2024 in review: The breakout actors and actresses

For those who thought Anderson's best acting days -- from Baywatch to the certain sex tape with rock star ex-husband Tommy Lee -- 2024 was proof that she might be getting a career second wind. Anderson earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her role as veteran showgirl Sally, who's looking to maintain a career, in Gia Coppola's The Last Showgirl. Anderson is riveting, and took her renewed fame to plug the healthy, often makeup-free lifestyle, she's living these days.

Another actor who is back in the mainstream limelight thanks to a stellar performance in 2024. Brody will forever be the lovably funny and sweet Seth Cohen from The O.C.. While he's continued to work with some solid, under-the-radar offerings, Brody introduced himself to a new generation of streaming fans when he showed why he's easy to like on screen with the popular Netflix hit Nobody Wants This.  Cohen earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role as Noah Roklov, a modern and contemporary rabbi who begins a relationship with an outspoken sex/dating podcaster, played by Kristen Bell.  

Colón-Zayas' Tina Marrero from The Bear is an acquired taste for some fans of the popular streaming show. However, the character has grown, become more humble and appreciative of what knowledge and hard work can do for one's career in the food service business. In 2024's Season Three, Tina was highlighted more than in the past, notably via the episode Napkins, which explores Tina's down-on-her-luck back story and how she came to meet the Berzatto family. That led to Colón-Zayas winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. 

Devotees of the Netflix series Bridgerton have proclaimed this year that Coughlin truly came into her own this season as Penelope, the youngest of the Featherington daughters, whose role expanded to include more depth and intrigue. In addition to, perhaps, finally getting her due in that series, Coughlan fans were thrilled to see her pop up on the Doctor Who Christmas special "Joy to the World" in 2024. 

Emilia Pérez,  the French musical crime comedy, featured such heavyweight Hollywood types like Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez. Yet, without a doubt, it was Gascón, who stole the show in her breakout role as the title character—a crime lord looking to get lost and transition into being a woman. The attention garnered Gascón a Golden Globe Award  nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. Making her the first transgender woman to achieve that distinction. 

When it comes to exceptional fictional stalkers, Gunning's Martha Scott should be right up there with Misery's Annie Wilkes and Alex Forrest from Fatal Attraction. While Gunning's career was building to this moment, it's hard to describe just how wonderfully unhinged her performance in 2024's highly-lauded Netflix miniseries Baby Reindeer played out. Sure, Martha is uncomfortable to watch at times, but it's also hard to look away. The role won Gunning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.

Due to his performance during the first season of The White Lotus, there was a thought that Hechinger was going to break through in 2024. Also, because Hechinger was set to be seen in two highly anticipated projects this year -- the historical drama Nickel Boys and portraying Emperor Caracalla in Gladiator II. Oh yeah, did we mention he also appeared as Chameleon in the film version of Marvel's Kraven the Hunter, which did not achieve nearly the same positive critical praise as the other two films? 

Hernández is in his third season on Saturday Night Live, and this year gave birth to what might be one of the most iconic history of the storied sketch comedy show. His Domingo, is a suave, Latin American stud, who had a pre-wedding fling with bride-to-be Kelsey (Chloe Fineman) in the Ariana Grande-led "Bridesmaid Speech" from Season 50 Then, we learn he actually impregnated Kelsey, as did her new husband Matt, from "Babymoon" sketch, which starred Charli XCX. The character has taken American comedy by storm and thrust Hernández into the spotlight.

Olson made a name for herself through It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and now she gets another crack at leading her own series with the ABC crime drama High Potential, which debuted in 2024 -- that also boasts numerous funny moments. Olson's Morgan Gillory is a highly intelligent single mother of three who works as a cleaning lady for the LAPD. She eventually earns a consulting job with the department after involuntarily helping with various investigations, which proves her worth even more. 

Somebody Somewhere star and creator Bridget Everett has an underrated comedian and actress for some time know, and certainly got her just due with this smart HBO soul-searching comedy. However, the equally underrated Hiller, continued to steal scenes in the show's third and final season. In fact, it was the storyline of Hiller's Joel, who was trying to balance a new, serious relationship with his special friendship with Everett's Sam. And, when it comes to classic raunchy comedy, Joel certainly gives Sam a run for her money.

Another career that was building to her big moment in 2024. Madison gained attention with roles in the comedy series Better Things (2016-2022) and as Susan Atkins from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). But in 2024, Madison delivered a performance that seemed destined to make her a bona fide Hollywood star. Madison's "Ani," the protagonist from Anora, about a New York stripper introduced to the 21-year-old son of a Russian oligarch. Madison is headstrong but brilliant, both academically and streetwise. However, her curiosity and vulnerability in regards to "Vanya" (Mark Eydelshteyn), is what makes the role. Madison earned Critics' Choice and Golden Globe nominations for the character.

Milioti has won Grammy Award and was nominated for a Tony, but it can be argued that it took for her co-starring role as "Sofia Falcone/Gigante" from The Penguin is her breakthrough screen role. Her presence on How I Met Your Mother never seemed to sit well with die-hard fans of the show. Sofia is a psychopathic who has the chops to lead the Gotham City underworld, despite being deliciously unhinged. The role earned Milioti a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film.

Another veteran actress who has certainly had her bouts with prominence returned to the mainstream with a simply stellar 2024 performance. Moore was back in the spotlight for her role in the Golden Globe Award-nominated satirical picture The Substance. Where keeping in the spirit of the somewhat washed actress some believe she is, Moore was hailed for playing once-popular Hollywood actress Elisabeth Sparkle, who is shunned from a role due to her aging appearance and opts to do something drastic about it all. 

From Amazon Prime Video, Girls Will Be Girls should be thrown into the ring with the best coming-of-age films from this century. Newcomer Panigrahi, in her first acting role, delivers a splendid and casually impactful performance as Mira, who attends a boarding school in the Himalayan foothills and begins a romantic relationship with a classmate that becomes more complex for herself and those around her than initially expected. The confidence and insecurity that Mira attempts to balance is highly entertaining to watch.

Already known for Yellowjackets and Arcane, Purnell remained busy in 2024. As the latter series finished up, Purnell was highly lauded for her role as Lucy MacLean (aka "Vault Dweller"), from the post-apocalyptic Amazon Prime Video drama series Fallout -- based on the popular video game. However, she's genuinely brilliant as Rhiannon Lewis, a disgruntled secretary who seeks silent vengeance on those who have wronged her -- past and present -- in the stellar British black comedy Sweetpea. 

This more contemporary version of the Shōgun novel and 1980 miniseries debuted on Hulu in February and continues to draw raves. Some critics have hailed it as the best streaming fare of the year. A big reason for that success is Sawai, who plays the strong and loyal Toda Mariko. The character made Sawai the first Japanese actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award. In this case, for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

Scott shined in Lemonade Mouth (2011) and Power Rangers (2017), then the 2019 version of Aladdin, but when it comes to Scott's true breakout role, 2024's Smile 2 might be considered the one. The Smile films are guilty pleasures with the social media, TikTok crowds, so it's understandable why Scott is garnering so much attention for this starring role as a pop star rattled after witnessing the death of a smiling friend. It's a more mature role for Scott, and likely a stepping stone to even more acclaimed work. 

The former Saturday Night Live writer branched out and pretty much did it all with Fantasmas. The HBO comedy series where Torres, playing himself, scans New York City for a golden oyster earring. Torres is not Borat, or anything like that. He's quirky and imaginative and might not be everybody's cup of tea. But his creative vision exuded through this project is worth celebrating. 

We already touched on Adam Brody's resurgence through Nobody Wants This. But, the versatile Thon, who appeared on Season Eight of American Idol, has stolen more than a few scenes as Noah's sister-in-law. Intense only begins to describe Thon's Esther, who finds it easy to control her husband Sasha (Timothy Simons). In fact, that might be a nice way of putting things. However, Thon, in her supporting role, rarely disappoints because of her sarcastic and overbearing nature, and is so much fun to watch. 

The versatile Zendaya, who can be seen regularly in larger-than-life supporting roles in the Spider-Man and Dune franchises. While she was back in the latter for 2024, Zendaya also showed off her acting range in Challengers. The romantic sports drama, where Zendaya's Tashi Duncan-Donaldson is the star of the show, the tennis court, and also caught in a love triangle that's essentially spanned more than a decade. When it comes to Zendaya's maturity as an actress, it seems like she's arrived.