Twenty years ago, Hollywood studios had a strict formula for their casting, directing, and production roles. Rather than investing in innovation and new faces, major films were assigned to major celebrities, and upstart actors and actresses were stuck with minor roles, indie films, and otherwise unknown opportunities.

Oh, how things have changed. The most successful film of 2010 – James Cameron’s Avatar – drew success without a major actor in the leading role. Besides Sigourney Weaver’s supporting presence, the film – one of the biggest of all time – was almost completely devoid of star-power. It’s clear that audiences have grown tired of the same old acting talent, and are demanding a new wave of Hollywood stars.

These ten rising stars and ambitious Hollywood upstarts are the ones filling those shoes. From 50-year-old Austrian unknowns to 20-something American natives, this new wave of actors, actresses, and multi-purpose filmmakers are destined to be the big stars of tomorrow. If you’ve grown tired of stale A-list acting talent, invest in these names and enjoy the entertainment returns.

Katrina Bowden

Known for her role as Cerie Xerox in NBC’s 30 Rock, Katrina Bowden has displayed more than just her great looks on-screen. Despite her relatively small role in 30 Rock, she’s managed to pick up major parts in three upcoming movies, and even a cool role in Fall Out Boy’s latest music video.

While it’s easy to write Katrina off as another Hollywood blonde barbie doll, there’s certainly more to her than meets the eye. This successful actress and model is known just as much for her fun on-screen quips and quick dialogue on 30 Rock as she is for her looks.

 Christoph Waltz

What’s a 54 year old Austrian TV actor doing alongside a bunch of 20-somethings? Christoph Waltz may not fit the age profile of most other up-and-coming Hollywood celebrities, but he certainly outdoes them when it comes to pure acting skill. After his incredible performance as Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 World War II epic Inglourious Basterds, Waltz picked up universal acclaim from the mainstream press, film critics, and Hollywood’s many awards ceremonies.

Despite his relatively late success, Christoph Waltz is no Hollywood slouch. The ultra-skilled polyglot and actor is on the radar for almost every major Hollywood studio, and is reportedly turning down offers like no one’s business.

Matt Czuchry

Gilmore Girls co-star Matt Czuchry is long overdue for his Hollywood breakthrough. A supporting character on the ultra-popular teenage TV show, Czuchry has starred in a range of low budget comedies, almost none of which have cracked into the major marketers.

However, despite his lack of major Hollywood successes, Czuchry possesses some acting chops that are destined to take him far. With his bad boy charm and surprisingly young looks (Czuchry is 32 years old) this versatile actor can take on almost any role, from high school student to yuppie professional.

Kristen Stewart

After being “discovered” by a casting agent during an elementary school play, Kristen Stewart has grown to become one of young Hollywood’s most impressive acting upstarts. Her 2002 role in the David Fincher thriller Panic Room established her as a bankable child star, and her subsequent performances in teen hits Twilight and New Moon have made her a lasting performer.

Set to renew her role in the upcoming Twilight film Eclipse, Kristen is reportedly enjoying her new-found success. A Los Angeles native, this show business upstart is looking towards a long-lasting acting career.

Christopher Mintz-Plasse

Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s road into acting is miraculous, even by Hollywood standards. After deciding on a whim to audition for the 2007 comedy Superbad, Christopher dragged his high school friends along to his audition, and even took his glamour shots with a cellphone camera.

 Michael Cera

Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s co-star in Superbad, Michael Cera is well-known amongst cult TV fans for his role as George Michael Bluth in Arrested Development. After the under-appreciated TV show’s cancellation, Cera has moved onto major Hollywood films, starring in Superbad, Juno, and the upcoming Scott Pilgrim vs. The World.

Cera’s dry wit and nerdish charm has clearly caught the world by storm. Despite fears of being typecast, this smart and business savvy young actor appears to be forging a long-term Hollywood career.

 Ellen Page

22-year-old Ellen Page has been taking Hollywood by storm since age 18. Her role in 2005’s Hard Candy added strength and depth to the young actress’s resume, and made her a bankable star not just for indie comedies, but psychological thrillers and very serious dramas. After starring in a number of successful films, Page got her big break in the 2007 indie hit Juno.

Three years later, Ellen Page is acting as steadily as ever. Her most recent picture, Whip It, features Page delivering a convincing and powerful performance beside Drew Barrymore.

 Sam Worthington

This Australian actor was a virtual unknown until he was cast in the leading role in 2010’s biggest movie: James Cameron’s Avatar. Delivering an awesome performance as the disgruntled and sensitive marine Jake Sully, Worthington managed to bring life to a part that wasn’t exactly blooming with emotion.

 Chris Pine

It’s difficult to think of a sci-fi character more iconic than James T. Kirk. Maybe Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker can compare, but few other characters even come close. While most Star Trek fans hold William Shatner’s decades-long portrayal of the Enterprise captain the definitive performance, Chris Pine’s 2009 role definitely deserves some credit.

After his notable Star Trek success, Chris Pine is set to take on the role of Jack Ryan, a character that’s previous been played by Hollywood legends Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck, and Harrison Ford.

 Mia Wasikowska

Australian-born but American-based actress Mia Wasikowska has enjoyed some remarkable recent success. Following a string of TV-based roles, she was given the title role in Tim Burton’s latest cinema creation – Alice In Wonderland.

Following her work with the dark and artistic cult director, she’s set to work with well-known director Gus Van Sant on a new project.

Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson have recently been named as the highest paid actor and actress of the last year. So far both Daniel and Emma have starred in 6 installments of the Harry Potter series and there’s more to come. In terms of their net worth, Radcliffe tops the list and even features in the top ten being the youngest to do so. His net worth is estimated to be at approximately $60 million allegedly being paid $16 million for the fifth Potter film. 

The 20 year old actor is however mulling over what his life will be like post the Potter series. According to fellow co-star and friend, Rupert Grint aka Ron Weasley, the real world seems scary. However, Radcliffe has proved his acting skills beyond Harry Potter and the list of successes can only be expected to increase. And if his splurges are taken into consideration, it doesn’t seem that Radcliffe is too concerned having recently purchased a $8 million home in New York. His property worth alone stands at $20 million now.

Emma Watson ranks below Radcliffe though her net worth stands at an astounding $24 million. Catapulting to fame when she played the role of Hermoine Granger in the Harry Potter, Watson says that she may live to be a 100 years old but she will always be proud to be a part of the Potter franchise.  Apart from the Potter series, this actress in now the face of Burberry and can be seen their 2009 Fall/Winter campaign while earning a six figure sum under this contract. This 19 year old actress states that she will be an “uncontrollable wreck” when the filming of the last Potter film is finished.

Apart from the Potter series, Watson has also starred in big screen projects like The Tale of Despereaux and Voice (2008). However, possibly the biggest news has been that Watson plans to give up acting in order to pursue higher studies. She is recorded to have said that she wants to be a “proper, proper nerd” and will be studying at the prestigious Yale University in the U.S. As explained to Interview magazine, Watson misses school life and plans to study English, History, Politics, Art and French.

Hollywood is famous for its movies and glamour and equally infamous for its many, many shocking scandals. Counting down all the Hollywood scandals is almost a leviathan task however here are some of my picks.

1. It would be a sin not to begin with Michael Jackson whose whole life has been nothing short of a scandal. The King of Pop, a well deserved title, and Hollywood’s very own Peter Pan has been no stranger to controversy. From a peculiar affinity to sharing his bed with minors to disfiguring surgeries, from an abusive childhood to his recent tragic demise, the moonwalking superstar has been erased literally and figuratively. In 1993 he faced charges of child molestation which was settled out of court for a whopping $15 million and landed up in court once again in 2005 for the same charges. The recent death of Jackson caused even more controversy as the superstar’s addiction to prescription drugs was exposed. His physician Dr. Conrad Murray has been held responsible for his death and charges of involuntary manslaughter are to be brought up against him.
2. Roman Polanski, the critically acclaimed and Oscar winning director, is no stranger to scandal. His pregnant wife, Sharon Tate, was murdered by the Manson family in 1969. In 1977, the then 44 yr old Polanski took a 13 yr old girl to Jack Nicholson’s house for a photo shoot. He plies the girl with Champagne and part of Quaalude before engaging in non-consensual sex.  Two weeks later, Polanski found himself in front of the grand jury. Upon hearing he could face jail time of 50 years, Polanski bolted for France. Of course, that did not stop Hollywood from bestowing him with an Oscar award for direction for The Pianist. He was not able to receive it though since he is barred from entering the U.S.
3. Ingrid Bergman, the Oscar winning iconic actress who was considered to be a devoted mother and wife shattered her impeccable image in 1969 when news of her affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini got out. Rossellini, then married and Bergman, mother of a 10 year old daughter became pregnant with his child. What followed was intense public condemnation and religious groups calling to ban her movies. The then Senator, Edward Johnson, denounced the actress as “a powerful influence for evil” and went to the extent of asking for banning her from the country for “moral turpitude”. The couple however wed after Rossellini gave birth to their child and had twins later before separating in 1956. Rossellini did however lose custody of her daughter with her previous husband during the divorce proceedings. All was forgiven when she received the Oscar for the best actress in the movie Anastasia.

Another one of the grossest and most famous scandals is probably when Woody Allen married his ex wife, Mia Farrow’s adopted daughter Soon Yi. Perhaps what these scandal’s say about Hollywood is that no matter what your crime is that as long as you rake in the money, people can learn how to forget.

Oprah Winfrey is very easily one of the richest women in the USA. In fact she was once found to be the highest earning single woman in the country and as it appears she has no problems with it. As far as her interviews go and what she has to say in them she is pretty blatant about admitting to her riches and wealth and she feels no shame in flaunting them. Whether it is on her show where it was always visible for everybody to see that she is among the richest women in the country to being giving with the money that she had, may we feel safe to say that she has achieved the perfect balance as far as a wealthy person can achieve.

She has always admitted that she has a closet full of clothes and shoes and she is absolutely excited about it and will never lie about the kind of money that she has, she is said to be worth more than $ 1 billion. She has always been open about it, making it very evident to all her audiences that she is rich and has no hesitation in sharing either.

For instance, she herself had related an incident when she was returning from one of her many trips to Africa where she had been visiting for charity work. She says that she had gone for the trip with one of her rich friends, and when they were returning from the trip, her friend apparently asked her if she was feeling as guilty as she was, she was obviously disturbed with what they had just seen and probably flying back in a private jet to a home with a swimming pool and a closet full of clothes and shoes might have pricked her conscience somewhere and she asked Oprah the question. 

Even though Oprah’s comments such as these make it clear that she is proud of her earning power and she is not afraid to flaunt it, we are also all quite sure just how benevolent she is as well with that same money. On her shows, invariably she helps some people out with money or material things that they are in actual need of. She makes sure that it is a personal gift from her company instead of being completely a sponsorship by some other company so that the help that she is extending is entirely her own.

Nicole Scherzinger has reportedly left the Pussycat Dolls.

The lead singer of the raunchy girl group wants to become a huge solo star and plans to announce the split after the promotion of their latest album, ‘Doll Domination.’

The proposed split became apparant after the group’s version of ‘Jai Ho’ was released under the name, Pussycat Dolls featuring Nicole Scherzinger.

Currently on their European Tour, Nicole performs their latest song ‘Hush Hush’ on her own while the other girls are off stage.

US blogger Perez Hilton told his reasons for the name of the releases, “The big reason most people believe is the Nicole has actually now LEFT the Pussycat Dolls but is still remaining with them until the ‘Doll Domination’ era is over.”

So far the bands record label, Interscope, has refused to comment on the proposed split.

Nicole has already gone solo once, releasing hit, ‘Baby Love’ as well as collaborations with singers, P Diddy and Timbaland.

The 30-year-old star has been working on her solo album for almost three years now, titled ‘Her Name Is Nicole.’ She plans to get back to the album when the tour is over.

Speaking about the delay of the album, Nicole, in September 2008, said, “Despite what other people might write, it was my decision, ultimately. I actually put some of my solo songs on the Pussycat Dolls’ new album, ‘Doll Domination.’ Everthing is all about timing. I believe it will come out next year (2009) and it will be able to coexist wonderfully with the Dolls’ album.

“It is completely separate from what you have heard with ‘Baby Love’ and ‘Whatever You Like’  and I am still working on it-that happens when you are perfectionist.”

Speaking recently to Billboard Magazine, Nicole said, “the current incarnation of the album is just in talks and in the writing process. I haven’t started recording yet.”

There has even been talks about Nicole recording a song with her current boyfriend, Formula One drive Lewis Hamilton. She said, “He thinks he can sing,  I think that is my fault! We will probably end up in the studio together. That will be great.

“He knows the words to ‘Don’t Cha’ and is a big Pussycat Dolls fan so singing together wil be so much fun.”

I am a huge fan of Dancing on Ice and after going to the live tour last year I was back there again at the Manchester Evening News Arena on Saturday 18^th April 2009 for the Bolero Tour.

The lights went down and the professional skaters took to the ice dressed in Victorian costumes of black, white and purple with white masks on. The routine was seamless and captivating to watch. The circular lighting unit in the middle was slowly lowered down and a white drape dropped down to hide what was going on behind. Images flashed across the drape of countries who had taken part in the 1984 Olympics; when the drapes dropped to the ice Torvill and Dean were there in position to start the world famous Bolero routine.

The first half of the show was set out like the TV programme; each celebrity skater danced one of their favourites from the series and the judges marked them out of a possible 6. The panel was made up of Karen, Robin, Ruthie, Nicky and a surprise judge; in my case Salty from Real Radio. Andie Peters hosted the event with Jane and Chris offering their comments. The celebrity skaters were; Kyran Bracken, Todd Carty, Melinda Messenger, Roxanne Pallett, Ray Quinn, Zoe Salmon, Suzanne Shaw, Jessica Taylor and my personal favourite Chris Fountain.

All the celebrity skaters were excellent, with those who were from past series skating to new routines. Todd Carty provided the biggest laugh with his routine of ‘Help’ by the Beatles and even managed to stay on his feet throughout the performance. The technical footwork and lifts by the likes of Ray and Chris were amazing to watch.

During the interval the audience could text with the person they wanted to skate Bolero in the final. Like the TV programme those were added to the judges scores and the top 2 fought it out to be champion of that particular show.

The second half started with a dance by Matt Evers, Dan Whiston and Frankie Poultney. They were amazing and the routine, lifts, footwork -breathtaking. You actually held your breath on some of the lifts wondering how on earth they did it and made it look so easy and seamless to the routine.

After that each of the celebrities skated one more routine and there were two performances from the professionals; Alexandra Schaumann and Lukasz Rozycki and Melanie Lambert and Fred Palascak (my favourite). Both routines were captivating to watch as they glided across the ice in perfect harmony to each other.

At the end the celebrities all came back onto the ice whilst the two finalist were announced; it was Ray and Chris, which I was really happy with as it meant I got to see Chris skate Bolero. They both did fantastic performances; however, the judges voted for Ray to win…..was not happy!!! The finale was an upbeat number with all the professionals, celebrities and Jane and Chris taking to the ice to skate one final performance. The whole show was breathtaking from start to finish and I’ll be going back again next year.