Seven Rising Hollywood Stars to Watch in 2010

Jan. 4, 2010— -- If the fresh faces turning up now during the Hollywood award season are any indication, there's a new crop of stars eager to claim the Hollywood throne.

Of course, Meryl Streep may not be moving over anytime soon. Streep is competing against herself at the Golden Globes with two best actress nominations in the motion picture, comedy category for "Julie and Julia" and "It's Complicated."

But look for newcomers Carey Mulligan and Gabourey Sidibe to possibly compete against Streep, the Academy's most nominated actress, when the Oscar nominees are announced the day after the Golden Globe Awards, which air Jan. 17.

"It will be a race between the veterans and the rookies, the most nominated performer ever against two young upstarts," Entertainment Weekly senior writer Dave Karger told ABCNews.com.

At the Globes, Mulligan, the star of "An Education," and Sidibe, the star of "Precious," are both up for best actress in the motion picture, drama category.

Another new face, Anna Kendrick will compete for best supporting actress in a motion picture at the Globes and is likely to pick up an Oscar nod in the same category.

Known to the teen-tween set for her role as Bella's classmate in the "Twilight" blockbuster series, Kendrick is winning kudos for holding her own as a young upstart opposite movie veteran George Clooney in "Up in the Air."

Not all the fresh faces belong to young upstarts. Jeremy Renner, 38, who plays a bomb technician in the critically acclaimed "The Hurt Locker," and Christoph Waltz, 53, the Austrian-born villain of Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds," are both long-time actors who are finally enjoying the spotlight. Waltz is considered the front-runner for the Academy's best supporting actor next year.

Here are seven stars-in-the-making to watch for this award season and beyond:

Carey Mulligan