THE AWARDS EDITION 2011-2012

Best Actor Nominee DujardinEnjoying Life in the Gardenof Oscar ® DelightsBy AnthonyD'AlessandroIt’s easy to pass off Jean Dujardin’s swath through awards season as the stuffthat’s made by Weinstein machines.Hardly so. When the Screen Actors Guild ® lauded its bestacting prize to the unknown French actor stateside overHollywood fave George Clooney, it was clear that thestatus quo voted with their hearts and not for their friends.Furthermore, Dujardin’s limited English proficiencyhasn’t held him back in advancing during awards season(this interview was conducted with the help of a translator).While Clooney flawlessly morphs his dramatic essencefrom Michael Clayton through The Descendants, Dujardin – aClooney-type in his homeland – trumps with his bygoneset of dancing and mime skills, talents that appeared tobe channeled from the Gallic forefather Marcel Marceau.Dujardin admits that he was daunted by the challengesof portraying Hollywood silent film actor GeorgeValentin – a composite of Douglas Fairbanks and GeneKelly, topped off by the French actor’s uncanny ClarkGable mug, however, he’s just being modest. Checkout his previous collaboration with The Artist helmerMichel Hazanavicius, the 0SS 117 franchise, andit’s obvious that the actor’s physical talents were alreadythere; the local comedy being a mere warm-up before hisgraduation to silent black and white shtick.Awardsline: I understand you were hesitant before committing to TheArtist because it was a silent movie. What worried you about this project?JEAN DUJARDIN: The unknown. I didn’t now King Vidor’smovies and I was worried that Michel would ask me touphold the entire film. I didn’t want to do a sub-categoryof Chaplin. Chaplin is unique, but there’s only one. Michelsaid ‘No, I want to make a love story.’ And he toldthat with the camera. But there was a short week of doubtof ‘What am I getting myself into?!’ Then I regretted everthinking like that because I never think of the completedfilm, rather the adventure of what I’m about to live.A|l: 0SS 117 is another Hollywood homage, but to 1960 spycinema like the 007 films. Did you feel pressure to uphold that film?DUJARDIN: No because I was chosen before Michelcommitted. I had a huge hit with the producers prior, andthey offered me the part from the script and then theypresented me with lots of different directors and I metMichel.A|l: You’re one of the highest paid actors in France [Dujardin’ssalary per film is estimated at $3 million]…DUJARDIN: I don’t think so [laughing], but I make a good living.A|l: Was there any concern that if The Artist tanked at the boxoffice, it would tarnish your possibilities of securing future roles? Wasthere a risk career wise of taking this film on?DUJARDIN: No, I never think in those terms, otherwise Icouldn’t be doing this as a profession. As an actor anddirector, you have to take risks, even though I don’t likesaying that word. You can make a mistake. In manycases for an actor it’s a comfortable position to be in.But it’s harder to fail as a director. Nonetheless, Michelis condemned to only making masterpieces because itwould have been very arrogant to make a movie like thisif it hadn’t been a success. But you can’t think of thesethings before you commit. You have to remain fresh andhave the desire to make something.Dujardin at the SAG ® AwardsA|l: Harvey Weinstein is known for taking actors and directorsunder his wing. Has he been a godfather to you in your career? Hashe made suggestions to you as far as what genres or projects youshould tackle as an actor?DUJARDIN: At the moment Harvey is doing what he doesbest – we made the movie and now he’s selling it. WithoutHarvey it would be hard to reach the audiences here.24 The Awards Edition 2011-2012 Issue 07Dujardin in the artistA|l: Is campaigning for the César Awards similar to the Oscars ® ?DUJARDIN: [laughing] Not at all in any way, shape or form!Let me tell you how it [the Césars] works: They sendout the screeners to the Academy, voters watch the filmat their house, they fill out their ballots and there’s oneceremony and that’s it. No Q&A’s. You just look at themovie, you watch and then vote.A|l: Since getting awards traction, have you received any interestingfilm offers, now that you’re signed to a major Hollywood agency?DUJARDIN: Nothing concrete in Hollywood for the moment,but I’m in no rush. I’m living this adventure now becauseI don’t like having too many projects in the pipeline. I liketo focus on what’s at hand. I don’t like to shoot too manymovies since I like to do them well. Next up for me is a spythriller, Möbius, which starts shooting in April.A|l: Given how global you’ve become as a star, are they changing thatscript around to sell you to wider audience outside of France?DUJARDIN: That’s not my style at all. I give myself overto another director and as an actor I make myself fullyavailable. I don’t represent myself as a star, but an actorwho wants to make movies. •