[February 22, 2012]

And the Oscar Goes to ... A Big Surprise as 123people Users Have Chosen Ryan Dunn Over George Clooney as the Most Sought-After Actor Heading into the Academy Awards

The 84th Academy Awards is taking place February 26 at the Kodak (News - Alert) Theatre in Los Angeles. At the center of interest for the annual event are some of the biggest names in Hollywood, as well as a few real surprises. For 123people (www.123people.com), the world's leading people search engine, the winners are already in: with a big surprise as "Jackass" star Ryan Dunn beats out George Clooney as the most searched for actor in America. Along with Ryan Dunn as actor, the most searched for actress is rising star Rooney Mara.

Ryan Dunn lost his life in a tragic car accident in 2011, and is remembered for being part of the legendary MTV show "Jackass", led by Johnny Knoxville, which from its popularity led to five "Jackass" films. Rooney Mara is a on her way up in the Hollywood ranks and placed first among actresses and third overall as the most searched for celebrity on 123people. She was born into the world of entertainment as the daughter of Super Bowl Champion New York Giants executive Timothy Christopher Mara, and the great granddaughter of Art Rooney Sr., founder of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Mara has been nominated for Best Actress for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". She had her big break in the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" and was co-star in the Oscar nominated film, "The Social Network".

George Clooney comes in second and is the favorite to win this year's Oscar for Best Actor for "The Descendants". Clooney has been nominated for Best Actor three times, and perhaps the third time is a charm. He is also nominated this year for Best Writing of an Adapted Screenplay for "The Ides of March".

Fourth place is a slight suprise, as Janet McTeer nominated for Best Supporting Actress in "Albert Nobbs" is fourth overall and the second most searched for actress.

Rounding out the Top 5 is a big surprise as Josh Duhamel is flying high off his popularity from the trio of "Transformers" movies to land in fifth place.

The rest of the Top 10 include at number 6 the always charismatic Christopher Plummer, nominated for Best Supporting Actor for "Beginners"; number 7 is writer/director Christopher Nolan famous for his Batman films; number 8 is Demián Bichir nominated for Best Actor in "A Better Life"; no surprise at 9 as teen heartthrob Robert Pattinson, star of the "Twilight" films makes the list; and at number 10 is Woody Allen, nominated for both Best Director and Best Writer for Original Screenplay for "Midnight in Paris".

Other nominees making the Top 20 include Director Martin Scorsese, nominated for "Hugo", for "Best Film" and "Best Director". Michelle Williams for Best Actress in "My Week with Marilyn". Alexander Payne for Best Director for "The Descendants". Jonah Hill, one of this year's biggest surprises for Best Supporting Actor for "Moneyball", the film which also has Brad Pitt nominated for Best Actor. Joseph Cedar, director of "Footnote", nominated for Best Foreign Language Film from Israel. Farhadi Asghar, director of "A Separation", nominated for Best Foreign Language Film from Iran. Finishing the Top 20 is another actress on the rise in Jessica Chastain, nominated for Best Supporting Actress for "The Help", which is nominated for Best Picture.

Some who weren't snubbed by Oscar nominations, but were snubbed by the people searching include Brad Pitt who came in at number 28, Glenn Close who just missed at number 22 and Octavia Spencer who was number 25.

Congratulations to all those nominated for Oscars and to all those who already won by being the most popular and searched for celebrities on 123people.

For the most searched for nominated actors and actresses go to 123people Blog at: http://www.123people.com/blog/and-the-oscar-goes-to.

About 123people

123people (www.123people.com) is a vertical search engine dedicated to people search. 123people empowers anyone to find information about themselves and others - free and fast. With more than 50 Million Unique Clients every month, 123people is one of the largest people search engines in the world. 123people is currently available in 12 countries, ten languages as well as app for iPhones and Android (News - Alert) smartphones. 123people is a product of yelster digital, an Austrian company, founded in 2007. Since March 2010 the company is part of the French PagesJaunes Group.

Further information and pictures at www.123people.com/blog/press
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