HOT FOR 2017: Up-and-coming Irish actors

We say it every year: Ireland’s acting pool is overflowing with incredible talent, both those just starting out and those brilliant performers who are really hitting the bigtime. In 2017, get ready to see a whole lot of both, as a brand new generation of mesmerising new actors are starring in both Irish and international films and TV shows, while thesps who have made us laugh and cry for years are finally getting the worldwide attention that they’ve long deserved. Watch out for these actors on your screens large and small, and be warned – their performances can prove hypnotic.

Ruth Negga

Beloved in Ireland and the UK for years due to her scene-stealing performances in Love Is The Drug, Love/Hate and Misfits, Ethiopian-Irish actress Ruth Negga came to Hollywood’s attention in 2013. Landing roles in World War Z opposite Brad Pitt, Jimi: All Is By My Side with Andre 3000, and the TV series Agents of Shield, Negga’s talent was finally being rewarded. And this year, she’s exceeded even our sky-high expectations. In the fact-based drama Loving, directed by Jeff Nichols, Negga plays a woman forced to fight against laws that banned interracial marriages in America. It’s a deeply necessary film, and Negga’s performance is picking up award nominations left and right, including Golden Globe and BAFTA nods, as well as the prestigious EE Rising Star Award. We suppose that’s just compensation enough for not recognising her genius sooner… Just.

Seana Kerslake

Tallaght native Seana Kerslake is gearing up for one of the most exciting years of her life. The 26-year-old actress stunned audiences and critics alike in the beautifully nuanced coming-of-age tale A Date For Mad Mary, where she played a troubled young woman trying to turn her life around. Kerslake was awarded Best Breakthrough Performance in the Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards in 2016, winning the gong by a landslide. She also brought her comedic chops to the RTÉ 2 series Can’t Cope, Won’t Cope, a hilarious and biting look at a friendship between two Dublin girls that starts to unravel. Having proved that she can tackle both deep drama and uproarious comedy, Kerslake’s career is bound to be filled with mesmerising performances.

Amy Shiels

One of the most highly anticipated series of 2017 is undoubtedly Twin Peaks, the upcoming continuation of the classic cult favourite created by David Lynch. The surrealist genius will be back in the director’s chair this time around, and the cast will be extraordinary, featuring actors like Twin Peaks veteran Kyle MacLachlan, Naomi Watts, Monica Belushi, Amanda Seyfried – and Malahide-born Amy Shiels. The actress’ role, like much of the supernatural series, is being kept a tight secret, and we can’t wait to see what murder, mystery and mayhem she gets involved in onscreen. Shiels is also performing alongside James Nesbitt in the UTV series The Secret, about a real-life murder conspiracy. It seems that only one thing about this actress’ career isn’t a mystery – and that’s her surefire success.

Dominique McElligott

Fans of House Of Cards will already know of Dominique McElligott, the Rathfarnham native who landed the role of a political wife in the famed series about corruption and ambition in American politics. The actress previously appeared in the Irish series RAW, and starred in films such as Leap Year with Amy Adams, and Moon, directed by David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones. This year, McElligott will cross over from Netflix to Amazon, starring alongside Matt Bomer, Kelsey Grammer and Lily Collins in the adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s unfinished novel, The Last Tycoon. She will play Kathleen Moore, a beautiful woman who Hollywood studio executives are dying to transform into The Next Big Thing. Oh, how art imitates life.

Patrick Gibson

The chameleon-like Patrick Gibson has been putting in solid work in Ireland and the US for years now, but in 2017 his star is set to go supernova. The Dublin-born actor has appeared in TV series such as The Tudors and Neverland, as well as Lenny Abrahamson’s What Richard Did and Niall Heery’s Gold, opposite James Nesbitt and Maisie Williams. But it’s his role in Netflix’s incredible, mind-boggling new series The OA that’s about to make him a household name. Gibson plays troubled teen Stephen, a bully who befriends a woman (Brit Marling) whose experience of being kidnapped is riddled with mysteries that challenge both fact and faith. The young actor will also be starring in the upcoming wartime comedy Their Finest opposite Gemma Arterton, Sam Clafin and Bill Nighy, as well as the drama series Guerilla with Idris Elba.

Catriona Balfe

Dublin-born actress and model Catriona Balfe grew up in Monaghan, and was scouted by a modelling agency when she was just a young teen. Her modelling career was a stratospheric rise to the top of haute couture catwalk modelling, and Balfe has modelled for Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani, Cavalli and more. But Balfe soon proved herself as an accomplished actress too, appearing in The Devil Wears Prada, Super 8, Now You See Me, and Escape Plan. Last year she starred in the Jodie Foster-helmed thriller Money Monster with George Clooney and Julia Roberts, but this year is all about Outlander. Balfe has received international critical acclaim for her role as Claire Randall, and this year she’s up for a Golden Globe. No matter what happens on awards night, Outlander has been renewed for two more seasons, so there will be plenty more incredible performances from Balfe to enjoy.

Laura Whitmore

So we all knew Laura Whitmore could host a TV show, spin some tunes, pull a killer pose and even burn a dancefloor – but she can act, too? Life’s just not fair. The Bray beauty is set to make her theatrical acting debut this year, starring in the Peter James play Not Dead Enough, which will be touring all across the UK. While that’s exciting enough, she has also had several meetings with Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, who was very impressed with Whitmore and will be coming to see her perform. We’re guessing Weinstein is on the lookout for the next Margot Robbie or Jennifer Lawrence, and we think Laura’s just the woman to step up into the spotlight.

Emmet Byrne

Everyone and their Mammy loves Ireland’s golden girl, Amy Huberman, so no doubt you’ve already seen an episode of her new legal dramedy, Striking Out. But Huberman may well have some competition on her hands from new co-star Emmet Byrne, who is already proving to be an utter scene-stealer as Ray. The 27-year-old is theatrically trained, but has appeared in TV shows such as Burning Wishes and Red Rock. Byrne also stars opposite veteran Irish actors Ardal O’Hanlon, Paul Ronan and Pat Shortt in Twice Shy, which tackles the topic of abortion. It received rave reviews at the 2016 Galway Fleadh, so we’re dying to see it get a major release.