The handsomely scruffy Dutchman is popping up everywhere these days – including the winsome fantasy ‘The Age of Adaline,’ where he courts the immortal title character, played by Blake Lively. Your hip girlfriends are already in love with Mr. Huisman. Get on the bandwagon.

 

1. He’s the hottest Dutch export since smoked gouda.

Unlike most major European countries, the Netherlands has produced surprisingly few Hollywood stars. Other than Famke Janssen and Rutger Hauer, you’d be hard-pressed to name any Dutch actors who made it big stateside. Michiel Huisman’s modest stardom already kind of feels like an event.

Born in 1981 in North Holland, Michiel began acting in his teens. His first major English language film was 2009’s ‘The Young Victoria,’ starring Emily Blunt. Soon after, he landed a leading role on the HBO drama ‘Treme’ as Sonny, a New Orleans street musician struggling with drug addiction. (Michiel and his real-life wife eventually settled in New Orleans.) Things just took off from there.

Of course, we know what’s really on your mind: How the heck do you pronounce this guy’s name? The closest approximation in English is “Mick-EEL HOUSE-man.”

 

2. He’s one of the few European actors who can get away with playing Americans.

Though his ‘Treme’ character was Dutch, Michiel’s mild accent has already gotten him cast as American – or at least American-ish – characters in shows like ‘Nashville’ and movies like 2013’s ‘World War Z.’ He’s also played a couple of Russians and even a British-inflected Tyroshi. (More on that in a moment.)

 

3. He has a musical background, which he often puts to good use.

Back in the Netherlands, Michiel was the lead singer and guitarist for a band called Fontane. (He’s kept that tousled indie musician look, which the ladies don’t seem to mind.) He has since found outlets for his musical talents in both ‘Treme’ and ‘Nashville,’ and his days as a minor rock idol in his home country have doubtlessly prepared him for potential worldwide adulation.

 

4. Turn the channel and he keeps popping up.

Michiel has a very active television career, and he’s shown excellent taste in the series that he’s attached himself to. (Well, that depends on your opinion of ‘Nashville.’) After the cult favorite ‘Treme’ was cancelled, Michiel was cast as Tatiana Maslany’s old flame on BBC America’s even cultier sci fi drama ‘Orphan Black,’ and he now appears as the Tyroshi mercenary Daario Naharis on HBO’s ‘Game of Thrones,’ perhaps the cultiest show of all time.

 

5. His big screen career is blowing up big time.

‘The Age of Adaline’ is Michiel’s most prominent role in an American movie, but you’ve already seen him in the aforementioned ‘The Young Victoria’ and ‘World War Z,’ and more recently as the tender Oregon hippie who romances a trail-weary Reese Witherspoon in 2014’s ‘Wild.’

Coming up next: leading roles in a handful of high-profile independent films, including ‘The Invitation,’ ‘American Dream’ and ‘2:22.’ And that’s just on the docket for 2015. Trust us, in a couple years’ time, you’ll be glad you know how to pronounce “Michiel Huisman” properly.