Five sultry stars are the new faces for fall
Now that it seems Justin Timberlake has fallen off the face of the earth, and the summer owned by Jessica Alba is over, it is time to introduce (or re-introduce) five starlets worth keeping an eye on this fall.
Some veterans to the spotlight, a couple new to the red carpet, and a few coming back with a bang, the talents chosen for this it-list were picked due to their daring career moves and drive to take center stage.
First up is Jared Padalecki. Since winning Fox’s 1999 Claim to Fame contest, where the winner presented a Teen Choice Award, Padalecki’s career has taken off. Rory fans may recognize Jared as Dean Forester from “Gilmore Girls,” which he played from 2001 – 2004. After leaving “Gilmore,” Jared made appearances in a few noteworthy films, including: “New York Minute,” “Flight of the Phoenix” and “House of Wax.” Now Padalecki is continuing his scream success with horror film “Cry_Wolf,” about an instant messenger killer, and a new show on the WB called “Supernatural,” where two brothers(Padalecki and “Dawson’s Creek’s” Jensen Ackles) chase urban legends. “Supernatural” has quickly developed a cult following, which could soon make Padalecki a household name, following in the footsteps of vampire slayer Sarah Michelle Gellar. “Supernatural” airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m.
Joining Jared in must watch television shows premiering this fall are Nicolas Brendan and Sean Farris. Any pop culture junkie will recognize Brendan as Xander Harris, the two-cents-short-of-a-dollar Scoobie from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” After “Buffy’s” seven-season run ended in 2003, Brendan felt he owed it to fans to wait until he found a project he loved to return to the screen. And he has, with this season’s wildest sitcom, “Kitchen Confidential” (Mondays at 8:30 p.m.). With an ensemble cast that includes “Sin City’s” Jamie King, Brendan stars in this raunchy culinary Fox show as a neurotic pastry chef.
Joining Brendan on Fox is Sean Harris, the star of this season’s most original drama series, “Reunion.” The show follows a group of six friends from 1986 to 2006, with each episode being a year in the lives of the characters. Farris will also appear on the big screen before the year’s end with Dennis Quaid in “Yours, Mine and Ours,” about a family with 18 children. “Reunion” airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. after “The O.C.”
The Ladies ruling this fall are two women who have reinvented themselves. Nicole Richie should not be a surprised to make this it-list. After stepping out of Paris Hilton’s shadow, Ms. Richie has done a career 360, making her into one of Hollywood’s most in-demand divas. Currently gracing the cover of “Teen Vogue”, Nicole tells the magazine she will be looking to release her already critically acclaimed debut pop/rock album later this year, making her film debut in “Kids in America,” as well as planning her marriage to DJ A.M.
Shedding her teen image and searching for stardom is Rachel Blanchard. Best know from role as Cher in TV’s “Clueless,” “Road Trip” and “Without a Paddle,” Blanchard is now starring with Hollywood bigwigs Kevin Bacon and Colin Firth in the steamy NC-17 “Where the Truth Lies.” The starlet plays a beautiful woman who is found dead in Bacon and Firth’s hotel room. This film, which may get Bacon an Oscar nod, is the type of film Blanchard needed to be taken as a serious actress.
As the wind blows and leaves fall, prepare to get rocked because Padalecki, Brendan, Farris, Richie and Blanchard are a star force that is going to take Hollywood by storm.