European Oscar stars on Eurocinema

The Oscar-nominated actors and actresses who started out in European cinema

This Sunday marked one of the biggest dates on the global cinema calendar - The Academy Awards, or The Oscars, as they are more widely-known.

The awards unite the creme-de-la-creme from international cinema, and celebrates the very best work of actors, actresses, directors and producers. This year’s nominees include Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep and Ryan Gosling to name but a few.

But mingling among the high-profile Hollywood stars on the red carpet were those who began their careers in European cinema.

Here are six actors and actresses who were nominated for, or have taken home, the coveted award after starting in foreign-language films.

Watch some of their performances on Eurocinema, a channel which broadcasts international films daily on Sky channel 212.

Marion Cotillard. Received the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2007.

Marion Cotillard had previously been nominated for an Oscar when she duly won best actress in 2007 for her role as Edith Piaf in La Vie en Rose. Then, seven years later, she was nominated again in the same category for her performance in 2014 for Two Days, One Night.

Cotillard has since crossed over from French classics to Hollywood blockbusters. She stars in the 2005 French drama Burnt Out which is being shown on Eurocinema at 9pm in the UK on Sunday - coincidentally at exactly at the same time as the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles.

In more recent years, she has been involved in some of the biggest blockbusters including her role as Miranda Tate in the third instalment of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy; The Dark Knight Rises, as well as Inception and Assassin’s Creed.

Upcoming projects: She is set to star in Ismael’s Ghosts alongside Charlotte Gainsbourg, which is now in post-production and is set to be released later this year.

Isabelle Huppert. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress 2017.

The French actress will find out on Sunday night if her portrayal of Michele Leblanc in Elle, will see her claim this year’s best actress award. But she faces tough competition from the likes of Meryl Streep, Natalie Portman and the award-favourite Emma Stone.

Huppert is best known for her roles in Amour, The Piano Teacher, Elle and I Heart Huckabees.

Upcoming projects: Most notable is The Sleeping Shepherd which is in pre-production starring alongside Willem Dafoe and Imogen Poots.

Gérard Depardieu. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1990.

The French actor has previously been nominated for best actor for his role as the titular character from Cyrano de Bergerac at the 1990 ceremony but missed out to Jeremy Irons.

Since then Depardieu has starred in countless feature films as well as 2012’s compelling short movie Frank-Étienne Towards Grace, a firm favourite in the Eurocinema catalogue. He is best known for parts in Life of Pi, which won four Oscars in 2013, as well as being nominated for a further six awards that same year.

The Man in the Iron Mask and also Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra.

Upcoming projects: Currently filming Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero, which also stars Helena Bonham Carter and is about the most decorated dog in American military history.

Alicia Vikander. Received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2016.

The Swedish actress was arguably the breakout star of the year in 2015 with star performances in The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Ex Machina and The Danish Girl - winning the 2016 best supporting actress Oscar for the latter. This was all before she played Heather Lee in Jason Bourne last year.

Her performance in the 2013 Swedish drama Hotell, another popular Eurocinema film, earned her the best actress award at the Marrakech Film Festival.

Upcoming projects: Vikander will continue her run of Hollywood blockbusters as she is set to star as Lara Croft in the re-launch of the Tomb Raider movie series, which she is currently filming and is scheduled for release in 2018.

Sophia Loren. Received the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1962. Nominated for the same award in 1965.

Sophia Loren is a Hollywood icon and it is not hard to see why.

The Italian actress’ stunning work in the 1960s saw her win best actress thanks to her performance as Cesira in La ciociara (Two Women), before being nominated for the same award three years later for her role as Filumena Marturano in Matrimonio all’Italiana (Marriage Italian Style).

Upcoming projects: Currently none as the 82-year-old actress enjoys her later years residing in Geneva, Switzerland, with her last role dating back to 2014 as she encapsulated Angela in short movie Human Voice.

Christoph Waltz. Received the Best Supporting Actor in 2009.

Christoph Waltz has in recent years become one of Hollywood’s go-to actors with starring roles in the likes of Django Unchained, The Legend of Tarzan, Horrible Bosses 2, Muppets Most Wanted and the last installment of the James Bond saga; Spectre, of which he played the villainous Blofeld.

Yet his most successful role was as Colonel Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds, which saw him win the 2009 best supporting actor Oscar.

Upcoming projects: The Austrian born actor is set to have a busy year promoting his three new movies, which include Tulip Fever, with Alicia Vikander and Judi Dench, Downsizing with Matt Damon and Alec Baldwin and Alita: Battle Angel with Jennifer Connelly, which have all finished filming.

Watch the very best in award-winning films on Eurocinema every evening from 9pm on Sky TV channel 212 of Freesat 161. Updates are available through the Eurocinema UK Facebook page.

Watch the very best in award-winning films on Eurocinema every evening from 9pm on Sky TV channel 212. Updates are available through the Eurocinema UK Facebook page.