Who is this British guy that stole the heart of one of America’s talented sweethearts? Russell Brand. He is now an American citizen because he married Katy Perry. He is also known for bringing a brand new version of the movie Arthur that is in movie theaters now. Remaking a Academy Award winning comedy like 1981’s Arthur should have been a risk but he brings his own brand of humor to the remake. (Get the joke? Brand bringing his own brand?)

He is the star of this new version and one of the executive producers of this film and will make lots of money if it is a success. How dare he remake an already award winning comedy? How dare he come to America and take our Katy Perry! Risk is nothing new to him. He has already gone through an incredible journey in his life.

The late Dudley Moore received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in the film Arthur. Thirty years later this British bad boy comic has taken our woman and the country by storm. Last month he appeared on Saturday Night Live. He supplies a new take in the role of an eccentric billionaire in the Arthur remake. Brand made a name for himself in the movies when he played an over the top rock star in the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

He admits his druggie past by saying,” In my real life, when I used to take drink and do drugs, it just got to a point in my life where everything in my life was governed by addiction. I was horrible to be around and was mean to people.” Despite his drug fueled escapades’, he became a hugely popular stand up comic and TV host in England. At age 35, he has written two books, My Booky Wook, A Memoir of Sex, Drugs, and Stand-Up. The other book called Booky Wook 2. Both books about his life.

How did this character feel that he had enough material to write not one but two books about his life and possibly think anyone cared enough to buy and read the books? Russell says,” So much stuff has happened. My Mom was sick when I was a kid!” His Mom, Barbara who he brought to the Oscar’s this year, endured 3 bouts of cancer as he was growing up. Russell found solace in the world of entertainment. In his autobiography he writes that his first experience with action “was like falling in love and being utterly alone with God.” He was 15 years old at that time.

He was also very good at getting into trouble. Once he became addicted to crack and heroin, Brand was arrested multiple times. He’s been clean for 8 years now. He was told If he didn’t clean up fast he would be dead, in prison or in a lunatic asylum. Instead, he is currently enjoying incredible success. As executive producer in Arthur he could and made major changes to the movie.

Arthur’s butler, Hobson, a role that won an Oscar for Sir John Gielgud in the original film, is now a nanny played by Dame Helen Mirren. She, an unbelievable accomplished actress is happy to work with HIM. Lets see how the box office money trails in and if this ultra-confident man with a past can dare to change Oscar winning roles and win new trophy’s for his BRAND of comedy.