The 2015 award season honoring entertainment art and artists of 2014 is well under way, with the People's Choice Awards, Golden Globes and Critic's Choice Awards already passed. The big ones that remain are the Grammy Awards and the Oscars, both coming in February.
In the spirit of looking back and reflecting on what came out of the entertainment industry last year, one category always worth noting is who had a break out year. There's a new crop of break-out stars every year, in television, film, music, etc.
The television break-out stars of 2014 in particular was a high-quality, high-quantity group, and the shows that served as their launching pads run the gamut of genres and networks.
Without further ado, of the many there are to choose from, below are the top 20 break-out television stars of 2014.
Honorable Mention:
Nick Blood- Nick Blood is one of the many new faces brought on to shake things up in the second season of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. While in terms of hype and attention he was overshadowed by others—the one-episode appearance of Lucy Lawless, a.k.a Xena, Warrior Princess, and Adrianne Palicki, who made an ultra-splashy debut as full-time team member Bobbi Morse—Blood is noteworthy as the sexy, wise-cracking mercenary-turned S.H.I.E.L.D recruit. He adds a good dose of lightness and humor to the intense plot that fits well with the rest of the cast and their respective characters.
Barbara Rosenblat- It's hard to classify Rosenblat as a break-out because she has been in the business since 1976. However, she never quite struck gold and her portrayal of inmate Miss Rosa Cisneros in Orange is the New Black was something special. She first appeared as Miss Rosa in the first season, in 2013, but it wasn't until 2014, during the second season, that Miss Rosa got her moment in the sun. And when she did, Rosenblat shined as the convicted bank robber who has aged and been diagnosed with cancer during her time in prison. Miss Rosa is many things at once: unapologetic about her past, accepting of being fated to die of cancer and strong-willed, yet at the same time seems saddened and a bit defeated by how her life has turned out. Rosenblat portrayed the multi-faceted person excellently, making it even more of a powerful moment when Miss Rosa escapes prison in her exit scene.
20. Cristin Milotti
Coming off a role in an off-Broadway play, Cristin Milotti was thrust into the television spotlight when she made her debut at the end of 2013 as the long-anticipated, faceless-until-then mother (Ted Moseby's wife) of How I Met Your Mother. She was in the rest of the series' final season, ending March 2014, and returned to television in the fall as the star of the romantic-comedy show A to Z, alongside Ben Feldman. Although her stint on How I Met Your Mother was brief and A to Z was a flop—it's already been cancelled—Milotti was quirkily charming in both roles and she's only just getting started, so she is certainly one to watch out for in the future.
19. Sam Heughan, Outlander, Starz
This book-to-television show adaptation just won a People's Choice Award for Favorite Cable Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV show. What makes it so popular? It might be that it had a built-in fan base from the books. It might be that that its plot contains adventure, romance, action and everything else that makes a great story. Another likely contributing factor: its leading man Sam Heughan. The Scottish actor charms as the hunky, noble and brave hero fighting for love, family and country. Heughan had several credits to his name before the show, but Outlander is his first starring role in a U.S. network show and he is a key part of the show's intrigue.
18. Alfred Enoch, How to Get Away with Murder, ABC
Enoch was part of one of the biggest film franchises of all time: Harry Potter. But, as Dean Thomas, friend of the Harry-Hermione-Ron trio, he didn't have a lot of screen time. Luckily, he struck it big with his first significant role since the last Harry Potter film and is now getting plenty of screen time as a star of the new hit drama. He plays Wes Gibbons—the law student who seems gentle and perhaps naively innocent but has fierce loyalty and determination—with sincerity and command, not to mention he's easy on the eyes. He'd be higher on the list if it wasn't for the fact that he can kind of take a back seat in the show due to the strength of the rest of the cast and the dominance of other characters.
17. Jadyn Wong, Scorpion, CBS
Jadyn Wong has appeared in a few movies and several television shows since her acting career launched in 2006, most notably the Canadian show Being Erica. But her new role in Scorpion as Happy Quinn, a member of the group of geniuses led by Walter O'Brien recruited to help the U.S. government solve cases that require the team's unique skills—such as computer hacking and engineering—earns her a whole new level of praise. Wong is perfect as Happy, the tough-as-nails mechanical expert with sharp wit and a well-guarded, well-hidden soft side. Her delivery is flawless and she definitely adds a certain charm to the team of misfits.
16. Matt McGorry, How to Get Away with Murder, ABC and Orange is the New Black, Netflix
McGorry made waves in the television world in 2013 as the good-natured, loveable prison guard John Bennett in Orange is the New Black but 2014 was his year. Along with reprising his role in OITNB, he landed a supporting role on the hit drama How to Get Away with Murder. His character Asher Millstone is a bit of a joke, as he's the goof-off, tool of the elite group of law students who most think only got so far thanks to his father's money and legacy. Yet McGorry pulls off the jerk bro-personality with substance and flare and he shows a different side of him from his OITNB character, displaying versatility. It will be interesting to see what side he shows next.
15. Elyes Gabel, Scorpion, CBS
Elyes Gable stars in this show as Walter O'Brien, an eccentric genius (based on the real-life man of the same name) who leads a team of other geniuses that helps the U.S. government protect people around the world. Gable is spot-on as a man whose IQ hinders his emotional capabilities and understanding and makes him arrogant and cold, but not altogether unfeeling. Gable captures that complexity with his deadpan expressions and flawless delivery mixed with a subtle softness that assures viewers that O'Brien does indeed have a compassionate part of him yearning to break through his calculated exterior.
14. Michael Malarkey, The Vampire Diaries, CW
One of the many British imports to dazzle Americans in 2014 is this actor. Malarkey joined the cast of the hit CW show, about a group of young vampire and human friends fighting to protect each other from various supernatural villains, with his debut in the last two episodes of 2013. His character Enzo is one who walks the line of good and evil and has been both a friend and foe to the heroes at the core of the show. Yet whether he's behaving murderously or playfully flirting, he is a fan-favorite thanks to Malarkey's sexy charisma and skill at portraying the sharp-witted, passionately wicked vamp everyone—including the other characters on the show—loves to hate and hates to love.
13. Charlie Rowe, Red Band Society, Fox
Rowe had only a few credits to his name when he landed the role of Leo Roth, the de-facto leader of a group of kids bound together by illnesses that have them living in a hospital while they are treated. He portrays the character, a confident-yet-vulnerable jock who has a heart of gold, with a soulful sincerity. Fox just announced that the show will not return for season two (unjustly, if you ask this writer), but here's hoping Rowe will bounce back and have a bright future in the business, as he's definitely shown he's got the talent.
12. Cristela Alonzo, Cristela, ABC
Cristela Alonzo, a stand-up comedian, writer and actress, was showered with critical praise as she burst onto the scene in the debut of the sitcom she created and stars in, Cristela. Her show has not garnered as much critical acclaim, thanks to what has been considered poor writing and excessive use of clichés, but it doesn't cast too much of a shadow on the actress. She is diversifying the television landscape in more ways than one but in the end, it's simply her delightful charm, imbued with unadulterated confidence and positivity that makes her so loveable and noteworthy. Whatever happens with her show, it seems Cristela herself is poised for good things to come.
11. Caitriona Balfe, Outlander, Starz
Balfe portrays one of the most complex female characters currently on television (at least in this writer's opinion) in one of the most unique, complex shows. As Claire Randall/Beauchamp, the main character in the tale of an Englishwoman who, while on holiday with her husband after World War II, accidentally travels back in time and finds herself in the middle of a 1743 Scottish rebellion against English forces, Balfe portrays a woman living two lives, falling in love with one man while still in love with and yearning to return to another. Claire is strong-willed and capable, yet given her predicament and unfamiliarity with her surroundings, as well as the harsh time she's thrown into, she is also immensely vulnerable. She is a damsel in distress who can somewhat handle herself. Balfe excellently pulls off the duality of the character and exudes a charming likability all the while, helping add to the show's appeal.
10. Samira Wiley, Orange is the New Black, Netflix
Like her colleague, the aforementioned Barbara Rosenblat, Wiley first appeared in the hit prison drama in 2013 but her character, Poussey Washington, did not get its due until the second season in 2014. Poussey's back story was given in a June episode, and throughout the rest of the season she plays a pretty significant part in the main storyline—a figure from her BFF Taystee's past arrives at the prison and alters the power structure. Wiley shined as the more fully fleshed out Washington, delivering a performance that called simultaneously for sensitive, yet tough, brave, yet uncertain and passionate, yet heartbroken. Hopefully, season three will bring more of her charm.
9. Griffin Gluck, Red Band Society, Fox
While his voice may not be quite as powerful and soothing as the likes of Morgan Freeman or Samuel L. Jackson, it is what puts Griffin Gluck so high on this list. Gluck portrays Charlie, the member of the "red band" group who serves a different form of leadership role than the aforementioned Charlie Rowe's character Leo. As he is in a coma, he is a thing for the group to rally around, a reminder to never give up and that things could be worse. Despite being in a coma, Charlie is the show's narrator, invoking the notion that although he can't move or speak, he is aware of his surroundings and fully cognitive. The only acting Gluck really does is through his voice and yet, with that alone he is able to easily convey sarcasm, joy, wit, disappointment, fear and many other emotions. That is true talent.
8. Suraj Sharma, Homeland, Showtime
You might argue that Sharma already had his break-out moment with his starring role as Pi Patel in the award-winning film Life of Pi. However, he received a new level of attention when he joined the cast of Homeland for season four, which began in October, as the character Aayan Ibrahim, a seemingly-innocent medical student who crosses paths with agent Carrie Mathison (star Claire Danes) in the context of suspicions about him. He made a name for himself in films with his first ever acting credit and he's made/making a name for himself in television with his third ever role in general. What he'll do next is as much a mystery as his character on Homeland, but it's safe to say, Sharma is building quite a resume.
7. Jack Falahee, How to Get Away with Murder, ABC
Amidst the ensemble cast led by the magnificent Viola Davis, everyone holds their own, but Jack Falahee is the true standout. Falahee has only a few years of experience in the business but appears to be a natural in his role as Connor Walsh, the sexy and sly student who has no morals or limits to what he'll do to get ahead and all the arrogant confidence of someone who's never known failure. In other words, he is dangerous yet fascinating. Falahee executes every aspect of Walsh with effortless charm. And when Walsh sheds his cool composure in the wake of a group crime, Falahee transitions seamlessly into a total head case. Additionally, Walsh is gay, which shows Falahee is open-minded about roles he takes on. Just another reason why one can expect big things for Falahee's future (he's already got four projects on the way for 2015).
6. Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, Broad City, Comedy Central
This comedy duo created and star in Broad City, something that started out as a web show in 2009 and was so successful that it was developed into a regular show that premiered in January of 2014. It's about two best friends—Ilana Wexler (played by Glazer), a slacker, free-spirit and marijuana enthusiast prone to wacky schemes, and Abbi Abrams (played by Jacobson), a 26-year-old who works hard but is struggling to reach her dreams, while trying to balance honoring responsibility with a desire to have fun—as the women experience everyday life in New York. The show earned a 2014 Critic's Choice nomination for Best Comedy Series and earned Glazer a nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy Series. Not a bad way to start a career.
5. Pedro Pascal, Game of Thrones, HBO
Even in a show known for shocking scenes of sex and violence, few characters have been as sensational as Pedro Pascal's Prince Oberyn Martell, a.k.a. the Red Viper. His entrance scene was as splashy as his exit scene: Tyrion (Peter Dinklage) meeting him in a brothel as Oberyn and his lover share themselves with male and female prostitutes (his first scene) and a brutally violent, lethal fight (his last scene). Oberyn is smart, calculating, unapologetic and passionate and he becomes even more likable when he bravely and boldly steps up to help Tyrion (and also avenge his sister). Pascal was, at all times, sexy and charismatic, and when Martell's end came, so too, did the end of the tenure of one of the best guest cast members the show has ever had.
4. Robin Lord Taylor, Gotham, Fox
In the current-day pop culture world that loves all things super heroes, it was predictable that Gotham, the origin story of the caped crusader and the villains he comes to fight would do well. What wasn't predictable was that one of those villains, Oswald Cobblepot, a.k.a. Penguin, would be such a scene stealer. Robin Lord Taylor plays the character—a lackey of alternating bad guys who is often overlooked, underestimated or stepped on because he appears odd and weak but in actuality, is manipulative, scheming and ambitious—with such flair and eccentricity that he makes perhaps the most interesting character on the show twice as interesting. There are a lot of moving parts in the plot of the show and it has a talented cast, but Robin Lord Taylor is the standout by far.
3. Grant Gustin, The Flash, CW
From a brief stint as a bully on Glee, Grant Gustin moved on to a guest role on the CW's Arrow as Barry Allen, a.k.a. the Flash. When the inevitable full-blown spinoff was officially launched, he became a leading man. In the series that acts as a more light-hearted companion to the gritty, darker Arrow and expands DC Comics' television presence, Gustin shines as the happy-go-lucky hero who is noble, perhaps to a naive fault. Gustin is charming and enigmatic whether he is acting like the slightly cocky, high-strung Flash, or the emotional Barry Allen coping with unrequited love, demons of his past related to his parents' fate or the notion that he's got the world on his shoulders. Gustin shows he can do sappy, funny, broody and bumbling all at once, a versatility that is a sure sign of true talent. The show has already been renewed for a second season and though it's uncertain how much of its success is thanks to Gustin, you can be sure he'll do his part to continue making it an entertaining ride.
2. Michiel Huisman Game of Thrones, HBO
Michiel Huisman had a number of acting credits prior to 2014, the most notable of which were roles in the shows Treme and Nashville. However, 2014 was his year. Aside from completing his Nashville role as music producer Liam McGuinnis, he landed the role of Daario Naharis on the mega hit Game of Thrones, replacing Ed Skrein. Though there were complaints about the switch—Skrein reportedly left for another role, though that has not been confirmed—Huisman stepped swiftly and convincingly into the role of the skilled warrior who pledges his allegiance to Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) and then uses his flirtatious, arrogant charm to attempt to woo her. Although Husiman's look is fairly different than Skrein's Daario, he has the same charisma and perhaps even better chemistry with Clarke. In addition to the growing role in Game of Thrones, Huisman appeared as a character in the show Orphan Black and had a role in the Reese Witherspoon-starring, Oscar-bait film Wild. And it seems his career's only just begun to heat up, as he is involved in several upcoming projects. It will be interesting to see where Huisman goes from here.
1. Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin, CW
A show about a young woman who planned to be a virgin until marriage, but gets pregnant from an accidental artificial insemination during a routine doctor's visit sounds too absurd to be any good right? Yet the network renewed it for a second season, so the show, based off a popular Venezuelan telenovela, must have something going for it. That something might primarily be its star, Gina Rodriguez, who plays the titular character. Critics have been praising her from the start of the show, which debuted October 2014, and she shot to an even higher level of fame after she won a Golden Globe Award for Lead Actress in a TV Comedy or Musical on Jan. 11. Not only was it the first award for the young Latina actress, who has previous credits to her name but nothing so substantial, but it was also the first for the network. Thus, Rodriguez's success is a breakthrough for herself, for a network and, as some are saying, the female Latino community as a whole, because she won for a role that goes outside of the perceived stigmatized pool of jobs previously offered to actresses of that demographic. Rodriguez just might be an arguably much-needed trailblazer.