Claire Danes Is on Top of This Week’s List of Most Popular Celebs

From prestige TV leads to blockbuster mainstays and rising talents, this week’s most popular celebs span drama, comedy, genre fare, and everything in between. Below, you’ll find quick primers on what each name is best known for, recent or notable projects to check out, and a few career highlights to help you put the hype in context.

Karolina Wydra

Karolina Wydra is a Polish-American actor known for recurring roles on ‘House’ and ‘True Blood’. She has appeared in series such as ‘Twin Peaks’ and ‘Sneaky Pete’. Film credits include ‘Europa Report’ and ‘Incarnate’. Wydra began as a model before transitioning to acting in U.S. and international projects.

Catherine Laga’aia

Catherine Laga’aia is an Australian actor selected to portray Moana in Disney’s live-action adaptation of ‘Moana’. She comes from a family with industry ties, including her father, actor Jay Laga’aia. The casting brought significant attention to her emerging career. Prior to the role, she worked in local productions and training programs.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is a global box-office star known for leading the ‘Mission: Impossible’ franchise. His filmography includes ‘Top Gun’, ‘Jerry Maguire’, ‘Minority Report’, and ‘Edge of Tomorrow’. Cruise is noted for performing many of his own stunts and collaborating with directors like Steven Spielberg and Christopher McQuarrie. He began acting in the early 1980s and has also produced numerous films.

Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly is best known for her role as Lyla Garrity in the series ‘Friday Night Lights’. She has appeared in ‘Parenthood’, ‘Almost Human’, and portrayed Dawn Granger in ‘Titans’. Film work includes ‘The Roommate’ and ‘500 Days of Summer’. Kelly has published a memoir detailing her early life and career.

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo is a Tony, Grammy, and Emmy winner for her performance in ‘The Color Purple’ on Broadway. She earned an Academy Award nomination for portraying Harriet Tubman in ‘Harriet’. Screen credits include ‘Widows’, ‘Bad Times at the El Royale’, and the series ‘Genius’. Erivo is also a recording artist with solo releases and soundtrack contributions.

Natalie Morales

Natalie Morales is an actor and filmmaker who co-wrote and directed ‘Language Lessons’. She also directed the comedy ‘Plan B’ and has acted in series such as ‘The Middleman’, ‘Parks and Recreation’, and ‘Dead to Me’. Morales has appeared in features including ‘Battle of the Sexes’ and ‘No Hard Feelings’. She frequently works in both English- and Spanish-language projects.

Guillermo del Toro

Guillermo del Toro is an Oscar-winning filmmaker celebrated for ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ and ‘The Shape of Water’. His work spans dark fantasy, horror, and adventure, with titles like ‘Crimson Peak’, ‘Pacific Rim’, and the anthology series ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’. Del Toro is also a producer and co-author of the novel trilogy that inspired ‘The Strain’. He is noted for practical creature design and richly detailed world-building.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo DiCaprio is an Academy Award winner known for films including ‘Titanic’, ‘The Departed’, ‘Inception’, and ‘The Revenant’. He frequently collaborates with directors such as Martin Scorsese, starring in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ and ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’. DiCaprio began acting as a child on television before moving into feature films. He is also a producer and environmental advocate through his foundation.

Rhea Seehorn

Rhea Seehorn earned major acclaim for playing Kim Wexler in ‘Better Call Saul’. She has appeared in series such as ‘Whitney’, ‘I’m With Her’, and ‘Veep’. Seehorn also starred in the thriller ‘Linoleum’ and has a background in theater and visual arts. She has directed episodic television and short-form projects in addition to acting.

Glen Powell

Glen Powell broke out to a wide audience with ‘Top Gun: Maverick’. He co-wrote and starred in the romantic comedy ‘Anyone But You’ and led the crime caper ‘Hit Man’. Earlier roles include ‘Everybody Wants Some!!’, ‘Set It Up’, and the series ‘Scream Queens’. Powell studied at the University of Texas at Austin before relocating to Los Angeles.

Brittany Snow

Brittany Snow is an actor and producer recognized for the musical comedy franchise ‘Pitch Perfect’. She first rose to prominence on television with roles in ‘Guiding Light’ and ‘American Dreams’. Film credits include ‘Hairspray’, ‘Prom Night’, and ‘X’. Snow co-founded the Love Is Louder movement, a mental-health initiative.

Mia Goth

Mia Goth is known for her work in the horror trilogy comprising ‘X’, ‘Pearl’, and ‘MaXXXine’. Her filmography also includes ‘Suspiria’, ‘A Cure for Wellness’, and ‘Emma’. Goth has collaborated with auteurs across genres, building a reputation for intense, character-driven performances. She began modeling as a teenager before transitioning to acting.

Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi gained international attention as Nate Jacobs in the series ‘Euphoria’. He starred in the thriller ‘Saltburn’ and portrayed Elvis Presley in ‘Priscilla’. Earlier, he appeared in the teen rom-com trilogy ‘The Kissing Booth’. Elordi was born in Brisbane and began acting in school productions before moving into film and television.

Matthew Rhys

Matthew Rhys is widely recognized for his lead role as Philip Jennings in ‘The Americans’, which earned him an Emmy. He headlined HBO’s period noir ‘Perry Mason’ and appeared in the film ‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’. Earlier credits include ‘Brothers & Sisters’ and the BBC series ‘The Edge of Love’. Rhys is also known for audiobook narration and stage work.

Claire Danes

Claire Danes is an Emmy-winning actor best known for playing Carrie Mathison in the thriller series ‘Homeland’. She first broke out as Angela Chase in ‘My So-Called Life’ and later earned acclaim for the limited series ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’. Danes has starred in films such as ‘Romeo + Juliet’, ‘The Hours’, and ‘Stardust’. She trained at Yale for a time before focusing full-time on acting.

Share your picks for who should make the list next week in the comments!