Jean Dujardin

Jean Edmond Dujardin (; born 19 June 1972) is a French actor and comedian. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in Paris before guest starring in comedic television programmes and films. He first came to prominence with the popular TV series Un gars, une fille (1999–2003), in which he starred alongside his partner Alexandra Lamy, before becoming a popular film actor with comedies such as Brice de Nice, Michel Hazanavicius's OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies (2006), its sequel OSS 117: Lost in Rio (2009) and OSS 117: From Africa with Love (2021), and 99 Francs (2007).

Dujardin garnered international fame and widespread acclaim with his performance of George Valentin in the 2011 award-winning silent movie The Artist by Hazanavicius. The role won him numerous awards, including the Academy Award for Best Actor (the first for a French actor), the Golden Globe Award, the BAFTA Award, the Screen Actors Guild Award and the Cannes Film Festival's Best Actor Award. Despite this newfound popularity, he chose to keep his focus on France, where he remains a popular actor, although he later appeared in the English-language films The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and The Monuments Men (2014).

Early life Jean Dujardin was born on 19 June 1972 in the commune of Rueil-Malmaison, Hauts-de-Seine department, Île-de-France region, in the western suburbs of Paris. He grew up in neighbouring Plaisir, Yvelines. After attending high school, he went to work for the construction company of his father, Jacques Dujardin, as a locksmith. Dujardin began contemplating a career in acting while serving his mandatory military service a few years later. He later went on to win the Screen Actors Guild for Best Actor, and the BAFTA for Best Actor. He was also nominated for the César award of the best actor but lost it to Omar Sy for his role in the second most ever viewed movie in France Intouchables. Dujardin went on to win the Best Actor award at the 84th Academy Awards. In effect he is the fourth French actor to be nominated for an Oscar and the first to win the Best Actor. Following his Oscar nomination for his role in The Artist, WME agency signed the actor.

French film historian Tim Palmer has analyzed Dujardin's career and rise to success in France, noting how his formative roles were often unredeemable buffoons, very skillful portrayals of childlike men who aggressively and unabashedly reject the responsibilities and compromises of adult life. Dujardin's breakthrough roles as Brice de Nice and OSS 117 exemplified this tendency.

In February 2012, Dujardin appeared in Les Infidèles with co-star and friend Gilles Lellouche. He was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in June 2012 along with 175 other individuals. In 2013, Dujardin starred in Éric Rochant's Möbius with Cécile de France and Tim Roth.

His second film that year was Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street, playing alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, and Kyle Chandler, among others. He appeared in The Monuments Men, directed by George Clooney, and co-starring Clooney, Matt Damon, and Cate Blanchett, and starred in the French film Le Petit Joueur.

In late 2014, La French, was released in Europe and subsequently in the United States in early 2015. He plays a French police magistrate who tries to dismantle the French Connection and bring down the Unione Corse.

Personal life Dujardin has been married three times and has four children. His first marriage, to Gaëlle Demars, ended in 2003. They have two sons, born in 2000 and 2001. In 2003, he started dating his on-screen partner Alexandra Lamy of the comedy series Un gars, une fille; the two had originally met at the audition, and fell in love while shooting the series. They married in Anduze on 25 July 2009. In November 2013, it was announced that the couple had separated.

He began dating French ice dancer Nathalie Péchalat in 2014 after following her to Japan to watch her perform in the world ice skating championships, and they had a daughter whom they named Jeanne, in December 2015. They married on 19 May 2018 in a small ceremony. Péchalat gave birth to daughter Alice in February 2021.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music video 2005 : "Le Casse de Brice" (directed by J.G. Biggs) 2016 : "Pour un pote" featuring Bigflo & Oli

Award and nominations Year Association Category Nominated work Result2005 NRJ Ciné Award Best Look Brice de Nice Best Quote 2006 Étoile d'Or Award Best Actor OSS 117: Cairo, Nest of Spies César Award Best Actor Globes de Cristal Award Best Actor NRJ Ciné Award Actor of the Year Best Look Best Kiss Best Quote Raimu Award Comedy 2007 Raimu Award Comedy 99 Francs Étoile d'Or Award Best Actor 2009 Globes de Cristal Award Best Actor OSS 117: Lost in Rio 2010 Cabourg Film Festival Best Actor A View of Love 2011 Academy Award Best Actor The Artist AACTA Award Best Actor BAFTA Award Best Actor in a Leading Role Cannes Film Festival Best Actor Award Golden Globe Award Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Hollywood Film Festival Spotlight Award Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award Best Actor London Film Critics Circle Actor of the Year Phoenix Film Critics Society Award Best Actor Santa Barbara International Film Festival Cinema Vanguard Award Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding by an Actor in a Leading Role Étoile d'Or Award Best Actor Women Film Critics Circle Award Best Screen Couple (with Bérénice Bejo) Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Actor Critics' Choice Movie Awards Best Actor Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award Best Actor César Award Best Actor Chicago Film Critics Association Best Actor Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Actor Detroit Film Critics Society Best Actor European Film Award Best Actor Globes de Cristal Award Best Actor Houston Film Critics Society Best Actor Lumière Awards Best Actor National Society of Film Critics Best Actor New York Film Critics Circle Best Actor Online Film Critics Society Best Actor San Diego Film Critics Society Best Actor Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Best Actor Utah Film Critics Association Award Best Actor Vancouver Film Critics Circle Best Actor Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Actor Women Film Critics Circle Best Actor 2019 César Award Best Actor An Officer and a Spy Lumière Awards Best Actor 2022 César Award Best Actor November