.
Accomplishment of the Year: She's only 15, but is already making a name for herself. Though she played big role the 2007 film Atonement, she now is being recognized for her part as Susie Salmon in The Lovely Bones.
Why We Noticed: She's so young, yet so talented!
What to Expect Next: Saoirse was nominated for a Golden Globe for best supporting actress in Atonement and based on the type of films she's landing at such a young age we can only expect to see her win won soon! Her next project is The Way Back with Colin Farrell and Mark Strong.
•Jeremy Renner
Accomplishment of the Year: His role in The Hurt Locker has earned him a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for best actor and his role as Detective Jason Walsh on The Unusuals has given him the recognition this year that makes us look forward to his new projects.
Why We Noticed: The Hurt Locker earned much praise this year and it was in large part to his role.
What to Expect Next: Jeremy's new roles will be in The Town with Ben Affleck and rumored to be in The Avengers with Robert Downey Jr. and Scarlett Johansson. Both likely to be winners!
•Gabourey Sidibe
Accomplishment of the Year: Gabourey took on the heart-breaking film Precious, which earned her a Golden Globe nomination this year for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motin Picture Drama.
Why We Noticed: Well, it was difficult through all the tears, but they showed us how talented this now new star really is.
What to Expect Next: More films coming our way from this actress and rising star. Gabourey is set to star in 2010's Yelling to the Sky.
•Sam Worthington
Accomplishment of the Year: Not one, but two films made this actors year. Sam starred in Terminator Salvation and Avatar making him big blockbuster hottie.
Why We Noticed: Sam took on roles in two of the biggest films of the year proving that no role is too great for him to take on!
What to Expect Next: Many more films for him in 2010 including Clash of the Titans with Liam Neeson. We wouldn't expect anything less out of him!
•Charlyne Yi.
Accomplishment of the Year: Charlyne starred in the 2009 film Paper Heart and showed us that not only is she funny she's incredibly talented and endearing as well.
Why We Noticed: We noticed her in Knocked Up for her disgusting speculations about birth and it only increased from there. There was the whole "did they or didn't they?" debate between Charlyne and Michael Cera who were rumored to be dating. Michael told OK! he was dating a girl name Charlyne in September of 2008, but when asked her last name he said, "Why, are you going to go to her house?" Well the joke was on us! But we did enjoy Paper Heart, the film they starred together in this year!
What to Expect Next: We're hoping to find her in more films, but we'd also love to hear her sing some more! Maybe with Michael?
