2011 Celebrities: Who Had The Best Year? Adele, Fassbender, Chastain & More

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/31/2011-celebrities-who-had-the-best-year_n_1177588.html#s582570&title=Michael_Fassbender

2011 Celebrities: Who Had The Best Year? Adele, Fassbender, Chastain & More

Posted: 12/31/11 04:42 PM ET

As we count down the final hours of 2011 and look forward to (perhaps drunkenly!) turning the calendar to 2012, the general consensus amongst resolution makers is the same as always: have a better next year.

For some people in Hollywood, however, keeping things exactly the same sounds like a pretty good option, too.

In a town of winners and losers, these stars came out on top in 2011, with big hits, big headlines and big smiles. From breakout stars with a career's worth of film credits in one year to spotlight grabbers with the smarts to keep interviewers wanting more, the following celebs had some of the best years in the business.

Let's see. Starring roles in "Jane Eyre," "X-Men: First Class," "Shame," "A Dangerous Method" and the upcoming "Haywire." His man part made consistent headlines this fall and helped earn him a Golden Globe nomination. He's got parts in the upcoming "Prometheus" and "Twelve Years A Slave," too.