OVERLAY REPORT

Determining the "most famous" actor in *Midnight in Paris* (2011) depends on whether you measure fame by box office star power, prestige/awards, or unique cultural celebrity. However, at the time of its release in May 2011, **Owen Wilson** was the most famous actor in the cast in terms of global name recognition and mainstream commercial success as a leading man. ### The Most Famous Actor: Owen Wilson At the time of release, Owen Wilson was at the height of his "A-list" status as a cornerstone of the "Frat Pack" (a group of high-profile comedic actors). He had spent the previous decade headlining massive blockbusters and was the primary "hook" for general audiences. His fame was particularly high in May 2011 because he was also reprising his voice role as Lightning McQueen in Pixar's *Cars 2*, which was released just a month later. #### Other Notable Films (Prior to 2011) * ***Wedding Crashers* (2005):** One of the most successful R-rated comedies of all time. Wilson starred as John Beckwith, a divorce mediator who sneaks into weddings to meet women. This film solidified his status as a major box office draw. * ***Cars* (2006):** Wilson provided the voice for the lead character, Lightning McQueen, in this massive Disney/Pixar franchise. The character became a global pop-culture icon, especially among younger audiences. * ***Zoolander* (2001):** He played the "so hot right now" rival model, Hansel, opposite Ben Stiller. The film became a massive cult classic and is one of his most quoted roles. * ***The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001):** Directed by Wes Anderson, this film earned Wilson an Academy Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay (which he co-wrote). He also starred as Eli Cash, a role that highlighted his ability to blend comedy with melancholic depth. * ***Marley & Me* (2008):** A major commercial success where he played the lead alongside Jennifer Aniston. It demonstrated his ability to carry a successful family drama/comedy. --- ### Other Highly Famous Contenders in 2011 While Wilson was the lead and the biggest commercial star, the film was notable for having a "stacked" cast of actors who were also at their peak: * **Rachel McAdams (Inez):** At the time, she was one of Hollywood’s biggest "it girls" and leading ladies. She was already famous for ***Mean Girls* (2004)**, ***The Notebook* (2004)**, and was currently starring in the ***Sherlock Holmes* (2009)** franchise as Irene Adler. * **Marion Cotillard (Adriana):** She held the most prestige in the cast, having won the Best Actress Oscar for ***La Vie en Rose* (2007)**. She was also coming off the global phenomenon ***Inception* (2010)**, where she played the pivotal role of Mal. * **Kathy Bates (Gertrude Stein):** A veteran "legend" of the industry, Bates was famous for her Oscar-winning role in ***Misery* (1990)** and her performance in ***Titanic* (1997)**. * **Adrien Brody (Salvador Dalí):** He was famously the youngest Best Actor Oscar winner for ***The Pianist* (2002)** and had recently starred in the blockbuster ***King Kong* (2005)**. * **Carla Bruni (Museum Guide):** Though she had a small role, she was arguably the most famous person in the cast in a non-cinematic sense; she was the **First Lady of France** (wife of President Nicolas Sarkozy) at the time the film was shot and released. * **Tom Hiddleston (F. Scott Fitzgerald):** Interestingly, he was the "least" famous of the main stars at the time. However, ***Thor*** (his debut as Loki) was released the very same month as *Midnight in Paris*, meaning he became a global superstar while this film was still in theaters.