March is the start of Women’s History Month, therefore it’s time to celebrate women! This month allows us to gain insight into women that have made an impact in the world and those who are poised to make a big splash in their chosen fields. Here is a list of up-and-coming women to keep on your radar this year (and beyond)!
1. Rachel Zegler
At 16 years old, Rachel Zegler was cast in her breakout role as Maria in West Side Story and had everyone talking. Legendary director Steven Spielberg broke down in tears when he heard Rachel’s audition tape of her singing “Tonight” and he immediately knew he found the right Maria. When Zegler booked the role, she asked Spielberg if she could still play Princess Fiona in her high school adaptation of Shrek. He responded by saying, “I produced the original Shrek, of course you can!” The risk paid off, as Zegler went on to win the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. Zegler has now been cast in the newest live-action adaptation of Snow White as the titular princess.
2. Jenna Ortega
You might have already seen Jenna Ortega in Disney’s hit show "Stuck in the Middle" but she has gone on to appear in everything from "Jane the Virgin" to "You". The 19-year-old was also a part of the iconic Scream reboot that premiered in January. Next, she will star in Netflix’s upcoming film titled Wednesday, in which she will play the iconic Wednesday Addams.
3. Pauline Chalamet
Pauline Chalamet might be the sister of the Oscar-nominated actor Timothée Chalamet, but she has made a name for herself. Pauline has starred in a few French short films, but she made her American film debut in Judd Apatow’s King of Staten Island. That was only the beginning, as her talents landed her the role of Kimberly in HBO’s original series "The Sex Lives of College Girls", which has an almost-perfect critic score. Her upcoming projects include the indie comedy-drama What Doesn't Float.
4. Simone Ashley
Simone Ashley appeared as Olivia on Netflix’s hit series "Sex Education" as well as a few British shows. Ashley recently got cast in another smash-hit Netflix original, "Bridgerton", where she will be playing the much-anticipated role of Kate Sharma.
5. Daisy Edgar-Jones
Daisy Edgar-Jones played Marianne in Hulu’s original series "Normal People" and blew people away with her performance. The series follows two people from two different backgrounds, who endlessly find their ways back to each other. The 23-year old English actress earned BAFTA, Critics’ Choice, and Golden Globe nominations. Daisy’s next movie project is Where the Crawdads Sing, in which she will star as Kya.
6. Saniyya Sidney
At only 15 years old, Sidney has recently starred in King Richard, in which she played tennis legend Venus Williams. She has also appeared in Hidden Figures, The Passage, Fast Color, and Fences and has already been nominated for a slew of awards such as the Black Reel Awards, Critics’ Choice, SAGs, and NAACP Image Awards. Sidney has proven that she is a powerhouse and will continue to inspire others. Her next project is The First Lady, in which she will play another real-life icon, Sasha Obama. It is set to premiere on Showtime on April 17.
7. Amybeth McNulty
Amybeth McNulty is best known for her breakout role as Anne Shirley from "Anne with an E", which is based on the classic 1908 novel Anne of Green Gables. Her phenomenal performance earned her 3 nominations from the Canadian Screen Awards of which she ended up winning one. We're looking forward to seeing her in Season 4 of "Strangers Things" this summer!
8. Storm Reid
Storm Reid made her acting debut in Academy Award-winning film Twelve Years a Slave but that was just the start. She later went on to star in "The Thundermans", The Suicide Squad, When They See Us, The Invisible Man, A Wrinkle in Time, and is currently on the heart-racing HBO series "Euphoria" as Gia Bennett, the little sister of Zendaya's character, Rue. She has been praised for her performance; the HBO original series is the most-tweeted show of this decade so far!