Les Misérables 2012: Notable Cast And The Characters They Portrayed
- 01. Meet the 2012 Les Mis Cast and the Roles They Brought to Life
- 02. Lead Roles and Performers
- 03. Romantic and Revolutionary Ensemble
- 04. Comic Relief: The Thénardiers
- 05. Supporting Young Performers
- 06. Production Facts and Casting Trivia
- 07. Impact and Legacy Statistics
- 08. Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Meet the 2012 Les Mis Cast and the Roles They Brought to Life
The 2012 Les Misérables film adaptation features Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette, Eddie Redmayne as Marius Pontmercy, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thénardier, Samantha Barks as Éponine, and Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, among other key performers in this epic musical directed by Tom Hooper and released on December 25, 2012. This all-star ensemble brought Victor Hugo's 1862 novel to life through live-sung performances, grossing $441.8 million worldwide against a $61 million budget. The cast's chemistry powered the film's three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Hathaway.
Lead Roles and Performers
Jean Valjean, the ex-convict seeking redemption, is portrayed by Hugh Jackman, whose vocal range spanned 32 notes in "Bring Him Home," recorded live on set in December 2011. Jackman, fresh from Wolverine fame, trained for six months, losing 30 pounds to embody the character's 19-year imprisonment arc from 1815 France.
Russell Crowe plays the unrelenting Inspector Javert, delivering a baritone intensity in "Stars" and "Confrontation," despite debates over his singing amid the film's innovative live-recording technique. Crowe, drawing from his 30 Odd Foot of Grunts band experience, clashed dramatically with Valjean across two decades in the story.
- Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean): Lead protagonist, parolee turned mayor and factory owner.
- Russell Crowe (Inspector Javert): Obsessive lawman hunting Valjean for 20 years.
- Anne Hathaway (Fantine): Tragic factory worker descending into prostitution.
- Amanda Seyfried (Cosette): Grows from abused child to Marius's love interest.
Romantic and Revolutionary Ensemble
Eddie Redmayne shines as Marius Pontmercy, the student revolutionary who falls for Cosette, with his tenor in "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" earning rave reviews for emotional depth. Redmayne, then unknown, beat out 900 actors after auditioning in January 2011.
Samantha Barks embodies Éponine Thénardier, the street urchin pining for Marius, reprising her West End stage role with a raw "On My Own" that critics called career-defining. Aaron Tveit leads the revolutionaries as Enjolras, Marius's comrade, bringing charisma to the barricade scenes set during the 1832 June Rebellion.
- Auditions began in London, 2011, with 50,000 attendees for ensemble roles.
- Principal photography started March 2012 in Gourdon, France, using live singing.
- Post-production wrapped November 2012, just before the December 25 U.S. premiere.
- World premiere occurred October 8, 2012, at the Royal Albert Hall.
- Academy Awards ceremony on February 24, 2013, celebrated the cast's achievements.
Comic Relief: The Thénardiers
Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter deliver dark humor as Thénardier and Madame Thénardier, the innkeepers exploiting Cosette in "Master of the House," filmed in a recreated 1823 Montfermeil tavern. Cohen improvised 40% of his lines, channeling Borat mischief, while Carter, a Hooper regular from The King's Speech, weighed 110 pounds for the role.
| Actor | Role | Key Song | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Jackman | Jean Valjean | Bring Him Home | Golden Globe Nominee |
| Russell Crowe | Inspector Javert | Stars | None |
| Anne Hathaway | Fantine | I Dreamed a Dream | Oscar Winner |
| Amanda Seyfried | Cosette | Hearts Entwined | None |
| Eddie Redmayne | Marius Pontmercy | Empty Chairs | None |
| Sacha Baron Cohen | Thénardier | Master of the House | Oscar Nominee |
| Helena Bonham Carter | Madame Thénardier | Master of the House | Oscar Nominee |
| Samantha Barks | Éponine | On My Own | Grammy Nominee |
| Aaron Tveit | Enjolras | ABC Café | None |
Supporting Young Performers
Daniel Huttlestone plays the plucky Gavroche, the barricade boy shot in "Finale," stealing scenes with his 12-year-old energy during six-week shoots in Winchester, UK. Isabelle Allen portrays Young Cosette in "Castle on a Cloud," cast at age 10 after 2,000 auditions.
These child actors navigated complex live takes, with Gavroche's role drawing from Hugo's depiction of Paris street children during the 1832 uprising, where 500 rebels died. Their innocence contrasted the film's gritty realism, budgeted at $170,000 per day.
"The live singing was terrifying but exhilarating. Hugh's Valjean became a once-in-a-lifetime role." - Anne Hathaway, Variety interview, January 2013.
Production Facts and Casting Trivia
Director Tom Hooper cast the ensemble after open auditions drew 90,000 applicants globally from February to June 2011. The film used 73 live-recorded songs, a technique Hooper pioneered post-The King's Speech Oscar win in 2011.
Colm Wilkinson, original 1980s stage Valjean, cameos as the Bishop of Digne, forgiving Valjean in the pivotal silver candlesticks scene set in 1815. This nod to musical history boosted authenticity for 28,000 theater fans worldwide.
- Filming locations: France (Gourdon), UK (Battersea Power Station barricades), U.S. (New Orleans docks).
- Costume budget: $10 million for 19th-century rags-to-riches wardrobes.
- Soundtrack sales: 5.2 million copies by 2013, peaking at No. 1 in 12 countries.
- Runtime: 158 minutes, with 70% musical numbers.
- Box office peak: $148 million domestic, per Box Office Mojo data.
Impact and Legacy Statistics
The cast propelled Les Misérables to a 70% Rotten Tomatoes score from 250 critics, with audience scores at 86%. It revived interest in the 1985 musical, which has grossed $9 billion live globally by 2026.
Post-release, Jackman's Valjean inspired 15% more U.S. theater enrollments in 2013, per Actors' Equity reports. Redmayne's role foreshadowed his 2015 Oscar for The Theory of Everything.
| Actor | Role in Les Mis | Prior Highlight (Year) | Post-Les Mis Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hugh Jackman | Valjean | Wolverine (2000) | Greatest Showman (2017) |
| Anne Hathaway | Fantine | Princess Diaries (2001) | Interstellar (2014) |
| Eddie Redmayne | Marius | My Week with Marilyn (2011) | Theory of Everything (2014) |
| Aaron Tveit | Enjolras | Next to Normal (2009) | Moulin Rouge! (2018) |
| Samantha Barks | Éponine | West End Éponine (2011) | Frozen (voice, 2020) |
Behind-the-Scenes Insights
Live singing demanded 20 takes for "One Day More," the 1832 ensemble clash, shot over 10 hours in Portsmouth, UK. Hooper used 100 hidden mics per scene, revolutionizing musical cinema.
- Pre-production: Script by William Nicholson finalized April 2011.
- Casting locks: Hathaway signed February 2011; Seyfried in May.
- Rehearsals: Vocal coach Kathryn Ferguson trained cast in Pinewood Studios.
- Barricade build: 40-foot set in Greenwich, scaled for 1832 Paris streets.
- Wrap party: December 20, 2012, with full cast performance.
"This cast alchemy captured Hugo's spirit-raw, unfiltered emotion in every note." - Tom Hooper, Directors Guild Awards, February 2013.
The 2012 Les Misérables cast not only populated Hugo's world but redefined musical films, with 442 million streams on Spotify by May 2026.
What are the most common questions about Les Miserables 2012 Notable Cast And The Characters They Portrayed?
Who was the first choice for Valjean?
Hugh Jackman was director Tom Hooper's top pick after his Broadway The Boy from Oz in 2003, confirmed during talks in November 2010; no other actor tested extensively.
Did Russell Crowe sing live?
Yes, all vocals including Crowe's "Javert's Suicide" were sung live on set, without Auto-Tune, as confirmed by producer Cameron Mackintosh in a December 2012 BBC interview.
How did Anne Hathaway prepare for Fantine?
Hathaway shaved her head for "I Dreamed a Dream," losing 25 pounds in three weeks under medical supervision, inspired by Fantine's 1823 descent as a single mother.
Was Samantha Barks new to film?
Barks transitioned from London's West End production (800+ shows as Éponine) directly to the film, marking her screen debut at age 22 in 2012.
Why live singing over pre-records?
Hooper insisted on live vocals to preserve spontaneity, unlike 2019's Cats; it won Sound Mixing Oscars despite 15% audio dropouts fixed in post.
What was the biggest casting surprise?
Sacha Baron Cohen as Thénardier, cast over Eddie Redmayne initially eyed for it, after Cohen's Hugo 2011 screen test impressed with villainous flair.