RedEye thinks the following 12 actors are gaining heat in Hollywood. Fans might say some of them already have made it, but as Heidi Klum says, one day you’re in; the next you’re auf, er, out. They need to spark fire more than once. For more stars on the rise, go to redeyechicago.com.
SIZZLING
Ellen Page
Credits: “Juno,” “X-Men: The Last Stand”
“It” factor: Page earned an Oscar nod for her role in “Juno,” but before that, she appeared in little-seen indies. More high-profile projects will keep the buzz going.
Up next: “Smart People”
Michael Cera
Credits: “Juno,” “Superbad”
“It” factor: Thanks to his appearances on TV, the Internet (clarkandmichael.com) and movies, Cera’s become a nerd-tastic sex symbol.
Up next: “Youth in Revolt,” “Year One,” “Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist,” “Extreme Movie”
Emile Hirsch
Credits: “Into the Wild,” “Alpha Dog,” “Lords of Dogtown”
“It” factor: After getting great notices for years in indie flicks, Hirsch is poised to break big with this summer’s “Speed Racer.”
Up next: “Speed Racer,” “Milk”
Jennifer Hudson
Credits: “Dreamgirls”
“It” factor: The Chicago native hasn’t hit the big screen since her Oscar win, but with three movies and an album in the works, we’ll be feeling JHud’s heat again soon.
Up next: “Sex and the City,” “The Secret Life of Bees”
SMOLDERING
Jim Sturgess
Credits: “The Other Boleyn Girl,” “Across the Universe”
“It” factor: The Britishactor is playing his cards right, generating buzz in Hollywood for the Vegas drama “21.”
Up next: “21,” “Fifty Dead Men Walking,” “Crossing Over”
Anton Yelchin
Credits: “Charlie Bartlett,” “Alpha Dog,” “Hearts of Atlantis”
“It” factor: The former child star is moving into more adult roles, scoring a big coup by being cast as Pavel Chekov in J.J. Abrams’ upcoming “Star Trek” film.
Up next: “You and I (Finding tATu),” “Middle of Nowhere”
Channing Tatum
Credits: “Step Up 2 the Streets,” “Step Up,” “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” “She’s the Man”
“It” factor: The hunky star who takes on his most adult role in the drama “Stop-Loss” is set to star in or is negotiating roles in at least five films.
Up next: “Stop-Loss,” “Duke Fighting”
John Cho
Credits: “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,” “American Dreamz”
“It” factor: Cho’s star will no doubt rise with the “Harold & Kumar” sequel and his role as Sulu in “Star Trek” next year.
Up next: “Expats,” “Harold & Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay”
SIMMERING
Sean Faris
Credits: “Never Back Down,” “Yours, Mine and Ours”
“It” factor: Take a look at the picture on the opposite page. Right?
Up next: “Forever Strong,” “Brooklyn to Manhattan,” “The Glass Eye”
Brady Corbet
Credits: “Thunderbirds,” “Mysterious Skin,” “Thirteen”
“It” factor: He’s winning raves for his bone-chillingperformance as a polite serial killer in “Funny Games,” opening Friday.
Up next: The 19-year-old is writing and directing “Protect Me and You.”
Olivia Thirlby
Credits: “Juno,” “United 93”
“It” factor: You’d think Thirlby got the Oscar nod for “Juno”: She has five movies lined up for the next year.
Up next: “Snow Angels,” “The Wackness,” “Jack and Diane,” “Jack Uncertainty,” “Safety Glass”
Abbie Cornish
Credits: “Elizabeth: The Golden Age,” “A Good Year”
“It” factor: Her romance with “Stop-Loss” co-star Ryan Phillippe has given her name recognition.
Up next: “Bright Star,” “Last Battle Dreamer”
