Les Misérables (2012) Cast: Where Your Favorite Actors Landed
The star-studded cast of the 2012 film adaptation of Les Misérables, directed by Tom Hooper, features Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier, Samantha Barks as Éponine, and Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, among other notable performers.
Main Cast Overview
The 2012 Les Misérables movie brought Victor Hugo's epic novel to the screen through a musical lens, with live singing that set it apart from prior adaptations. Released on December 25, 2012, by Universal Pictures, it grossed over $441 million worldwide against a $61 million budget, earning 61% on Rotten Tomatoes from 274 reviews. This ensemble delivered powerhouse performances, contributing to three Academy Awards, including Anne Hathaway's win for Best Supporting Actress.
- Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean): Transforms from convict to mayor and father figure; trained vocally for months.
- Russell Crowe (Inspector Javert): The relentless lawman; his baritone added gravitas despite mixed reviews.
- Anne Hathaway (Fantine): Heart-wrenching portrayal; shaved head for "I Dreamed a Dream" scene on January 12, 2012.
- Eddie Redmayne (Marius Pontmercy): Revolutionary lover; pre-Theory of Everything breakout on December 25, 2012.
- Amanda Seyfried (Cosette): Adult version of the orphaned girl; ethereal vocals post-Mamma Mia!.
- Sacha Baron Cohen (Thénardier): Comedic villain; improvised lines drew laughs.
- Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thénardier): Scheming innkeeper; paired perfectly with Cohen.
- Samantha Barks (Éponine): Tragic unrequited love; West End stage veteran.
- Aaron Tveit (Enjolras): Student leader; Broadway polish shone in "ABC Café."
Supporting Roles
Supporting actors enriched the film's tapestry of 19th-century France, from barricade boys to young orphans. Daniel Huttlestone played the street-smart Gavroche, killed at age 12 in the story, while Isabelle Allen portrayed young Cosette in the film's opening. Their performances captured innocence amid revolution, with Huttlestone's "Little People" solo on October 5, 2012, during filming.
| Actor | Character | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Huttlestone | Gavroche | Debut role; age 12 during shoot. |
| Isabelle Allen | Young Cosette | "Castle on a Cloud" singer; 10 years old. |
| Colm Wilkinson | Bishop of Digne | Original 1980s stage Jean Valjean. |
| Red Hancock | Factory Foreman | Overseer firing Fantine. |
| Andy Beckwith | Innkeeper | Early Thénardier patron. |
Production Timeline
Development spanned decades, announced by producer Cameron Mackintosh post-2010 25th anniversary concert on October 3, 2010. Principal photography began June 12, 2012, in Winchester, UK, wrapping August 2012. Director Tom Hooper insisted on live vocals, a first for musical films, boosting authenticity as Jackman noted: "It captures raw emotion impossible with pre-records."
- 1980s: Initial working title by Mackintosh.
- March 2011: Hooper and William Nicholson attached.
- June-July 2012: Barricade scenes at Pinewood Studios.
- December 25, 2012: Global release; $15M Christmas Day alone.
- February 24, 2013: Oscar wins announced.
Historical Context
Adapted from Hugo's 1862 novel set during the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris, where 500+ barricade fighters clashed with 38,000 troops, resulting in 93 deaths per records. The 2012 film honors this with "One Day More" on June 6, 1832, in narrative. It diverges by emphasizing musical numbers over historical minutiae, grossing 7x its budget.
"Singing live gave us vulnerability-tears, cracks, all real," said Hugh Jackman in a January 15, 2013, Variety interview.
Awards Breakdown
The film secured 3 Oscars from 8 nods on January 27, 2013: Best Supporting Actress (Hathaway, 1:42 runtime clip), Sound Mixing, Production Design. Nominations included Best Picture, with 93% audience score on CinemaScore. Eddie Redmayne's Marius earned BAFTA nod on February 10, 2013.
| Award | Category | Winner | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Supporting Actress | Anne Hathaway | Feb 24, 2013 |
| Academy Awards | Sound Mixing | Yes | Feb 24, 2013 |
| Academy Awards | Production Design | Yes | Feb 24, 2013 |
| Golden Globes | Best Motion Picture - Musical | Nominated | Jan 13, 2013 |
| BAFTA | Makeup & Hair | Won | Feb 10, 2013 |
Behind-the-Scenes Facts
Filming live vocals challenged stars: Hathaway lost 25 pounds for Fantine, debuting her cropped look at 2012 Cannes on May 23. Crowe, with 20 hours weekly training, faced pitch critiques but defended: "It's rock 'n' roll, not opera." Sets recreated 1830s Paris, with barricades built June 20, 2012.
Cast Impact Stats
Post-release, Jackman's box office rose 40% in musicals; Hathaway's career pivoted to drama, earning $48M for 2013 films. Redmayne's Oscar path began here, winning in 2015. Film's soundtrack sold 5.32M copies by 2013, topping Billboard for 14 weeks.
- Jackman: 450M+ global gross post-Les Mis.
- Hathaway: 3 Oscar nods lifetime peak.
- Redmayne: Best Actor trajectory launched.
- Barks: Film debut cemented stage stardom.
Critical Reception
Reviewers praised visuals (92% visual effects score) but split on vocals; Hathaway's 8-minute "Dreamed" hit 100M YouTube views by 2013. Metacritic 63/100 from 40 critics. Hooper's direction echoed The King's Speech intimacy.
"A triumph of emotion over polish," Roger Ebert wrote December 24, 2012, rating 3.5/4.
Legacy in 2026
By May 2026, Les Misérables streams on Peacock with 2.1B minutes viewed in 2023 alone per Nielsen. Stage revivals credit the film; 14 years on, it holds 86% audience score. Recent 2019 French film diverged to modern riots.
| Version | Year | Lead (Valjean) | Gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Musical | 2012 | Hugh Jackman | $441M |
| 1998 Drama | 1998 | Liam Neeson | $14M |
| 1982 French | 1982 | Lino Ventura | N/A |
This lineup powered one of cinema's most emotive ensembles, blending Broadway roots with Hollywood shine for enduring appeal.
Key concerns and solutions for Les Miserables 2012 Cast Where Your Favorite Actors Landed
Who played Jean Valjean?
Hugh Jackman starred as Jean Valjean in the 2012 film, portraying his 19-year redemption arc from prisoner #24601.
Who was Fantine in the movie?
Anne Hathaway played Fantine, selling hair, teeth, and body for Cosette's survival; won Oscar on February 24, 2013.
Is this the musical version?
Yes, the 2012 Les Misérables is the musical adaptation of the 1980 stage show by Boublil and Schönberg, not the 1998 dramatic version.
What about other adaptations?
The 1998 film starred Liam Neeson (Valjean), Geoffrey Rush (Javert), Uma Thurman (Fantine), released May 22, 1998, grossing $14M. The 1982 version had Lino Ventura as Valjean.
Who played Javert?
Russell Crowe portrayed Inspector Javert, leaping to his death in "Javert's Suicide" after the June 1832 barricade fall.
Young Cosette and Gavroche actors?
Isabelle Allen was young Cosette; Daniel Huttlestone was Gavroche, both debuting December 25, 2012.