Bright Young Things

Who's tipped to rule the roost this year ...

1. Ben Whishaw We first saw him as the grimy perfumier in Perfume: The Story of A Murderer, where his performance gave us compassion for a sadistic maniac. But he scrubs up alright and has two films scheduled for release in 2007, including the Bob Dylan biopic I'm Not There. Expect weird, but wonderful.

2. Jodie Whittaker Although the year's awards will be owned by the other Whitaker, the star of Venus has just won the BIFA 2006 up-and-comer award. Anyone who can share the screen with Peter O'Toole and not fall to pieces gets my vote.

3. Ryan Gosling Already a legend in his home of Canada, the star of the beloved The Notebook has just been nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.

4. Rinko Kikuchi The real star of Babel, Lil' Rinko held her own alongside Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt and Gael Garcia Bernal.

5. Dominic Cooper This former stage star put in a magnetic performance in The History Boys, took a comedic turn in Starter For Ten and will be up next in Brief Interviews With Hideous Men.

6. Naomie Harris The one fresh ingredient of the stale Pirates of the Caribbean sequel, she played it deliciously kooky, then cool and smooth in Miami Vice.

7. Christina Ricci Set to make a comeback in Black Snake Moan, little Wednesday Addams is all grown up and showing off her pins in tiny denim hotpants.

8. Nathalie Press The other star of My Summer of Love, Nathalie has five films due out in 2007, including an eagerly-anticipated drama about the Bronte sisters.

9. Atta Yaqub After a breakout role in Ken Loach's courageous Ae Fond Kiss, things have been a bit quiet for Yaqub of late, but no doubt they will pick up once the world cottons on to this Glasgow-born talent.

10. Abbie Cornish The breakout Aussie star of 2004's Somersault and last year's Candy, she's made her name in edgy teenage flicks. 2007 sees her hit the international market in The Golden Age with Samantha Morton, and the unitled new Kimberley Pierce (Boys Don't Cry) project with Ryan Phillippe.