Ten Actors Selected by Variety Discuss Craft at Newport Beach

Variety presented its list of ten emerging performers for the 2026 awards season at a panel in Newport Beach, California, on October 18. The group gathered at the Balboa Bay Resort to discuss their professional development and acting techniques. The event was organized in partnership with the Newport Beach Film Festival.

The participants represented a variety of recent film projects. The lineup included Jaafar Jackson from Michael, Inde Navarrette from Obsession, Ray Nicholson from The Mosquito Bowl, and Esmé Creed-Miles from Sense and Sensibility. Mariana Di Girólamo from Wild Horse Nine and Rosalind Eleazar from Misty Green also took part. Guitarricadelafuente from La Bola Negra, Summer H. Howell from Carrie, Ruth Madeley from Being Heumann, and Joseph Zada from The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping completed the group.

Inde Navarrette addressed the difficulties of portraying the character Nikki in Obsession. She noted that the source material provided limited details about the real person, which required her to construct the role from scratch. Navarrette described this process as her first opportunity to exercise substantial creative freedom within a production.

She observed that the complexity of Nikki resonated with audiences, particularly women who identified with the character's multifaceted nature. Navarrette stated that she finds beauty in the idea that people are composed of multiple selves. She mentioned that audience members often approach her to share how they see themselves in Nikki, despite the character's challenging traits.

Jaafar Jackson discussed the process of embodying his uncle, Michael Jackson, for the film Michael. He explained that he aimed to project the confidence and presence of an experienced actor rather than a first-time performer. Jackson emphasized the need to remain adaptable to unexpected events that occur during filming or in the moments leading up to a take.

He described his preparation as a method of staying within the mindset of Michael Jackson. This approach allowed him to react naturally to the unpredictable nature of the production environment. Jackson expressed satisfaction with his ability to maintain that focused state throughout the experience.

The panel served as the primary platform for these ten actors to share their insights with the film community in Newport Beach. Each performer brought specific examples from their recent work to illustrate their points on character development and professional confidence.