Arranged like a charming 50s co-ed picnic, the young women on the cover of Vanity Fair's latest Young Hollywood issue blur into a row of doll-faced lovelies. But look beyond the pastel confection and you'll find some promising actresses. Look out in particular for two of the nominees for this year's Orange Rising Star award at the Orange British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, Kristen Stewart and Carey Mulligan.
You'll recognise Stewart immediately as the lead in the Twilight franchise, Bella Swan. Rapidly popular with teenagers and their desperately projecting mothers, Stephanie Meyer's novels are works of turgid vampire-drool. Bella Swan has been criticised by both feminists and critics for being a passive cipher for teenage girls everywhere. However, this hasn't stopped people from downloading the
film reviews before they watch it at the cinema.
Yet Stewart plays Bella straight, and so captures perfectly that mood of female adolescence, where sulky self-destruction feels like a grand act of liberation. This strong understanding recalls Stewart's earlier acclaimed roles in Panic Room and Into The Wild and has us looking forward to her forthcoming portrayal of Joan Jett in The Runaways.
Even with her screaming fans at the polls, Stewart is up against some tough competition with British darling Carey Mulligan. You might recognise the 24-year old from her minor TV roles in Bleak House and Dr. Who, or as Kitty, the wilful Bennet daughter in 2005's Pride and Prejudice. But you'll know her best from this year's An Education.
With a strong script by Nick Hornby, An Education is a coming-of-age drama that sneaks feminism in under its trim 60s shifts. With subtlety and coltish charm, Mulligan is magnetic as 16-year old Jenny, at turns self-possessed and vulnerably brittle. The critics were smitten and with 6 BAFTA nominations in major categories and some British pride, An Education is likely to lead with wins, making Mulligan the running favourite.
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