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SPOTLIGHT STARS OF TOMORROW 2016

THE ACTORS Florence Pugh Born in Oxford, 20-year-old Florence Pugh made her debut in Carol Morley’s The Falling after the film-maker sent out an open call to schools in Oxford and London; Pugh only made her tape at the last minute after being persuaded by her mother. She has since translated what she learnt on The Falling into a stunning lead performance in Toronto/San Sebastian/London competitor Lady Macbeth, and has several projects in the pipeline.

Tom Taylor

Arnold Oceng

Three years ago, 15-year-old Surrey-based Tom Taylor stopped attending drama school until his former teacher told him an agent was visiting; Taylor returned to audition, secured representation and went on to star in The Last Kingdom and Doctor Foster for the BBC. He then auditioned seven times for Nikolaj Arcel’s Stephen King adaptation The Dark Tower, before being cast as Jake Chambers, the protégé of Roland Deschain, aka The Gunslinger (Idris Elba).

After arriving in London from Uganda at the age of one, Arnold Oceng pursued an acting career and starred in BBC series Grange Hill between 1999 and 2004. Noel Clarke’s Adulthood was the next notable step, and small roles in independent UK films such as 4.3.2.1. and My Brother The Devil followed, before appearing alongside Reese Witherspoon in The Good Lie. He has most recently been seen in Brotherhood, the final part of Clarke’s urban trilogy.

Upcoming projects Lady Macbeth (dir. William Oldroyd), Hush (dir. Olaf de Fleur Johannesson), The Commuter (dir. Jaume Collet-Serra)

Upcoming projects The Dark Tower (dir. Nikolaj Arcel), Doctor Foster (TV, BBC)

Upcoming projects A United Kingdom (dir. Amma Asante), Circle Of Revenge (dirs. Derrion Adams, J Valentine), The Greatest Man (dir. Mikkel Serup)

Contact Julian Belfrage Associates email@julianbelfrage.co.uk

Contact Jane Epstein, Independent Talent Group janeepstein@independenttalent.com

Morfydd Clark After graduating from the National Youth Theatre of Wales and Drama Centre London, Morfydd Clark appeared in BBC drama A Poet In New York, Channel 4’s New Worlds and, on film, in Carol Morley’s The Falling. She then enjoyed a run of theatre performances, including in Gary Owen’s Olivier-nominated Violence And Son, and returned to the big screen in Whit Stilman’s Love & Friendship. She is currently playing Cordelia in Deborah Warner’s King Lear at London’s Old Vic theatre. Upcoming projects The Prevailing Winds (short, dir. Adam Butcher), Interlude In Prague (dir. John Stephenson) Contact Kate Staddon, Curtis Brown kate.staddon@curtisbrown.co.uk

Barney Harris

Jodie Comer Originally from Liverpool, 23-year-old Jodie Comer rose to prominence in BBC legal drama Justice, going on to star in Good Cop, My Mad Fat Diary and BBC3’s first major online drama thriller Thirteen, in which she played a young woman trying to fit back into normal society after being abducted. She also starred as a homewrecking mistress in BBC1’s Doctor Foster, which is soon to return for a second season. Upcoming projects Rillington Place (TV, BBC), The White Princess (TV, Starz), Doctor Foster (TV, BBC), Steven (dir. Mark Gill) Contact Jane Epstein, Independent Talent Group janeepstein@independenttalent.com

Josh O’Connor

Contact Gary O’Sullivan, Troika gary@troikatalent.com

Hannah JohnKamen Born in Beverley, Yorkshire, but now based in London, Hannah John-Kamen took a part in Whitechapel during her third year at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. After graduating, she appeared in TV shows Black Mirror and The Hour, before her big break as bounty hunter Dutch in Killjoys. Earlier this year, Steven Spielberg cast John-Kamen in his forthcoming adaptation of Ernest Cline’s bestselling novel Ready Player One. Upcoming projects Ready Player One (dir. Steven Spielberg) Contact Suzy Kenway, Scott Marshall Partners suzy@scottmarshall.co.uk

Leah Harvey

Having graduated from the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in 2011, Josh O’Connor believes that extended runs on television shows have been an “important learning curve” for his craft. The Cheltenham-born actor, based in London, has starred in Ripper Street, Peaky Blinders and, most recently, The Durrells. He has also starred on the big screen in titles including Florence Foster Jenkins, which reunited him with The Program director Stephen Frears, Lone Scherfig’s The Riot Club and Jeppe Ronde’s intense suicide drama Bridgend.

Despite the fact 22-year-old Londoner Leah Harvey only graduated from LAMDA this summer, she has already shot a lead role in Michael Winterbottom’s latest feature, On The Road, and is starring in Phyllida Lloyd’s The Tempest at London’s Donmar Warehouse theatre. Harvey had previously auditioned for Dominic Dromgoole’s production of The Tempest, which would have meant leaving LAMDA early; the role did not pan out but opened the door to other opportunities.

Upcoming projects Sweet Maddie Stone (short, dir. Brady Hood), Billionaire Boys Club (dirs. James Cox, Captain Mauzner), Brighton Beach (dir. David Gutnik)

Upcoming projects God’s Own Country (dir. Francis Lee), The Durrells (TV, ITV)

Upcoming projects On The Road (dir. Michael Winterbottom)

Contact Zoe Stoker, The Artists Partnership zoe@theartistspartnership.co.uk

Contact Claire Maroussas, Independent Talent Group clairemaroussas@independenttalent.com

Contact Oriana Elia, Curtis Brown oriana@curtisbrown.co.uk

Having been discovered while still at Eton College and immediately signed up to The Artists Partnership, Barney Harris has learnt his craft on the job, including a role as Prince Ned in Dominic Cooke’s The Hollow Crown, starring Benedict Cumberbatch. Director Ang Lee was the next to sign up Harris for this year’s Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, in which he features alongside 2015 Star of Tomorrow Joe Alwyn.

18 Screen International at AFM November 4, 2016