A 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 group of actresses who viewers should keep their eyes on:

Louisa Jacobson

The youngest daughter of acclaimed actress Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer, Louisa Jacobson Gummer (she uses just her first and middle name since there is already a Louisa Gummer registered with the Screen Actors Guild) graduated from Vassar College in 2013 with a major in psychology. She also attended British American Drama Academy in Oxford and graduated from Yale School of Drama with a master of fine arts in acting.

Louisa made her acting debut in the production of Native Son at Yale Repertory Theatre; and then starred in the play Member of the Wedding at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She then starred as Juliet in the production of Romeo and Juliet at The Old Globe; and she appeared in the failed FX pilot Gone Hollywood – that was to be set in the 1980s and was to focus on a group of talent agents. The series was to star John Magaro, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Jonathan Pryce and Judd Hirsch.

Her big break on TV came with her current role of Marian Brook in the Julian Fellowes HBO period piece drama The Gilded Age where she stars opposite Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon.

The season finale of The Gilded Age will air on HBO on Monday, March 21 at 9 PM.

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Simone Ashley

Simone Ashwini Pillai – known professionally as Simone Ashley – is a British actress born to Sri Lankan Tamil parents, who are academics, but she was always drawn to creative fields. She grew up singing classical music and opera and playing piano. She trained in acting at Arts Educational School in London.

She has appeared in episodes of shows like Broadchurch, C.B. Strike, Doctors and Sex Education; and had a small role in the 2019 box office movie Pokemon Detective Pikachu.

Next week she will appear in season 2 of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton, playing Kate Sharma, who will be one of the love interests of Anthony Bridgerton (played by Jonathan Bailey). Season 2 of the worldwide phenomenon will be based on The Viscount Who Loved Me, the second book in the Bridgerton series by author Julia Quinn.

Bridgerton will debut its second season on Netflix on March 25.