YAM Loves: 2011’s Breakout Stars

While there haven’t been quite as many brand new men rising from their hiding spots, plenty of men have been taking on an astounding number of roles this year. We can see this with Michael Fassbender and Ryan Gosling, who have both been known for plenty of years, but each chose this year to steal the spotlight with three or more fantastic performances.

Luckily enough, they aren’t the only two gorgeous men out there. One such man has broken into the hearts of many film lovers with his talented performances and a damn fine smile. His name, you ask? Tom Hiddleston.

Opening his year with his performance as Loki in Thor, Tom Hiddleston practically stole the movie out from everyone else’s feet. It may not have been a particularly great movie in the first place, but his role was definitely enough to catch plenty of eyes — and also snag him a follow-up in the same role in Joss Whedon’s upcoming film, The Avengers.

While he was one of the most memorable villains in a Marvel movie to date, it isn’t the only thing he’s done this year worth noting. Very soon after the release of Thor, Woody Allen took his latest feature film, Midnight in Paris, to the Cannes Film Festival. Nobody had any clue what surprises would come within this magical movie, but luckily enough, it was full of wonderful things. Tom Hiddleston showed up, among the large group of actors that portrayed writers and artists from the early twentieth century, as the great writer F. Scott Fitzgerald.

It doesn’t end there, as Hiddleston shows up in Spielberg’s War Horse as his usual handsome self — he can even draw horses! A man at war who also doubles as an artist with eyes and a smile that can kill? You’ve got me hooked!

As for upcoming projects that we can definitely look forward to seeing him in, there’s The Deep Blue Sea, which has premiered at some festivals but has yet to receive a wide release. Starring alongside Rachel Weisz, it’s bound to be an emotional movie with some great performances. Come on people, who wouldn’t want to slow dance to classic music in the arms of a man like him?

Now that you’ve heard our choices for the breakout stars of 2011, let us know who your personal favorites are!

Juan Barquin

Just yer average twenty-something college student with no time on his hands who ends up watching (and writing) too many movies and shows for his own good.

11 Responses

  1. Julili says:

    Fassy was ROBBED! He wins over Hiddleton with Shame and A Dangerous Method.

    • Juan Barquin says:

      @Julili, I don’t consider 2011 Fassy’s breakout year though. Just like Jessica and Tom are both showing up in a billion supporting roles, that’s how Fassy showed up in 2009. Hunger was great, but nonexistent before the Criterion Collection picked it up. Fish Tank and Inglourious pushed him out into the world and it’s thanks to 2009 that he’s now scoring all of these fantastic roles.

      That’s pretty much how I see the lives of Hiddleston and Chastain going in the next few years and I’m pretty excited because people will hopefully be just as in love with them soon as they are with Fassy.

  2. Mirella says:

    Oh Hiddles. I’m sad we couldn’t expend more of Fassy, but Hiddles! It was also love at first sight for me. And yes, he totally stole THOR :P
    And the thing is, not only is he a good actor, he’s also a nice guy all around… and does great impressions XD

  3. Joel Burman says:

    I really agree on Jessica Chastain she will be a force to reckon with for a while. In Sweden I’d say Bill Skarsgård is the obvious choice. He has been in more or less every feature for a while now.

  4. Rodrigo says:

    I think I might need to re-watch Thor again. For some reason, Tom Hiddleston didn’t stood out to me that much other than Loki’s final minutes in the film. But he was actually great in Midnight in Paris.

  5. Castor says:

    It really was the year of Jessica Chastain! She did say recently however that she doubts she will in the final cut of Terrence Malick untitled project (which has been officially said not to be named The Burial lol)

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