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THE NEXT BIG THINGS? Ten young movie hopefuls heading your way in 2004

HOLLYWOOD - The actors and actresses presented here (and on pages 4 and 5) may not all turn out to be household names, but all of them have a shot at the big time, if the insider buzz is to be believed. But why does one unknown become "hot" while another waits desperately for the phone to ring? "My radar is tripped by different things," says New York-based casting director Kathleen Chopin. "Sometimes it's an actor who has access to incredible depths of emotion and is a chameleon. Or someone has a slightly left- or right-of-center personality or is particularly beautiful and has a sparkling sense of humor. Those two qualities don't often go together, so it's exciting when you find it.

" THE RIGHT FIT Like all casting directors, Chopin is always prowling for new talent. "Sometimes someone comes in and I'll think, 'When the right movie comes along, that's a movie star,'" she says. It's the combination of the right role and the right actor - Julia Roberts in "Pretty Woman," for example. Who does Chopin think will break out in 2004? "Vanessa Ferlito has fiery humor and she's completely fearless," she says. "Kevin Hart is a remarkably talented comic actor. Anthony Mackie's got talent and power reminiscent of Denzel Washington.


" Chopin cast Hart in the upcoming "Along Came Polly" and Mackie in "The Manchurian Candidate" remake starring Washington. Keep an eye out for them all. EMMY ROSSUM This 17-year-old got her show-business start at 7, when she joined the chorus of the Metropolitan Opera. She quit at 12 to try acting because girls weren't allowed to audition for solos. She sang hauntingly in "Songcatcher," played the young Audrey Hepburn in a TV movie, and was more recently seen as Sean Penn's doomed daughter in "Mystic River.

" She now has the plum part of the beautiful young Parisian singer in "The Phantom of the Opera," currently being filmed by Joel Schumacher. What's special about her? "My whole family is tone-deaf, but I have perfect intonation. When my mother was pregnant, she listened every night to Kiri Te Kanawa.


" What does she want? "I was never one of those kids who sat in front of the TV and pretended she was Judy Garland. I never dreamed of being an actress, but now I love it, although I want to go to college and study philosophy and English literature.

" Upcoming films: "The Day After Tomorrow" (May 28), "Phantom of the Opera.

" VANESSA FERLITO Ferlito, now 24, was "discovered" six years ago, but ignored an agent's overture for nearly two years. After dropping out of college, however, she called the agent back and got a role as a girlfriend on "The Sopranos.

" She's expected to break out via the Tommy Lee Jones vehicle "Cheer Up.

" Only her mother, who owns a Brooklyn hair salon, is more surprised than Ferlito about her unexpected acting career. What's special about her? "I do all kinds of accents, and I haven't had a coach yet.

" What does she want? "I admire Cate Blanchett, because she does so many different roles. Now people are starting to think outside the box with me. I've played Latino parts, but I'm Italian.

" Upcoming films: "Spider-Man 2," "Cheer Up"; also continuing her role as Claudia in "24.

" KEVIN HART Kevin Hart, 24, a former sneaker salesman, cut his teeth in standup comedy. After appearing at the Montreal Comedy Festival, he attracted network interest and won the lead in "Soul Plane," a remake of "Airplane.

" What's special about him? "I'm only 5-foot-4, but maybe that's because I grew up in a studio apartment. I only had a section. If I'd had a bedroom, I'd be at least 5-5.

" What does he want? "I respect Chris Rock's work ethic. He has his hand in writing, producing, acting and doing standup, and eventually I want to do all that, too.

" Upcoming films: "Along Came Polly" (Jan. 16), "Soul Plane.

" He is also star, writer and executive producer of the ABC midseason replacement series "The Big House.


" GINNIFER GOODWIN Ginnifer Goodwin - who plays Diane Snyder in NBC's "Ed" - virtually stole "Mona Lisa Smile," her first movie, from co-stars Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst and Julia Stiles. This 25-year-old, Memphis-born actress with a bachelor of fine arts degree from Boston University has such a huge personality, she thinks her biggest challenge will be trying to tone herself down. If that means no more burping on camera, it will be our loss. Hollywood needs actresses so full of vitality they are compulsively watchable. What's special about her? "I'm willing to embarrass myself at great length to get a laugh.

" What does she want? "I'd love to be Joan of Arc and change the world, but at the very least I always want to be able to do things I believe in and not take a job just for the money.

" Upcoming films: "Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!

" (Jan. 23), "Love Comes to the Executioner.

" CHRIS EVANS Now 22, Evans grabbed lead roles in plays at his junior high because, he says, "competition was minimal.

" During high school, he interned with a New York casting agency so he could get an agent. The plan worked and he moved to Hollywood. He quickly got a Fox series ("The Opposite Sex"), did some teen comedies and is now making the transition to dramatic roles. What's special about him? "I've played a lot of idiot sidekick, girl-crazy, not-too-bright characters, but I think I'm more reserved and a little brighter.

" What does he want? "I'd love to be Tom Cruise.

" Upcoming films: "The Perfect Score" (Jan. 23), "Saved," "Cellular," "The Orphan King.

" RACHEL McADAMS One-time figure skater McAdams, 24, escaped her small Canadian town of St. Thomas through Shakespeare camp. Up north, she was cast in subdued girl-next-door parts, but Hollywood fancies her to play rich debutantes with extreme personalities. What's special about her? "I look like an angel, but I can play the bitch.

" What does she want? "I want to push the envelope and see what I can get out of life but also live relatively normally.

" Upcoming films: "Mean Girls" (April 2), "The Notebook" (July 30). ANTHONY MACKIE A teacher steered Anthony Mackie toward acting in elementary school. Another introduced him to Shakespeare. A third laughed when he asked for help getting into Juilliard. Mackie is the one laughing now. Director Curtis Hanson wrote the Papa Doc part in "8 Mile" for him and, now 24, the Juilliard grad will shortly be starring opposite Alfre Woodard in Regina Taylor's "Drowning Crow" at the Biltmore on Broadway (Jan 29-April 4). What's special about him? "I grew up in New Orleans when it was the murder capital of the world, so I know the street. I won't let anyone mess with me.

" What does he want? "I didn't get into this business to be the next Denzel Washington, but I'm not going to fight it. I would like to do comedy, because I think I'm a funny guy, but I don't want to be a buffoon or make my eyes bug out.

" Upcoming films: "The Manchurian Candidate," Spike Lee's "She Hate Me," "Brother to Brother," "Haven.


" LOU TAYLOR PUCCI Lou Taylor Pucci's mother, a former model, deliberately gave him a name that would look good in lights. At age 10, he succumbed to an aunt's $10 bribe to audition for a local production of "Oliver!


" Two years later he was on Broadway playing Friedrich in "The Sound of Music.

" Carving out a niche playing troubled kids, Pucci, 18, still lives in New Jersey with his parents and three younger siblings. What's special about him? "I look so young I'm going out for roles of 15-year-olds.

" What does he want? "I like not having a plan. Acting is better than sitting around playing video games. Maybe I'll join a band.

" Upcoming films: "Thumbsucker," "Empire Falls" (HBO). ANOJA DIAS Invited to a Hollywood dinner, Anoja Dias found herself sitting next to Annette Bening, who told her she has "a great face" and should try her luck in the movies. Already a graduate of acting school and Manchester University, Sri Lanka-born Dias quit her journalism career in Britain and is doing precisely what Bening suggested. Unwilling to rely on directors' "whimsical" decisions, Dias, 23, is setting up a $50 million film fund with Michelle Yeoh's production company. It helps that she has a godfather who used to run J.

P. Morgan's Far East office. What's special about her? "Today, Hollywood wants 'multiformity,' someone who has lots of races in them, and I have Indian, Dutch, Portuguese and a little Persian.

" What does she want? "I want to be more entrepreneurial. When you don't fit into the norm, you've got to be a little bit creative. Hopefully, I can be a powerhouse like Drew Barrymore.

" Upcoming films: "Troy" (May 14), "Easy" (featured in the Dramatic Competition at this month's 2004 Sundance Film Festival), "Tom's New Heaven.

" ROSE BYRNE The 24-year-old Australian had doubts about her beauty when going up against supermodels for parts in "Troy" (starring Brad Pitt) and "Wicker Park" (starring Josh Hartnett). But 10 years of acting experience helped her nail both roles. George Lucas cast Byrne as Dorme, Amidala's handmaiden, in "Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones," and she gave a likeably impetuous performance in last year's "I Capture the Castle.

" Now she needs a director who can tap into her mischievous side. What's special about her? "I've got a very open face, so I can be cast against that and play manipulative characters.

" What does she want? "I want to remain honest in my work and interesting to watch. I admire Toni Collette. Every time you see her, you don't know who she'll be.

" Upcoming films: "Troy" (May 14), "Wicker Park.


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