Adrien Brody won his second Oscar for Best Actor at the 97th Academy Awards, earning the honor for his portrayal of a visionary Hungarian architect in The Brutalist. This victory further cemented his place as one of Hollywood’s most talented actors.
Brody received the award for his compelling performance as Lázló Tóth, a character who survives the Holocaust and embarks on a journey to America to pursue the American Dream. The film covers three decades in Tóth’s life, showcasing his unorthodox architectural designs and his relentless pursuit of artistic integrity, challenging societal norms along the way.
In his acceptance speech, Brody noted, “It looks very glamorous and in certain moments, it is.” With this win, Brody became the 11th actor in history to win Best Actor twice, joining the ranks of Daniel Day-Lewis, who has three Oscars, as well as other two-time winners such as Jack Nicholson, Marlon Brando, and Tom Hanks.
In his speech, Brody reflected on the importance of perspective, saying, “What I’ve gained, having the privilege to return here, is perspective. No matter where you are in your career or what you’ve achieved, it can all disappear. What makes tonight so special is the awareness of that.”
During his acceptance speech, Brody addressed issues of antisemitism and racism. He stated, “I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and consequences of war, systemic oppression, antisemitism, racism, and othering. I pray for a healthier, happier, and more inclusive world. If the past has taught us anything, it’s the importance of not allowing hate to go unchecked.”
Brody also expressed gratitude to his partner, Georgina Chapman, acknowledging how she has revitalized his self-worth, sense of value, and personal principles. He further mentioned Chapman’s two children, whom she shares with Harvey Weinstein, who is currently awaiting a retrial on sex crime charges.
In his acceptance speech, Brody thanked his partner, Georgina Chapman, saying, “I know this has been a roller coaster, but thank you for accepting me into your life. Popsies coming home a winner.”
Backstage, Brody reflected on the long journey to his Oscar win, calling it “a long and beautiful one.” He explained that his artistic path has been filled with challenges as he navigated creative choices, noting the intense competition in the industry. “There’s an enormous amount of talented individuals all vying for very few great opportunities,” he said. “I’ve been working very hard for the past 22 years, but nothing quite connected on this level, so I’m conscious of that.”
Brody won the Oscar for Best Actor, beating out nominees Timothée Chalamet, Colman Domingo, Ralph Fiennes, and Sebastian Stan.
His winning performance was in The Brutalist, a postwar American epic directed by Brady Corbet, which also received 10 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture. The three-and-a-half-hour film, filmed in VistaVision, starred Brody alongside Felicity Jones and Guy Pearce.
After receiving Best Actor at the 78th British Academy Film Awards in February, Brody spoke about the powerful message of The Brutalist, noting that it speaks to divided times.
Brody emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in how we treat each other, saying, “It speaks to the need for all of us to share in the responsibility of how we want others to be treated and how we want to be treated by others. There’s no place anymore for antisemitism. There’s no place for racism.”
Brody’s Oscar win for Best Actor in 2003 for The Pianist was followed by a 22-year gap before his second win, making it the second-longest gap between Best Actor wins. The longest gap was 29 years between Anthony Hopkins’ wins for Silence of the Lambs and The Father.
Brody is also widely recognized for his roles in The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Darjeeling Limited, and Midnight in Paris.
His portrayal of László Tóth in The Brutalist resonated with Brody, as it had similarities to his iconic role in The Pianist, where he also portrayed a Jewish artist struggling to survive during World War II.