Jean Dujardin: Can 'The Artist' Star Become A Hollywood Icon?

When audiences talk about "The Artist," it's usually about Uggie. The dog. Lost in the mix is poor Jean Dujardin, the actual lead in the movie. Although, that's not to say the French actor has been completely ignored -- he is the favorite to win Best Actor at this year's Oscars following a win in the same category at the Screen Actors Guild awards last month. So, after Dujardin's role in "The Artist," is he ready to take Hollywood by storm?

This week's Hollywood Reporter explores the likelihood of Jean Dujardin becoming a household name in America. Unfortunately, it might be tough -- particularly since his first language is French. "[Jean] could only get cast in a U.S. movie that had a role for a person who's French," said Laray Mayfield, a casting director for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo." "An American actor is not going to get cast in a French movie either, unless they've got a part for an American."

However, not everyone is a detractor. Harvey Weinstein, in full "Artist" Oscar campaign mode, is on the Dujardin bandwagon. "I don't think I've seen someone with such international star appeal since Marcello Mastroianni and Sophia Loren. The drama, the comedy, the song and dance -- he is the consummate cinema buff who brings great ideas and energy to every project he's involved in."

Only time will tell whether Jean makes it big here in the States, but should he continue to charm audiences both onscreen and in television appearances, he could be OK. Watch him on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" to see his budding star bona fides (video above). They don't call him the French George Clooney for nothing.

You can read the entire profile on Dujardin over on THR.

[via THR]

Also on HuffPost:

Comments

[Pumpsie]

09:20 AM on 02/09/2012

I thought he was very funny in the OSS films (the first one is better than the second, I'll admit) as the clueless, sexist secret agent. He uses his eyebrows really well. So, he might have a Marion Cotillard kind of career if he can master English a bit better. Like Clooney, he seems pretty versatile as well as likable..

[hemnebob]

08:32 AM on 02/09/2012

YES!!!
and YES AGAIN!!
he is beautiful.

[Popol Sky]

06:28 AM on 02/09/2012

Les américains sont de grand enfants et Dujardin est leur prophète.

[frankystein12]

12:43 AM on 02/09/2012

That were some sexy moves.

[littlebrowngirl]

11:59 PM on 02/08/2012

The guy gas a great name and looks great. He will do well.

[artemrss]

11:17 PM on 02/08/2012

Very charming, very likeable.

[catbite]

08:01 PM on 02/08/2012

He's talented, witty, charming and he can dance. I'm in love.

[PelePele10]

06:39 PM on 02/08/2012

Frankly the man's eyebrows have a career of their own.

[jjgg5]

06:22 PM on 02/08/2012

He's far more interesting than George Clooney and Brad Pitt.

[DJCranky]

07:59 PM on 02/08/2012

Right on.

[Thisbeautifulplanet]

01:55 PM on 02/09/2012

There is more talent in Dujardin's thumb than in Clooney's and Pitt's whole bodies. He is a versatile actor and a genuinely humble man, unlike the latters.

[americancolonyinhell]

05:55 PM on 02/08/2012

Not if he doesn't get out of the garden he can't.

[Pali Dumtur]

05:48 PM on 02/08/2012

Jean Dujardin is very good in "Le bruit des glaçons", a very dark comedy by Bertrand Blier (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1517214/).
I didn't like him in the OSS films or in "Brice de Nice". Wasn't his fault, the films were just bad.
I'm sure he can have some nice career in Hollywood, not only in France.
The French accent of the character can be explained in a 1000 ways.

[PelePele10]

06:38 PM on 02/08/2012

Dude, glad I'm not the only one that couldn't stay awake through an OSS film. My french boyfriend LOVES those films while I just couldn't....I tried! If learns english why shouldn't he be a star?

[James Markham]

05:00 PM on 02/08/2012

Charm, looks, and charisma. Work on your English a little bit....and viola' ..... Great future!

[GleekEchelon]

04:38 PM on 02/08/2012

I love Jean Dujardin and this attention around him is kinda funny when I'm thinking that french people discovered him in a mini sitcom called "Un gars, une fille" (A guy, a girl)... And now Hollywood loves him, this is just crazy! I'm really happy for him

[Patrice77]

04:24 PM on 02/08/2012

He was standing next to Clooney in the Oscar School Photo 2012 [that you can see somewhere here on HuffPost] and he outshone Clooney in icon-ness. He's got the looks and the charisma. If he get roles suited to that, we'll see a lot more of him here in the US. I can only hope. I adored him in the OSS films.

[sacmom3]

03:16 PM on 02/08/2012

He became a star to me the first moment I laid eyes on him in The Actor. Quite a refreshing change from the greasy, no talent young punks on the acting scene in America today.