Oscars 2025: Adrien Brody wins ‘Best Actor’
As expected, the Oscars have named The Brutalist‘s Adrien Brody as ‘Best Actor’, capping off a remarkable resurgence for a star who hasn’t been anywhere near the Academy Awards since he made history.
Brody remains the youngest winner in the category’s history when The Pianist saw him win his first ‘Best Actor’ prize at the age of 29, but it wouldn’t be unfair to say his career has struggled to reach those heights in the two decades since.
However, after a staggering performance as Holocaust survivor, architect, and immigrant László Tóth in Brady Corbet’s epic period piece, Brody isn’t only back among the great and good of Hollywood as a two-time Oscar winner: he’s also made another piece of history.
He’s become only the eighth actor in the ceremony’s history to boast a 100% track record of success at the Oscars from two nominations or more, joining an illustrious club that only includes Vivien Leigh, Hilary Swank, Kevin Spacey, Luise Rainer, Christoph Waltz, Helen Hayes, and Mahershala Ali.
Beyond that, Brody is the first person to ever win two ‘Best Actor’ Oscars from their first two nominations, so it wouldn’t be unreasonable to think he might be capable of completing the hat trick at some point in the future. Of course, he’ll be hoping that he doesn’t have to wait another 22 years for it to happen.
Having already won the Golden Globe and Bafta, not to mention the countless other trophies he’s picked up throughout awards season, Brody was the heavy favourite going into the Oscars. That said, some doubts were cast on the inevitability of his win when the Screen Actors Guild Awards opted for Timothée Chalamet’s transformative performance as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown.
Sing Sing‘s Colman Domingo, Conclave‘s Ralph Fiennes and The Apprentice‘s Sebastian Stan rounded out the field of five ‘Best Actor’ nominees, but it always seemed like it was Brody’s to lose.
In Far Out’s review of the film, Emily Ruuskanen wrote: “The Brutalist starts off unbelievably strong – it’s a dazzling visual feat that captures the sheer wonder and magnitude of this daunting new world, heightening Tóth’s alienation and desperate yearning to begin his own chapter of the American dream, with a devastating performance from Adrien Brody as a proud yet deeply angry architect, forced to maintain a dehumanising level of gratitude despite being disrespected by everyone around him.”
“They’re already counting me down… ” said Brody, echoing a theme for the evening. “Thank you for this blessed life. If I may just humbly begin by giving thanks for the tremendous outpouring of love I felt from this world and every individual’s respect and appreciation.”
He continued: “Acting is a very fragile profession. It looks very glamorous in certain moments. One thing I have gained and am privileged to have come back here is to have some perspective. No matter where you are in your care.. it can all go away. What makes this night special is witnessing the present. Winning an award like this signifies a destination. To me, it is also beyond the pinnacle of my career, it is a chance to begin again and the opportunity to hopefully be fortunate, in the next 20 years of my life, to be worthy of such relevant important roles. I share this with my fellow nominees who are wonderful, who exude grace and brilliance with their work.”
Brody also paid homage to his filmmaker: “[Thank you to] Brady and Mona, for what you have done for your beautiful spirit and for giving me space to triumph in this work.”
As Brody thanked his family, the event played music to move him off the stage: “I know this has been a rollercoaster, but thank you for letting me into your life… I am wrapping up, I’ve done this before.”
He concluded: “If the past can teach us anything, it is to not let hate go unchecked. Let’s fight for what is right. Let’s rebuild together.”
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