He is one the most-nominated actor in this history of the César Awards, France’s equivalent of the Oscars, with 14 nominations and two best actor wins. And yet, outside France and the festival circuit, especially for those under 50, his name still produces blank stares. Unlike Gérard Depardieu, Jean Reno or even Jean Dujardin, Auteuil rose to and has remained at the summit of French cinema without ever really crossing over into Hollywood.