They worked hard, with the rewards coming slowly but surely. Then something came along 鈥� often a key role or sometimes a cluster, maybe an album 鈥� and it all became next-level, a shift triggering where-did-you-come-from vibes.

That describes most of this year鈥檚 nine They are , , , , , , , and .

Sink had been on Broadway and worked alongside stars such as Naomi Watts and Helen Mirren. But playing Max Mayfield in the fourth season of 鈥淪tranger Things,鈥� she broke through as a brave skater girl who never lets go of her Walkman, who hates pink, plays video games and is a 鈥淒ragon鈥檚 Lair鈥� champion.

Hsu also was a Broadway veteran with a few TV credits when she was asked to play both a sullen teen and an intergalactic supervillain in the movie That led to an unforgettable performance that included dressing as Elvis and walking a pig on a leash.

Like many of the others on the list, Kalukango had racked up plenty of Broadway credits when she took a risk and played the lead in a Broadway musical, 鈥淧aradise Square.鈥� It led to a best actress in a leading role Tony Award and a stunning moment in the telecast when she sang 鈥淟et It Burn.鈥�

isn鈥檛 one of Huerta鈥檚 biggest roles but the Mexican actor suddenly launched a hundred memes as the mutant leader of a kingdom based on Mayan and Aztec influences beneath the ocean for centuries. Huerta, known for roles in the Netflix series 鈥淣arcos: Mexico鈥� and the movie 鈥淭he Forever Purge,鈥� has taken a big step for movie diversity.

READ ALSO:

Nwigwe, just nominated for a Grammy as best new artist, has been bubbling up with noted appearances on NPR鈥檚 Tiny Desk Concert series and earning a spot on Michelle Obama鈥檚 2020 workout playlist with 鈥淚鈥檓 Dope.鈥� This year, the Houston-based artist was featured on the 鈥淏lack Panther: Wakanda Forever鈥� soundtrack and dropped the EP 鈥渕oMINTs鈥� to acclaim.

McCormack has worked consistently since 2018 but 2022 seems to have turned into something special with a constellation of roles 鈥� 鈥淧eaky Blinders,鈥� the buzzy, dark comedy thriller 鈥淏ad Sisters,鈥� plus a star-making performance as the title character in the film opposite Emma Thompson.

Ashley, a British actress of Indian heritage with a Tamil background, found herself leading season two of the Regency-era period drama 鈥淏ridgerton.鈥� She had a role in the series 鈥淪ex Education,鈥� but playing the fiercely independent Kate Sharma for Shonda Rhimes was her first lead character in a major production.

Deadwyler burst into the awards race this year with her performance in as Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of teenager Emmett Till, who was lynched in 1955. She has also appeared in 鈥淭he Harder They Come,鈥� 鈥淲atchmen鈥� and the Netflix series 鈥淔rom Scratch鈥� and 鈥淪tation Eleven.鈥�

Vellani, another member of the Marvel Cinematic Universe on this list, is the exception, having had no such slow burn. The 19-year-old actor in 鈥淢s. Marvel鈥� plays a high school student only to find herself suddenly wielding powers of her own. And Vellani, in real life, is just starting to find her powers, like all the entertainers nominated here.

___

For more on AP鈥檚 2022 class of Breakthrough Entertainers, please visit:

The Associated Press

Like us on and follow us on .