There are some stories that get told again and again, and Victor Hugo's epic novel Les Misérables is definitely one of them! Since its publication in 1862, the novel has been adapted over 100 times in a huge array of media, from stage to television to comics (yes, comics). The most famous version, of course, is the 1980s epic musical and its 2012 film version, but there are plenty of others — several of which have starred some of Hollywood's brightest stars. While some big-name actors only enhanced their careers by appearing in the iconic roles, other actors launched steady (or, in some cases, massive) careers with their roles in some version of Les Mis. Ahead, check out some of the names you might recognise who have stood upon the barricade over the years!
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Helena Bonham Carter
Playing wicked innkeeper Madame Thénardier in the 2012 musical film, Bonham Carter tackled her second major musical role; her first was opposite Johnny Depp in the 2007 Sweeney Todd adaptation.
Lily Collins
The versatile actress appears in the 2019 miniseries as doomed, determined Fantine.
Olivia Colman
The Oscar winner had a villainous turn in the 2019 miniseries as Madame Thénardier.
Russell Crowe
Crowe's portrayal of Inspector Javert in the 2012 musical film was decidedly polarizing.
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Claire Danes
In the 1998 drama feature film, Danes played innocent ingenue Cosette.
Anne Hathaway
Hathaway not only made her musical debut in the 2012 film musical, but also won her first Oscar for her portrayal of Fantine.
Hugh Jackman
Jackman received an Oscar nomination for playing Jean Valjean in the 2012 musical film. He also got to sing the lone new song in the film, "Suddenly."
Nick Jonas
Jonas actually belongs to a pretty select club of people who have played more than one major role in Les Mis. In 2003, he played feisty little Gavroche on Broadway, and seven years later, he was called upon to play romantic revolutionary Marius for the musical's epic 25th anniversary concert.
Gaten Matarazzo
Before he starred on Netflix's Stranger Things, Matarazzo proved his chops on Broadway, taking on the role of Gavroche in the musical's 2014 revival.
Liam Neeson
Neeson led the 1998 film version as stoic ex-convict Valjean, although the particulars of the adaptation left him without some of Valjean's more iconic scenes from other versions.
David Oyelowo
Selma's leading man was on the antagonist side in the 2019 Les Mis miniseries, playing inflexible Javert.
Eddie Redmayne
Although he was already a Tony winner, Redmayne's 2012 role as idealistic Marius is what really put him on Hollywood's radar.
Geoffrey Rush
Known for everything from Pirates of the Caribbean to The King's Speech, Rush also took on the iconic antagonist role of Inspector Javert opposite Neeson in 1998.
Lea Salonga
You know her best as the singing voices of Princess Jasmine and Mulan, but Salonga is a bonafide Broadway star who has played both of the biggest female roles in Les Mis. She played Éponine on Broadway in 1993 and in the 1996 10th anniversary concert, then moved into the role of Fantine in 2007 and again for the 2010 25th anniversary concert.
Keala Settle
Before she stole the show with her unreal voice in The Greatest Showman, Settle was stealing the show on Broadway as Madame Thénardier in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Mis.
Amanda Seyfried
A few years after she proved her musical talents in Mamma Mia!, Seyfried took on a more dramatic role as Cosette in the 2012 Les Mis musical film.
Uma Thurman
In the 1998 film adaptation, Thurman appeared as Fantine.
Aaron Tveit
The star of Graceland, BrainDead, and Grease: Live is a song-and-dance man at heart, as evidenced by his turn as revolutionary leader Enjolras in the 2012 musical film.
Dominic West
The Golden Globe-nominated actor played Valjean in the BBC/PBS 2019 miniseries adaptation.