In this article: New faces: Saoirse Ronan, Ben Barnes, Carice van Houten Sports tracks: Tyson Gay, Logan Tom, Shawn Johnson About that Indiana Jones movie... Music notes: Serena Ryder, Jewel, Jessica Simpson, Kelly Clarkson Familiar faces: Mike Myers, The "X-Files" movie, Heath Ledger, Pierce Brosnan Birthdays this week Last week's Who's News Also: Blog: Daily Who's News Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!

FACES TO WATCH IN 2008:

Dear Readers: It's time to meet a few celebrities you'll hear about in the new year -- and reacquaint yourself with favorites who will make news again. May your 2008 be great.

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Learn to pronounce this name: Saoirse (SEER-sha) Ronan. She's the actress, 13, who shows such great depth and range in "Atonement." But don't just take my word for it. Know that Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson already has cast the Irish lass in "The Lovely Bones," due in March 2009, and she stars in "City of Ember," due next October, with Bill Murray.

Another name to know next year and beyond: Ben Barnes. The young Brit, 26, snagged the title role in "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" (May 16) and reportedly will do two sequels.

Also, remember Carice van Houten, 31. The Dutch beauty, who is a star at home, is in upcoming movies opposite leading men. She's with Tom Cruise in "Valkyrie," Leonardo DiCaprio in "Body of Lies" and Jude Law in "Repossession Mambo."

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Sprinter Tyson Gay, named World Athlete of the Year in November, is 25, handsome and tech-savvy. His website is a multimedia experience, and he blogs from competitions across the world, although he jokes that "I don't write as fast as I run." He revs up for races by listening to mellow or spiritual tunes on his iPod. He runs the 100-meter dash in 9.84 seconds.

More Olympians: Logan Tom, 26, a volleyball legend, gets that people think she's attractive but tells us "there is more to me than my looks." She grew up in Salt Lake City and is a Stanford student who will finish her degree "when things slow down." She's balancing pro ball in Europe with favorite pastimes like cooking. She says she likes to "bake for my teammates -- treats and things they like to eat."

Gymnast Shawn Johnson, 15 and only 4-foot-8, is the new Mary Lou (as in Retton); she's a pint-sized powerhouse from Iowa.

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Indiana Jones, I mean Harrison Ford, returns in May after 19 years. Yes, he has been gone too long, but let's just embrace the fact that he's back, even if he'sa bit craggier or more taciturn. Ford, 65, once told me that he never aspired to direct or to be one of those multiple-movies-a-year guys. He just likes making them. And we like watching them.

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I think Serena Ryder, 24, sounds like Alanis Morissette. My daughter, Alicia, says she's more Joan Baez. Either way, Ryder, from Canada, is an important fixture on the music scene there. She will be here, as well, when her U.S. debut CD drops in the spring.

Three hitmakers are turning into country girls. Jewel, 33, made five of her six albums in Nashville and says she's always wanted to make a country CD, but her label was afraid. She will put one out in the spring with the aid of John Rich, of the duo Big & Rich. Jessica Simpson, 27, reportedly working with Rich, as well, also wants to go country. And pop star Kelly Clarkson, 25, will be managed by country superstar Reba McEntire's husband, Narvel Blackstock.

DO NOT MISS:

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Mike Myers as Pitka in "The Love Guru." You've heard him as Shrek, but it has been four years since Myers, 44, has appeared in a movie. Pitka is his new character, a love guru and philosopher of Eastern religion.

Scully and Mulder redux. Rumor has it Gillian Anderson, 39, and David Duchovny, 47, take their partnership to new territory in summer's "The X-Files" movie. Unfortunately, no one is leaking specific spoilers yet because the cast and crew members just arrived on the set this month.

Heath Ledger as the Joker in the newest "Batman, The Dark Knight." Ledger, 28, got so into playing Jack Nicholson's old role that he kept a diary filled with images, thoughts and a list of things that the Joker would find funny.

Pierce Brosnan, 54, singing. ABBA songs, no less, opposite Meryl Streep in "Mamma Mia!," the movie. "What a kick in the pants to be able to go spend some time with Meryl on some Greek island, singing ABBA songs," the actor told "Variety."

Contributing: Jon Tollestrup

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BIRTHDAYS

December 30: Tiger Woods, 32; Tracey Ullman, 48; Matt Lauer, 50
December 31: Joey McIntyre, 35; Li Gong, 42; Val Kilmer, 48
January 1: Frank Langella, 68
January 2: Kate Bosworth, 25; Taye Diggs, 36; Christy Turlington, 39; Cuba Gooding Jr., 40
January 3: Danica McKellar, 33; Mel Gibson, 53
January 4: Julia Ormond, 43; Michael Stipe, 48; Patty Loveless, 51
January 5: Diane Keaton, 62; Robert Duvall, 77

Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!