I’ve never quite understood what it is about fans and our desire to “get there first”. It should probably be enough to just love something, but we always want to be the people who noticed it was cool in the first place. It’s easier to be wrong then you’d think. I remember thinking Tiffani-Amber Thiessen was going to be the actress of the century, and while she’s doing a great job holding down the B-story side of “White Collar,” she’s not the next Meryl Streep. To be fair, how many people actually made it out of 90210 with a real career? But I digress.
Recently, I scoured the television airwaves and beyond to come up with a list of ten names you can start bantering around the water cooler. I make no promises that this represents the next class of great American actresses, but there is talent here. And if you haven’t seen any of these girls yet it might be worth checking them out. If you do, when everyone is talking about their “breakout performance” next year, you can say you “watched them when.” P'wned.
Alison Brie (Annie - "Community")
It’s probably not rocket science to say that a young actress that’s been on both a comedy standout like “Community” and the powerhouse drama “Mad Men” is going to be a major player. But in case you’ve been living in a cave, Alison Brie is the television triple threat: Pretty, Funny, Capable. Also she came out of nowhere, impressive! Depending on how long she keeps her baby face, she’ll either be playing the hot co-ed or the hot co-worked for as long as any of us will be watching television as we know it.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: "Scream" 4 is the perfect vehicle for any actress to come into the national consciousness. Also chesty girls and horror films, need I say more?
Shannon Woodward (Sabrina - "Raising Hope")
It’s hard to be on a new Fox series. They tend to get canceled. And while we are not going to miss “Lone Star” anytime soon, the phoenix that has risen from the ashes here in the new Fox season is “Raising Hope”. Shannon Woodward may be the reason for this success. This charmer is no stranger to good TV, having been in the game a little while, but here she really shines.
“Raising Hope” maybe be one of those slow burn shows that suddenly catches on in a big way, and if it does Shannon won’t be worried about any unemployment checks for a bit. I have a strange feeling that Woodward’s future might be in drama not comedy, but only because you can read her ability to take the role as far down the rabbit hole as it needs to go. But I tend to drink when I watch Fox, so maybe I’m insane.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: Shannon has been due for greatness for a while, and she's finally found her legs on “Raising Hope”. She may not break 100% in 2011, but we’ll see the foundation, as long as Fox doesn’t “Lone Star” this show too.
Alessandra Torresani (Zoe Greystone - "Caprica")
I can’t believe that Alessandra Torresani hasn't ALREADY become a household name. Not only has she consistently eaten up the scenery in “Caprica” but she’s got that off-screen charm (and a propensity to wear sexy little outfits to the red carpet) that normally rockets somebody onto the lips and minds of Americans.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say she’s the best actress on this list, but she’s got something else that means so much to being “big” in 2011, Starpower. She’s also an award winning dancer, and comfortable martial artist and singer. I swear this girl is one album away from being on posters over every teenage boy’s bed, and lots of girls too. I just hope she breaks out before the end of “Caprica” because that show deserves the attention her rising star could bring, even as it seems to be less and less about her of late.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: I still think it’s a fluke she’s not the biggest thing sense sliced bread. Maybe one of her upcoming movies will push her over the edge, or simple the zeitgeist of America will shift and she’ll get huge overnight and in perpetuity.
Magda Apanowicz (Lacy Rand - "Caprica")
If you aren’t watching “Caprica” you really are selling yourself short. The depth of the writing and beauty on the screen are really breathtaking. It’s the kind of television show that reminds you television can be art, and it owes a lot of that credit to its stellar cast. Magda Aponowicz really shines here, even when playing in the same scenes as firebrand Torresani. I can’t help but be impressed by how far she can take her pathos in every scene. She’s no stranger to television either, having been on an episodic TV series in one way or another sense early 2000.
Sadly some of that time was spent on “Kyle XY”. Hey, they can’t all be gems. More then anyone else on this list, I think Magda has the long term chops. Even if she doesn’t break out in 2011 she’ll be holding down the heavy stuff acting wise as leads in movies and TV until she gets out of the game very late in life.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: This may be the one person on my list I can’t be sure will break this year. As good as she is on "Caprica" she’s still in a very big ensemble cast, and doesn’t get as much screen time as it would take to really get noticed. If she lands a serious lead in a small cast show, that’ll be the straw that brakes the camel's back. It’ll probably be as a vampire or something. Gross.
Allison Scagliotti (Claudia - "Warehouse 13")
What can I say about Allison “Scags” Scagliotti that I haven't already said all over the internet for the past year? This girl’s unique style and serious acting chops hit me like a ton of bricks, and there are really no words to explain how big she’s going to be. Ok…I’ll try: Scags has a chance at something nearly nobody on this list could even dream of, and that’s resetting the bar for what it takes to break out. Why? Because she’s not just going to be big, but she’s going to be big HER way.
If you need any proof just watch any late season episodes of “Warehouse 13” to see her blend humor and emotionality effortlessly, and add a splash of her own style. Its pretty amazing. If you want to dig deep and see her really shine check our her single episode of “Mental” in an episode titled “House of Mirrors”.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: I don’t think I’m the only one that’s noticed Scags’ potential, as the SyFy channel seems to be giving her a push toward breaking out in a big way. She guest starred on two other SyFy shows last season, and I don’t think they plan to discontinue that policy anytime soon. But if SyFy doesn’t push Allison over the top, she will herself, as she has a gift for horizontal marketing including writing the forward for the upcoming collected edition of break out comic book “Hack/Slash”
Jennifer Marsala (Anna - "Lie to Me")
I really can’t get enough “Lie to Me”, and I watch every episode like a giddy school kid having been brought to the zoo. It’s a credit to everyone on this show that they are able to play against Tim Roth for even a second without making a fool of themselves. Many of the guest stars aren’t as lucky, falling into Tim Roth’s acting gravity well and becoming, forgettable. One stand out in the past season was Jennifer Marsala as Anna the “office girl."
In a show about personality she’s done a great job of putting herself out there in small scenes and status-one-sided interactions. She’s even starting to be a character I want to see, and that means a lot with the company she keeps on that show. 2011 may not be the year for Jennifer Marsala to break out per se, but I feel confidant saying we are looking at the first steps of an actress EVERYONE will be talking about like its old news in 15 years. This is it, her first role. Get in quick or be called a poser when she’s playing against every hot guy flavor of the month in romantic comedy after romantic comedy in years to come. Also Chicken Marsala is delicious.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: If you are a student of television like me you’ll already have noticed that every named character has an episode that focuses on them once a season or two. How many great “Norm” episodes did we see in “Cheers”?! So sometime in 2011 we’ll see the Anna’s story episode of “Lie to Me” and boom, a star is born. Or at least conceived.
Jasika Nicole (Astrid Farnsworth - "Fringe")
If I was an actor today I’d want to be on “Fringe.” This season’s two universe concept gives its stars a chance to play two different versions of their characters. What a chance to shine! Well Jasika Nicole has taken this chance and run with it! Astrid Farnsworth is so compelling in each universe that you have to give the actress some serious credit. It’s even more amazing to realize she really didn’t do anything before she landed “Fringe." Talk about a great fist “major” gig. She’s also got what they call in Hollywood a “Cool Look." This is just the beginning for Jasika Nicole, and 2011 is the year she makes that clear to everyone.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: This may be the sleeper hit on my list as I suspect we won’t actually see anything new of Jasika’s in 2011, but if you go to her IMDB page, I bet she’ll have between 5 and 10 new projects before the year is out. So while we might not realize it, when we are watching Jasika in 2020 and thinking she’s been around forever, it was 2011 that the world took notice. I still can’t believe she’s never been a series regular before this!
Sonja Bennett ("Masters of Horror, Deer Woman"):
Here’s an actress I feel bad for. If you look at her body of work she’s really done some great things, but still hasn’t really broken out. I had seen her maybe 20 times without realizing she was the same person and then I saw her in a little supporting role in “Masters of Horror: Deer Woman” and I was struck by how well she “sold the subtlety” of her scenes, and wondered where she had been all my life. Turns our she had been there all along. The momentum this amazing actress has coming into this new year is pretty staggering, and I think she’s got to be due for a break. Go watch "Deer Woman" and check her out for yourself.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: What this girl needs is a lead in a series, and with television getting more and more high end in the past few years, this might be her time. Honestly I think "Deer Woman" is a series waiting to happen, so maybe that will be it. But I think somebody will take notice of this amazing talent in 2011. Can’t wait.
Iliza Shlesinger (Winner of "Last Comic Standing")
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There isn’t a lot of celluloid out there to prove this girl can act, but I don’t think that should matter. Iliza may not have a lot of roles under her belt, but she became one of the biggest names in Stand Up comedy in a very short time and she is positively stunning. In the 80’s you got your own show just for that. I think the delay between her coming to national notice and her casting in every TV show under the sun is simply people trying to find the right fit. I’ve seen Iliza on stage a few times here in LA and I have trouble believing she wouldn’t stand out in almost any role. It’s kinda a travesty that she hasn’t at least been cast as “sweeter filling teen” in some’odd teen comedy or another, which would be an underuse of her talents, but at least it would break the seal.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: I am not sure the vehicle that Iliza will ride to the top of the charts, whether it be a sketch show, dramatic role, or bikini girl with bite (vampires… sheesh) I think we’ll see her. Honestly, even “American Idol” winners get movies… what the hell is wrong with a word that can’t cast a girl who’s nationally recognized as funny, pretty, and smart. It’s enough to make me want to stop watching TV. (just kidding).
Alexi Wasser (IAmBoyCrazy.com, and everything)
Here’s another slam dunk. Alexi’s been on and off TV for a while now, both as an actress and a regular in commercials. She’s that one you remember liking with the big eyes. She recently took her talent to the next level by creating a blog that gained national attention. Called “Sex and the City” for the next generation, Iamboycrazy.com has already been optioned into a movie.
Yes, that’s right, the optioned a blog into a movie. But moving past that, the girl behind the blog is one of these girls who just brims over with talent. I’d suspect we’ll see her as a series regular before the end of 2011, along with the countless movies she’s already been attached too. I’d get behind the Alexi Wasser movement now. This girl might be the next Opera, at least when it comes to doe eyed teens looking to land the Hipster of their dreams.
WHY SHE’LL BREAK OUT IN 2011: If you can sell your blog into a movie, a radio show, and a leverage point for you movie career, you can become a national name overnight. This girl has got to be hoping the whole “World ends in 2012” thing is BS, because if not, she’s going to be the biggest thing the apocalypse has ever seen. Think pretty Mad Max. Hey, she should be in the new Mad Max! Write your congressmen!
Sax Carr is a writer/producer/podcaster for various web outlet including Geekscape.net and Podpocalypse.com. Born in Maine and escaping to LA at the young age of 28, Sax is also a comedian, comic book historian, and cat fancier. Each article comes with the Sax Carr Promise that he won’t hold back his opinions even after American declares him a loose cannon and forces him into whatever hole they have prepared for Perez Hilton.
