Sydneysider turned Hollywood star: Patti Cake$' Danielle Macdonald is your new obsession

Danielle Macdonald is a name you're going to want to remember.

The 26-year-old graduated from Sydney's Northern Beaches to become one of Hollywood's most exciting new breakouts.

"I love Sydney. I would happily live here forever," she tells TheFIX. "But I knew there was more opportunity overseas, so I needed to go explore that."

And opportunity she found: After roles on Glee, 2 Broke Girls, and American Horror Story, Danielle landed the lead role in this year's buzzy indie film Patti Cake$.

The bubbly Australian's turn as a blue-collar New Jersey teen slash aspiring rapper surprised even those closest to her.

"When I told my friends I was going to be playing a rapper from Jersey, they were like 'Uh huh. OK, yeah sure. They were very confused, as was I," she says. "But I guess you don't really know what you can do until you try."

Her heartfelt Patti Cake$ performance (which, yes, includes impressive rap skills and a spot-on New Jersey accent) quickly earned her comparisons to another overnight sensation.

"Not since Jennifer Lawrence have I seen a star like this," gushed Sundance Film Festival director John Cooper ahead of the film's premiere.

But Danielle is taking the kudos in stride.

"I don't even know what to say! It's been really overwhelming and really incredible," she says. "Jennifer's a phenomenal actress."

The Sydneysider's star is quickly rising. She's just begun shooting the big-screen adaptation of Dumplin', in which she plays Jennifer Aniston's pageant queen daughter.

"I love the book so much, so I'm very excited," Danielle tells TheFIX. "I met Jen for the first time right after a flight back to LA from New York.   

"It was so jarring to go from being an uncomfortable middle seat for six hours to being in Jennifer Aniston's house."

Patti Cake$ is in Australian cinemas now.