Every year we see a whole host of actors really make their breakthrough and 2011 has been no different - a handful of stars have really made their mark over the last twelve months.
So here at FemaleFirst we take a look at some of the actors who have made a very powerful impression and what lies ahead for them.
Jessica Chastain
Jessica Chastain is the actress that everyone is talking and getting excited about after she had an excellent 2011.
She really held her own well against Sean Penn and Brad Pitt in Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life - the movie which really brought her to everyone’s attention.
She has mixed and matched her roles since them with the action movie The Debt, in which she produced a very emotional performance, before moving into The Help.
And it’s for her role as Celia Foote in The Help that she has picked up a Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe nomination - it really was an excellent turn as he character struggled with being an outcast.
And she has plenty of projects in the pipeline as she has already completed work on Wettest Country and is currently filming Tar.
Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth made his breakthrough this year in spectacular fashion as he took on the role of Thor as the marvel hero was brought to the big screen for the first time.
Hemsworth mixed well the action, emotional and comic elements of the movie to make Thor one of the most successful blockbusters of 2011.
And Thor is a character that he is set to reprise in next summer as he joins the all star cast of The Avengers, which also includes Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner and Mark Ruffalo.
Away from marvel movies and the actor will join a second all star cast next summer for Snow White and the Huntsman.
The movie is a new take on the popular story Snow White and Kristen Stewart and Charlize Theron are also on the cast list.
Jennifer Lawrence
There is no better way to kick off you r acting career than with a Best actress Oscar nomination - and that is exactly what Jennifer Lawrence did with her excellent turn in Winter’s Bone.
A massive hit with the critics Lawrence became a major talent to watch quite literally overnight and she went on to show her versatility throughout the rest of the year.
She was back in the summer as she took over the role of Mystique in X-Men: First Class - which enjoyed big box office success in the summer.
And her action skills will be on show again in the new year as she takes on the role of Katniss in the big screen adaptation of The Hunger Games - a movie that I am personally really looking forward to.
Elizabeth Olsen
Elizabeth Olsen may be following in the footsteps of her already famous and successful sisters but it seems that she brings more acting pedigree to the table.
It is her performance in Martha Macy may Marlene that has really grabbed the attention of the movie world - and she has already started picking up award nominations for her great performance.
And she has a sting of projects in the pipeline having completed work on Red Lights and Liberal Arts - she is also set to star in Therese Raquin.
Andrea Riseborough
Andrea Riseborough is another young talent that we should all be getting excited about after she made her breakthrough this year with the very excellent Brighton Rock.
It’s an emotional and powerful performance from the actress in the Brit gangster movie, which also stars Helen Mirren and Sam Riley, that earmarked her as someone to seriously keep an eye on.
She followed this up with Resistance and she is set to play Wallace Simpson in Madonna’s latest directorial offering W.E.
In 2012 we will also be seeing her in Disconnect and Welcome To The Punch, which also stars James McAvoy and Mark Strong.
Sam Claflin
This summer saw the return of Pirates of the Caribbean to the big screen as On Stranger Tides marked the fourth instalment of the hit franchise.
Sam Claflin was one of the new names on the cast list as he took on the ‘Orlando Bloom’ type role this time around.
To kick off your career with a movie that makes over $1 billion at the box office is not bad going and that success looks set to continue into next year.
In 2012 we are going to see him mix movie roles with TV as he is set to star in series White Heat before returning to the big screen in Snow White and the Huntsman - as Prince William.
Rooney Mara
With just a single role, that of Lisbeth Salander, Rooney Mara is one of the most talked about young actresses of the year.
A new take on The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo has just hit cinema screens and this is the biggest role of Mara’s career to date as she reunites with director David Fincher.
The role of Salander turned Noomi Rapace into a star and it looks set to do the same for Mara as she picks up a Golden Globe nomination for her performance.
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw
Tagged in Chris Hemsworth Jessica Chastain