Top 10 New Leading Men

Like high school girls, the powers that be in Hollywood love a good label, whether it be anointing someone the new "It" boy or girl or calling a fresh talent the next Streep, Brando or DeNiro. So we decided to throw our hat into the ring and take a look at the newest crop of lovely and talented men who are currently lighting up the big screen.

Poised to make the move from supporting actor to main attraction, this lot is blessed with a killer combination of skill, charm and talent that makes them that much closer to becoming household names, celebrity crushes and maybe even Oscar winners.

Take a look at who made our Top 10 and share your choices for upcoming leading men!

10. Zach Galifianakis

For most who saw The Hangover - and if you haven't yet, do yourself a favour and rectify that immediately- the chubby, hirsute joker was a revelation and transformed even the most mundane dialogue into a giggle-inducing punchline. But those who've long worshipped at the temple of Galifianakis have been treated to what the masses are only now finding out - dude is TALENTED. The stand-up comedian is admired for his irreverent humour and has appeared in small roles in various films and TV shows, including his own short-lived program, but found fame with Todd Phillips' raunchy bachelor party movie. Look for Galifianakis in Youth in Revolt and HBO's "Bored to Death" with Jason Schwartzman and, hopefully, The Hangover 2.

9. Michael Cera

Admit it - you didn't see this one coming. The Brampton-born wunderkind is a rather unlikely candidate for leading man given his preference for playing mumbling, awkward, bashful anti-heroes in flicks like Superbad, Juno, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and...well, you get the idea. But a considerable amount of teen - and, ok, adult - girls routinely crush on the unassuming thesp, seeing his nonthreatening presence as a viable antidote to the alpha male so often perpetuated in adolescent films. The often hoodied 21-year-old's dance card has been seriously jammed and he isn't planning on taking a weekend off anytime soon with Youth in Revolt premiering at TIFF 2009 and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World following soon after. Fingers crossed that an Arrested Development movie isn't far behind.

8. Paul Dano

After holding his own alongside Daniel Day-Lewis, as a set of twins no less, in the Oscar-winning masterpiece There Will Be Blood and doing much with limited dialogue in Little Miss Sunshine, it became clear that Dano was one to watch. He shows up next in Ang Lee's Taking Woodstock before appearing in The Good Heart, lending his voice to the much-anticipated Where the Wild Things Are and appearing alongside John C. Reilly and Katie Holmes in The Extra Man. An intense actor who immerses himself in every character he takes on, Dano is one who will no doubt continue to surprise, impress and attract audiences as he weaves from indie films to Hollywood epics.

7. Ben Whishaw

Though he may not be a household name in North America yet, it's really only a matter of time. With scene-stealing supporting roles in critical faves Layer Cake, I'm Not There, and Enduring Love, he really caught the eye of the industry as the lead in the darkly disturbing Perfume: The Story of a Murderer. Still not sure who we're talking about? Since 2009 seems to be his breakout year, there's no shortage of films to see him in. In just the past few months he's appeared as Sebastian Flyte inthe Brideshead Revisted remake alongside Emma Thompson, played prolific yet doomed Romantic poet Keats in Bright Star alongside Abbie Cornish, and took on the role of Ariel in Julie Taymor's re-imagining of Shakespeare's The Tempest! With a list that impressive, it's pretty clear his star is definitely on the rise.

6. Hugh Dancy

Although he seems to have taken Hollywood by storm this year, the soft-spoken lad from Stoke-on-Trent is no stranger to the big screen. Perhaps more famous for being Claire Danes' fiance, he's actually been turning in affecting performances in blockbuster productions like Black Hawk Down and King Arthur for the past several years. It was only after his charming turns in Confessions of a Shopaholic and Adam , however, that audiences and critics alike really took notice. Despite the occasional misstep (Basic Instinct 2 is better left as a distant memory), this talented actor looks poised for greatness.

5. Jim Sturgess

Whatever "it" is, this London-born talent has it in spades. Calling to mind the laid back yet rebellious powerhouse Method actors of the '50s, Sturgess is quietly but assuredly becoming one of the most sought-after young actors working in Hollywood. He first gained attention for his breakthrough role as Jude in Julie Taymor's ambitious musical Across the Universe and since then has been seen on the big screen in indies and mainstream pics alike (The Other Boleyn Girl, 21, Crossing Over). But if there was ever any doubt that Sturgess is destined for greatness, his heartrending lead role in last month's indie Fifty Dead Men Walking (did I mention the perfect Belfast accent?) erased it completely. This guy is a major force to be reckoned with and if there was any justice, he would already have a shelf full of awards!

4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Coming off the one-two punch of (500) Days of Summer and a supporting role in G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra, Gordon-Levitt has built a name for himself that goes well beyond his stint as the ponytailed teen in TV’s “3rd Rock From the Sun”. Maturing into an understated, talented, and oh yeah crazy handsome, man, the 28-year-old has chosen mostly smaller, difficult films to hone his craft – Brick, Mysterious Skin, The Lookout, Shadowboxer - and is quickly distinguishing himself as a triple threat, adding writer and director to his CV. And after watching him belt out The Clash’s “Train in Vain” during a karaoke scene in Summer, his status as a new leading man is undeniable.

3. Chris Pine

Charisma, thy name is Chris Pine. It should come as no surprise to anyone that he possesses the certain je ne sais quoi necessary to make it in Hollywood since both his parents and his grandmother had lengthy careers in showbiz themselves. Though he has been plying his acting trade as the "boyfriend" in numerous guest spots on television and film, as well as a charming starring turn in the indie wine flick Bottle Shock, it's his role as this generation's Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek that has propelled him to the top of industry casting directors' wish lists. With a deft flair for comedy, a knack for the dramatic and an uncanny ability to throw himself full-on into any role, not to mention that killer smile, look for this third generation actor to be topping marquees for years to come.

2. John Krasinski

Known as much for his habit of smirking knowingly to the camera on the hit TV show “The Office” as for making its female viewers swoon, Krasinksi has been working his way to the front of the pack for the past decade. After a few false starts on the big screen (License to Wed, Leatherheads) Krasinski bearded-up and dressed down to play Bert, the loveable father-to-be in Sam Mendes’ Away We Go and proved himself adept, though no less loveable, in much more subtle fare. Look for his directorial debut Brief Interviews With Hideous Men, based on the David Foster Wallace novel, and a supporting role in the Meryl Streep comedy It's Complicated.

1. Bradley Cooper

For years, this talented thesp has been relegated to playing the obligatory role of best friend or douche bag rival (see Failure to Launch, Yes Man, Wedding Crashers) but then came The Hangover and everything changed. One of the biggest box office surprises in recent memory, the film has catapulted the actor to A-list status almost over night. He's already got a starring role in All About Steve (opening September 4) opposite Sandra Bullock under his belt, and his future appears just as bright as he's set to star in the big screen adaptation of The A-Team. Though these days he may appear on more gossip sites than movie posters, we seriously pity the fool who doesn't think that's all about to change!

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