Salute to Rising Stars

It’s that time again to salute those actresses who are on the move, actresses who deserve a little extra attention for their latest work, those actresses who are rising stars. Landing that crucial role in a TV movie or guest appearance in a successful show or film makes all the difference for aspiring actors.

Let’s take a look at the next two actresses who viewers should keep their eye on:

Midori Francis

Midori Francis (born Midori Iwama) is an American actress from New Jersey, who graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She also studied abroad in London, training with Tim Carroll. Among her theatre work are Peter and the Starcatcher in Virginia and the off-Broadway productions of Connected, The Wolves and Usual Girls.

She got her first break in TV, appearing in an episode of the dramedy Younger in 2014 followed by guest appearances in Gotham and Divorce. She had a small role in the TV movie Paterno and then appeared in the box office films Ocean’s 8, South Mountain and Good Boys. And, she had a role in the Crypt TV thriller The Birch, based on the award-winning viral short of the same name.

But it will be Midori’s role in the new Netflix series Dash & Lily – she plays the lead character of Lily – that will get her a lot more attention, especially since the show debuts today (November 10). The series is a whirlwind holiday romance that builds as cynical Dash and optimistic Lily trade dares, dreams and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations all across New York City.

Her next project is the film Afterlife of the Party, in which she will star alongside Victoria Justice.

Midori is also an award winner, capturing the Outstanding Actress award with the New York Innovative Theatre Awards in 2016 for the play Connected; and she was part of the ensemble who won a 2017 Obie Award for The Wolves in 2017 and part of the ensemble who won a 2017 Drama Desk Award also for The Wolves.

Midori can be followed on Twitter @MidoriFrancis, on Instagram and on Facebook. Her official website is here.

Dash & Lily debuts today (November 10) on Netflix.

Natalie Alyn Lind

Natalie is an American actress, who is the oldest daughter of producer John Lind and actress Barbara Alyn Woods, who is best known for her roles of Diane on Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show and Deb Scott on the WB/CW series One Tree Hill, which is where Natalie got her first big break.

She has appeared in episodes of Army Wives, Flashpoint, iCarly, Criminal Minds, Wizards of Waverly Place and Murder in the First. Then she landed a recurring role in Gotham, and appeared in episodes of Chicago Fire and iZombie. In 2017, Natalie was part of the ensemble cast of The Gifted, which ran for two seasons on FOX. She also had a recurring role in The Goldbergs and appeared in season two of Tell Me a Story.

Natalie will soon be seen in the upcoming drama Big Sky from renowned series creator David E. Kelley, which stars Ryan Phillippe, Kyle Bunbury and Katheryn Winnick, which is set to debut on ABC on November 17.

Natalie can be followed on Twitter @NatalieAlynLind, on Instagram and on her Official Facebook Page.

She also has two younger sisters – Emily and Alyvia – who are also actresses.

Big Sky debuts on ABC on November 17.

Here is to Midori and Natalie as rising stars!

Make sure to check our previous salute to rising stars here.

Please be on the look-out for more salutes to rising stars in the future.

NOTE: Please take a moment tomorrow (November 11) to pay tribute to all of our veterans as the country honors Veteran’s Day.

SIDEBAR: Here is a hearty congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris!!