The 2013 RyMickey Awards - Breakthrough Award

Although these faces may not necessarily be fresh on the scene, the Breakthrough Award recognizes some names of folks that made a mark on the film industry in 2013.  Whether they continue this upward trajectory or not remains to be seen, but for one year at least they were quite successful.  Rankings here are based on a mix of both future potential and this past year's work.

Breakthrough Award 2013

#5 - Miles Teller 

The Spectacular Now

Miles Teller, while very good in The Spectacular Now, runs the risk of being typecast into the role of "obnoxious young prick" if he's not careful.  2013 also brought us 21 & Over in which Teller essentially played the same role as in the infinitely better The Spectacular Now except the "jerk teen" character plays much better in the drama than in the comedy.  There's potential here, but I worry about the path/roles he's taking.

# 4 - Margot Robbie

Wolf of Wall Street, About Time

Gorgeous blonde with an Aussie accent -- I'm not sure I could ask for more.  However, after I first saw her onscreen in Wolf of Wall Street, Margot Robbie proved that she was more than just a pretty face.  Sure, her role in Wolf was a teensy bit "obvious" -- a fault of the screenplay and not her own -- I think there's a possibility of future success if she can overcome the fact that she's so damn good looking which can sometimes be a detriment should she want to delve into any serious acting.

#3 - Lupita Nyong'o

12 Years a Slave

After she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar, I read several articles that had people fretting over whether Lupta Nyong'o would ever really work in Hollywood again.  While that's inherently racist since most of the articles insinuated that because of her skin tone she may face difficulty, I certainly hope there's no reason to worry.  While I wasn't as blown away as others, her performance in 12 Years a Slave was very good and emotionally captivating -- reason enough to believe she'll be back.

#2 - Adele Exarchopoulos

Blue Is the Warmest Color

While I'm not sure Adele Exarchopoulos will ever cross over into American films, her acting chops are certainly top notch when it comes to her native French language.  Her brave performance in Blue Is the Warmest Color shows that she's willing to go the distance for her craft which is an admirable asset in one so young.

#1 - Brie Larson

Short Term 12, The Spectacular Now, Don Jon

While certainly good in all three of the films listed above, Brie Larson really showcased her talent in Short Term 12.  There's an "everyman" sensibility to her -- a normalcy, a realness -- that instantly connects us to her in all her roles thus far.  Here's hoping the future's bright for Ms. Larson.

Previous RyMickey Award Winners

2012

2011

2010

2009