Mon Mar 03 02:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Underdog Karim Leklou Wins Best Actor César
**Paris, France** – Karim Leklou, 42, surprised the industry by winning the César Award for Best Actor at the 50th annual ceremony held Friday at the Olympia. Leklou’s win for his role in the drama *Le Roman de Jim* beat out favorites including Pierre Niney (*Le Comte de Monte-Cristo*) and Tahar Rahim (*Monsieur Aznavour*).
Leklou’s performance as Aymeric, a man released from prison and trying to rebuild his life, impressed the jury. While some critics noted that the film’s subject matter differed from initial descriptions, Leklou dedicated his award to “all the kind people who don’t deserve to lift this César,” and also acknowledged fellow nominee Tahar Rahim.
The ceremony, attended by notable figures including Catherine Deneuve and Costa-Gavras, featured politically charged speeches reflecting current events. Other award highlights included a second César win for a 38-year-old actress (name not specified in source text) and a third César for Benoît Magimel for his role in *Pacifiction*. The event also sparked debate regarding the disconnect between audience popularity (with *Le Comte de Monte-Cristo* reportedly outperforming *Le Roman de Jim* at the box office) and the jury’s selections.
First Piper 