French star is top dog at awards yet again

The world should plan on hearing a lot more from Jean Dujardin, the handsome and expressive actor whose portrayal of a silent film star has won him acting’s top honour.

The actor, dubbed a French George Clooney, beat the real Clooney on Sunday night for the best actor Oscar, capping a run of accolades heaped on him and The Artist in recent months.

“I love your country,” the first Frenchman to win an acting Oscar said. He looked out on the audience packed and declared: “So many of you here tonight have inspired me.”