Academy Award for Best Actor

2011

Jean Dujardin

as

George Valentin

The Artist

Jean Dujardin (French: [ʒɑ̃ dy.ʒaʁ.dɛ̃]; born 19 June 1972) is a French actor, director, producer and comedian. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in Paris before starting his acting career guest-starring in comedic television programs and films. He starred in Michel Hazanavicius's OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies and its sequel OSS 117: Lost in Rio as secret agent Hubert Bonisseur de La Bath. He also starred in 99F (99 francs).

Dujardin garnered international fame and widespread acclaim with his performance of George Valentin in the 2011 award-winning silent movie The Artist. The role won him numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role and the Cannes Film Festival Best Actor. He became the first French actor in history to win the Academy Award for Best Actor.

He later appeared in Martin Scorsese's 2013 black comedy The Wolf of Wall Street and George Clooney's 2014 historical drama, The Monuments Men.