4. Eddie Redmayne
Eddie Redmayne first popped on our radar several years ago. He was one of the best parts of Pillars of the Earth as the enigmatic Jack, and he got some major attention when he starred in My Week With Marilyn alongside the Oscar-nominated Michelle Williams. If you're interested in theatre, he accomplished the fairly auspicious achievement of winning both an Olivier and a Tony for the same role, as he starred in the play Red first on the West End and later on Broadway. But until recently, I don't think anyone was aware that along with being a skilled young actor, he's also a talented singer. Cast as Marius in last year's high profile adaptation of Les Miserables, Redmayne more than holds his own with the professional singers that appear in the film. His version of Empty Chairs at Empty Tables is raw, emotional, and incredibly effective.