Little-Known Ambyr Childers Books PTA’s ‘The Master’ & Ruben Fleischer’s ‘Gangster Squad’

It’s an early sign of talent to watch out for when little-known actors manage to score roles in major, highly anticipated films. Going by that theory then, Ambyr Childers — best known for her stint as Colby Chandler on “All My Children” — is definitely someone to keep an eye on after nabbing a part in Paul Thomas Anderson‘s “The Master” and now joining Ruben Fleischer‘s “Gangster Squad.”

For Anderson’s ‘Master,’ the actress has won the part of the titular cult leader’s daughter, a role that was being eyed for young rising stars such as Amanda Seyfried, Emma Stone and Deborah Ann Woll. When we saw an early draft of the story, the role was a small one with some pretty salacious bits but that may very well have changed with Anderson’s subsequent script revisions.

Philip Seymour Hoffman and Joaquin Phoenix star in Anderson’s film which follows the story of Lancaster Dodd (Hoffman), who returns from WWII and starts a religion, taking Freddie Sutton (Phoenix), a former alcoholic, under his wing. Amy Adams, Jesse Plemons, David Warshofsky, Laura Dern, Lena Endre, Rami Malek, Madisen Beaty, Josh Close and Fiona Dourif all co-star.

Thete’s no word on the extent of Childers’ part in Fleischer’s period pic “Gangster Squad,” however, it is being described as a “key role.” She’ll join a stellar ensemble cast which includes Ryan Gosling, Sean Penn, Anthony Mackie, Michael Peña, Giovanni Ribisi, Emma Stone and Nick Nolte in the story — based on an L.A. Times article by Paul Lieberman — of a specialized L.A.P.D. unit set up in the ‘40s to fight the growing influence of the East Coast Mafia, namely gangster Mickey Cohen, a mogul who started as muscle for Al Capone in Chicago. Penn will play the infamous Cohen with Gosling and Brolin as two cops determined to bring him down.

Both films are set to be unveiled late next year; no word on when ‘Master’ will be released but “Gangster Squad” already has a October 19, 2012 date set and, presumably, fall festival appearances to make before that. [Deadline]