# Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch Detail Tapping Into Dark Characters and Gaining Confidence at Newport Beach Film Festival

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/varietys-10-actors-to-watch-detail-tapping-into-dark-characters-and-gaining-confidence-at-newport-beach-film-festival/
- Published: 2026-10-28T17:05:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T17:21:50+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/awards/fashion/10-actors-to-watch-panel-newport-beach-film-festival-video-1236932443/
- Topics: Art, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Film, TV

## Key points

- Ten actors discussed their craft at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
- Inde Navarrette spoke about shaping a complex character in “Obsession”.
- Jaafar Jackson described preparing to portray his uncle, Michael Jackson.

## Summary

Ten performers named in Variety’s 2026 Actors to Watch took part in a panel at the Newport Beach Film Festival on 18 October, discussing performance, craft and how they approach roles. Their conversation highlighted the different challenges actors face as they develop characters, and offered a glimpse of performers attracting attention ahead of awards season.

Inde Navarrette said she had room to shape Nikki in “Obsession” because little was known about the real person, and valued the character’s complexity. Jaafar Jackson described preparing to portray his uncle, Michael Jackson, and building the confidence to handle unexpected changes on set. The other panellists were Ray Nicholson, Esmé Creed-Miles, Mariana Di Girólamo, Rosalind Eleazar, Guitarricadelafuente, Summer H. Howell, Ruth Madeley and Joseph Zada.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.