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The Top Up-and-Coming British Male Actors of 2022

19 British Male Actors You're Going to See a Lot More of in 2022

May 18 2022

After two years of production delays due to pandemic disruptions, the whirlwind world of film and TV has begun to spring back into action. And with it comes a raft of emerging British male actors from new-generation classics and indie adaptations who are set to take our screens by storm.

Thanks to shows like "Bridgeton", "Snowfall", "Conversations With Friends", and the ever-expanding Marvel Cinematic Universe, you don't have to look far in order to witness UK talent showcasing the very best of their acting prowess. Following in the steps of actors like Robert Pattinson, John Boyega, and Tom Hardy is a new roster of up-and-coming stars including South London darling Damson Idris and newly minted heartthrobs like Lucien Laviscount and Jonathan Bailey. We've picked the 19 rising British stars to look out for on the silver screen, theatre stage, and streaming services. Keep reading to find out more about the up-and-coming actors poised to make their big breakthroughs in 2022.

Image Source: Getty / Robin L Marshall

Aaron Pierre

London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art alum Aaron Pierre might be best known for his leading role as Caesar in "The Underground Railroad" or, for the keen-eyed among us, his cameo appearances in Netflix's "The A Word". Now in 2022, the British star is set to take the silver-screen plunge. Pierre has joined the cast of the upcoming films "Rebel Ridge" (after John Boyega had to step away from the project due to personal reasons) and "Foe", an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Iain Reid. As of February, Pierre has also joined the cast of the upcoming superhero film "Blade", which is set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Spicer

Harris Dickinson

EE Rising Star nominee Harris Dickinson has already had a busy year since playing opposite to Ralph Fiennes in "The King's Man". Dickinson is also set to appear alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones in the much-anticipated film adaptation of "Where the Crawdads Sing". Previously, he starred in Eliza Hittman's "Beach Rats" in 2019 and alongside Angelina Jolie and Michelle Pfeiffer in "Maleficent: Mistress of Evil" in 2019.

Image Source: Getty / Dave J Hogan

Damson Idris

British actor and producer Damson Idris's first worldwide breakthrough in film was starring in Netflix's sci-fi action film "Outside the Wire" as Thomas Harp. Now with roles in "Snowfall" and "Black Mirror", Idris has already taken America and the world by storm. The South London actor (and founding member of the fictitious Dark Skin Society, a group that also includes Daniel Kaluuya and Jamie Foxx) may not be brand new to our screens, but he will always be one to watch.

Image Source: Getty / Robin L Marshall

Jason Wong

Although Jason Wong is best recognised for his performances in "The Gentlemen" and "Wrath of Man", the actor was the first British person of East Asian descent to play a major character in BBC crime drama "Silent Witness" in 2021. Next up for the star? Spy movie "The 355" starring Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Fan Bingbing, Diane Kruger, and Lupita Nyong'o and a role in the upcoming cinematic portrayal of "Dungeons and Dragons".

Image Source: Getty / David M. Benett

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Joe Alwyn

When Taylor Swift's beau is not showing the pop legend a good time in Brixton, you can catch Joe Alwyn starring in period dramas like "The Favourite", where he played the love interest of Abigail (Emma Stone). More recently, Alwyn has starred in "The Last Letter From Your Lover" alongside Shailene Woodley and Felicity Jones and in the TV adaptation of Sally Rooney's "Conversations With Friends".

Image Source: Getty / Mike Marsland

Lucien Laviscount

What is Paris without a cockney geezer to boot? In 2021, the former BBC "Waterloo Road" star Lucien Laviscount joined the cast of Netflix's smash hit series "Emily in Paris" for the recurring role of Alfie. We can't wait until season three of the show to see more from Laviscount. You can also catch him starring as Jay in BBC's three-part comedy "Peacock".

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

Ewan Mitchell

Since his debut in 2017 as Billy Taylor in "The Halcyon", Ewan Mitchell has appeared in numerous TV shows including "World on Fire" and "Trigger Point" and films like "High Life", which also stars Robert Pattinson. These appearances are only just the beginning for Mitchell, who also stars in the addictive TV hit "The Last Kingdom" and is set to join the cast of the "Game of Throne" prequel, "House of the Dragon", as Aemond Targaryen.

Image Source: Getty / Rindoff Petroff/Viteur

Martins Imhangbe

Martins Imhangbe is a prolific theatre star with credits that include "Death of a Salesman" and "The Tragedy of King Richard the Second" in London, which earned him an Ian Charleson Award nomination. Imhangbe's impressive TV debut came in 2020 by playing Will Mondrich in "Bridgerton". Elsewhere, the actor is set to star as Amari in an upcoming drama series titled "Down Is Up".

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Spicer

Joe Locke

Joe Locke stars as Charles "Charlie" Spring in his debut television role alongside Kit Connor in the 2022 Netflix coming-of-age series "Heartstopper", an adaptation of the webcomic and graphic novel of the same name by Alice Oseman.

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

Will Sharpe

English Japanese writer, director, and actor Will Sharpe is undoubtedly one of the most exciting new names in British film. From working with Oscar winner and longtime collaborator Olivia Colman on the Sky television series "Landscapers" to appearances in soaps like "Casualty" and bringing "The Electrical Life of Louis Wain" to the big screen with Benedict Cumberbatch and Claire Foy, Sharpe is fast becoming a name to be reckoned with.

Image Source: Getty / Tim P. Whitby

Regé-Jean Page

The Duke of Hastings, also known as Regé-Jean Page, may have left many broken hearts in the wake of him not returning for season two of "Bridgerton", but that doesn't mean the rising star has been anything but booked and busy. Fans of Page can expect to see him further his film pursuits (beyond "Sylvie's Love" and "Mortal Engines") with roles in "The Gray Man" alongside Adam Sandler and Ana de Armas and in the upcoming film depiction of the game "Dungeons and Dragons".

Image Source: Getty / Mike Marsland

Jonathan Bailey

Jonathan Bailey began his career as a child actor in Royal Shakespeare Company productions when he was 7 years old, before performing as Gavroche in a West End production of "Les Misérables" by 8. Bailey has since made a name for himself across the theatre world, even being nominated at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards for outstanding newcomer in 2012, before his international debut as Lord Anthony Bridgerton in the now-beloved series "Bridgerton".

Image Source: Getty / Lia Toby

Malachi Kirby

With standout performances in 2016 as Kunta Kinte in the heartbreaking miniseries "Roots", closely followed by his role as the vulnerable soldier Stripe in "Black Mirror", Malachi Kirby is a formidable talent. Kirby won a 2021 BAFTA film award in the category of best supporting actor for his role in Steve McQueen's "Small Axe", and we're looking forward to his titular role in Neil Gaiman's upcoming "Anansi Boys".

Image Source: Getty / Brad Barket

Paul Mescal

Paul Mescal, boyfriend of Phoebe Bridgers, neck of Connell's chain, has had a whirlwind ascent into acting over the past few years. Mescal started out in theatre with appearances in adaptations of "The Great Gatsby" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" before landing his now-infamous first television role opposite Daisy Edgar-Jones in the drama series "Normal People". Post-stratospheric debut, Mescal has starred in "The Lost Daughter", directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and he is set to take up leading roles in a contemporary film adaptation of the opera "Carmen", as well as starring in "Foe", an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Iain Reid (alongside Saoirse Ronan and Aaron Pierre).

Image Source: Getty / Taylor Hill

Omari Douglas

If all the world's a stage, then Omari Douglas is one of its most shining stars. The actor began his career in theatre with credits like Cole Porter's "High Society", Emma Rice's adaptation of "Wise Children" at the Old Vic, and "Peter Pan" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" at Regent's Park Open Air Theatre. More recently, in his crossover to TV, Douglas joined the cast of Russell T Davies's miniseries "It's a Sin" as Roscoe Babatunde and is set to make his silver-screen debut in "Midas Man".

Image Source: Getty / Jeff Spicer

Amir El-Masry

Shortly after graduating from LAMDA in 2013, securing leading roles in Egyptian films, and nabbing best young actor at the Egyptian Oscars in 2009, El-Masry appeared in Jon Stewart's debut feature, "Rosewater". With roles in "The Night Manager" alongside Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, and Olivia Colman through to the critically acclaimed BAFTA-nominated miniseries "The State" and more recently in the binge-worthy, high-stakes BBC drama "Industry", El-Masry is slowly establishing himself as an emerging British talent.

Image Source: Getty / Karwai Tang

Micheal Ward

After blasting onto our TVs and laptops in his antihero role as Jamie in Netflix's revisit to British cult classic "Top Boy", Micheal Ward has gone from strength to strength. With roles in Rapman's "Blue Story" and the Charlize Theron-fronted "The Old Guard", it's clear Ward is en route to becoming a household name.

Image Source: Getty / Eamonn M. McCormack

Nick Sagar

If you loved seeing Nick Sagar in "The Princess Switch" or the Starz comedy series "Run the World", then it might be a good time to queue up Netflix's "Queen of the South" in anticipation of his role in the upcoming film "I Don't Want to Drink Your Blood Anymore".

Image Source: Getty / Charley Gallay

Lewis Tan

As the son of famous stunt coordinator Phil Tan (think "Pearl Harbor", "Lara Croft", and "Pirates of the Caribbean"), it seems only right that delivering dynamic performances is in Lewis Tan's blood. Tan is best known for roles like Lu Xin Lee in Netflix's "Wu Assassins", Shatterstar in "Deadpool 2", Gaius Chau in AMC's "Into the Badlands", and Cole Young in "Mortal Kombat".

Image Source: Getty / Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

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