The 12 Breakout TV Stars Of 2019

Before he starred in When They See Us, 22-year-old Jharrel Jerome had already delivered an Oscar-worthy performance in 2016’s Best Picture, Moonlight. But when he so completely embodied Korey Wise in Ava DuVernay’s heartbreaking limited series on Netflix — based on the true story of five young men of color who were wrongfully convicted of rape in 1989 — Jerome proved he’s poised for stardom.

As the only lead who played both the teenage and adult version of his character, it’s no wonder Jerome took home the Emmy this year for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie. He may not be a household name just yet, but he will be soon. It doesn’t hurt that he’s co-starring alongside Idris Elba in 2020’s Concrete Cowboys. — Anna Menta

Stream When They See Us on Netflix

Anyone who watched Netflix’s Unbelievable or Olivia Wilde’s riotous coming-of-age comedy Booksmart (which is now streaming on Hulu!) understands what Justified fans have known since the days of Mags Bennett and her poisonous apple pie moonshine: Kaitlyn Dever is legit. The actress not only emits an organic charisma, but she has the theatrical bona fides to portray a multitude of characters.

Comedy, drama, burgeoning Kentucky drug kingpin, there’s nothing this leading lady can’t do.

Where to stream Unbelievable 

Now, technically speaking, 2019 is not Andrew Scott’s first breakout year. After all, this is the guy who reinvented Moriarty on the hyper-popular crime drama Sherlock. But as the “Hot Priest” on Fleabag, Andrew Scott reinvented himself. He showed that he could be far more than a monologuing villain; he could be a leading man. As Fleabag’s love interest, he challenged Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s troubled protagonist to find god through love, and salvation through getting on her knees.

No wonder we’re all obsessed. — Meghan O’Keefe

Where to stream Fleabag 

Television is just flat-out better thanks to Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle. The two multi-hyphenates created and star in one of the most delightfully original shows of 2019: Hulu’s deliriously funny PEN15. The duo’s talents aren’t limited to Hulu, however, as Erskine showed off her leading lady credentials in the exceptional rom-com Plus One, and Konkle played Anita on the FX series Baskets.

2019 was a harbinger of things to come as the new year brings a second season of PEN15 and Erskine starring alongside Seth Rogen, Sarah Snook, and Jorma Taccone in Simon Rich’s An American Pickle.

Stream Pen15 on Hulu

Aisling Bea is an Irish actress and comedian who finally made the US say, “Wait a sec? Who is this hilarious and talented lady in all my favorite streaming shows this year?” While she’s enjoyed success across the pond, American audiences were treated to This Way Up, the Hulu show she created and starred in (NBD) and Living With Yourself as Kate, a character who turned out to be so much more than just “Paul Rudd’s wife.”

Aisling is charming, silly, and super enjoyable to watch in many roles — 2019 simply established she’ll be in a whole lot more to come. — Lea Palmieri 

Stream Living With Yourself on Netflix

Jack Quaid, as the kids say, is having a moment. Do the kids still say that? Doesn’t matter. I’m saying it. Not only did Quaid razzle and dazzle on Amazon’s addicting super hero series The Boys (highly recommend, btw), but the charming actor proved that 2018 was a mere appetizer with his performance in the criminally underseen 2018 film Plus One.

Also starring fellow breakthrough star Maya Erskine, this indie rom-com about two longtime pals who team up to tackle wedding season is the perfect Saturday night date movie. Watch it. Love it. Tell a friend.

Or don’t. I’m not the boss of you.

Quaid was already well known, but the actor is primed to go from star to superstar in 2020.

Stream The Boys on Prime Video

Stranger Things was already packed with iconic characters by the time it reached Season 3, but it seemed like there was room for at least one more, thanks to Maya Hawke’s superb portrayal of Scoops Ahoy employee Robin.

Hawke’s repartee with group mom Steve (Joe Keery), sick burns, and ultimately heartfelt conversation on a bathroom floor were highlights in a season that was mostly highlights, thanks to Hawke’s effortlessly charming/caustic demeanor. And it’s just the start for Hawke, who also appeared in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood this year, is recording her debut album, and almost assuredly will continue to roast Steve in Stranger Things Season 4. — Alex Zalben 

Stream Stranger Things on Netflix

There’s a pretty common trope in TV and movies where all the characters talk about how amazing another character is, whether they’re the best at music, or art, or just being a human being; but rarely does the performance match up to that. Then there’s Euphoria’s Hunter Schafer. As Jules, most of the first season is spent with her girlfriend Rue (Zendaya) being told she’s not worthy of Jules, that Jules is special, etc., etc. And you might not believe that, except Jules frickin’ glows.

Part of that is probably the show’s prodigious use of glitter and strobe lights, but it’s also Schafer’s performance which makes her the focal point of every single frame of film. Her smile, her clothes, the chemistry between Schafer and Zendaya, they all pop out of the screen and feel fully lived in. All the more surprising, then, that Euphoria was Schafer’s acting debut. Rarely has someone popped up on screen with such a confident, lived in performance that grabs you from the first frame to the last, but that’s exactly what Schafer does. Beyond Euphoria Season 2, which is coming… some time… if Hollywood can capture that Jules lightning in the right way, Schafer will most likely go on to be our next big star. — Alex Zalben 

Where to stream Euphoria 

No one — literally no one — had a better 2019 than Billy Porter. Not only did the man go from critical darling to household name/fashion icon in a single year, but Porter also became the first openly gay black man to both be nominated for and win a leading actor Emmy. He did it all while delivering some of the fiercest looks around both on and off the red carpet. But what transforms Porter from a celebrity on the rise to a fully-fledged star is his unapologetic honesty. Even at the height of his Emmy campaign for playing Pray Tell in Pose, Porter never shied away from highlighting how supremely fucked up it was that he was even making history in 2019.

Billy Porter is far more than just a celebrity to watch. He is a brutally honest critic of Hollywood’s treatment of the black and LGBTQ+ communities who will not be ignored. — Kayla Cobb

Where to stream Pose

I enjoyed Tim Robinson on Saturday Night Live and I loved Tim Robinson on Detroiters (RIP, old friend), so I wasn’t exactly shocked to discover that the comedian’s 2019 Netflix sketch series I Think You Should Leave was aggressively my jam. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the series — the entire six-episode first season can be enjoyed in less than two hours, FYI — you’ve surely seen a few of the clips as Robinson’s incisive comedy mind pierced the zeitgeist.

Robinson has always been well-respected among comedy nerds, but thanks to I Think You Should Leave, the mordant comedian is finally receiving some well-deserved mainstream acclaim.

Stream I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson on Netflix

Considering that The Mandalorian is the first ever live-action Star Wars show, we really had no idea what to expect from the flagship Disney+ series — and we sure did not expect Baby Yoda.

We don’t know much about this little critter, like whether or not he’s a clone or a literal baby Yoda, but we know one thing for sure: he is cute AF. Baby Yoda doesn’t even need the Force (although the Force, Baby Yoda does have). Baby Yoda can turn all haters into a quivering bundle of tears with just a blink of his big black eyes. From cruising in an egg to sipping the tea, everything Baby Yoda does is meme-able, and that’s what makes this tiny maybe-Jedi the biggest breakout star of 2019. — Brett White

Stream The Mandalorian on Disney+