Adrien Brody Claims Second Oscar for Powerful Role in The Brutalist

Adrien Brody has won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in The Brutalist, a post-war drama directed by Brady Corbet.

This marks Brody’s second Oscar win, making him one of the few actors with a perfect track record at the Academy Awards. He first won in 2003 for The Pianist, becoming the youngest-ever recipient of the Best Actor award at 29—a record he still holds at age 51. His main competitor this year was Timothée Chalamet for A Complete Unknown, a Bob Dylan biopic.

A Grateful Acceptance Speech

On stage, Brody expressed his appreciation for the support he has received throughout his career. “Acting is a fragile profession. It looks glamorous, but it’s filled with uncertainty. I feel incredibly fortunate to be here again,” he said. He also thanked Corbet and co-writer Mona Fastvold for their dedication to independent cinema.

Brody gave a heartfelt mention to his partner, fashion designer Georgina Chapman, and her children, calling them a source of strength. He ended his speech with a call for unity and awareness against hate. “If history teaches us anything, it’s to never let hate go unchecked. Let’s rebuild together,” he urged.

A Critically Acclaimed Performance

In The Brutalist, Brody plays László Tóth, a Hungarian architect who survives World War II and starts anew in the U.S. There, he is commissioned to design a major community center, leading to conflicts with his mentor and struggles in his personal life. Critics have widely praised Brody’s performance.

Awards Season Success

Brody dominated this year’s awards circuit, winning a Golden Globe, Critics Choice Award, and BAFTA. However, he lost the Screen Actors Guild Award to Chalamet.

The film briefly faced controversy when it was revealed that AI had been used to adjust Brody’s Hungarian accent. Director Corbet clarified that the performances remained authentic despite the technology’s involvement.

The 97th Academy Awards, hosted by Conan O’Brien, celebrated the best of the year’s cinema, with Brody emerging as one of the night’s biggest winners.