Adrien Brody has secured his second Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal in Brady Corbet’s post-war drama, The Brutalist. Initially winning the award in 2003 at the age of 29 for his role in The Pianist, Brody holds the record for the youngest ever winner of the category. His second victory at 51 maintains this record. Timothée Chalamet, 22 years younger, was his main competition for the prize, nominated for his performance in the Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown.

Brody’s victory places him among the prestigious group of actors who have a 100% success rate at the Oscars from two or more nominations, a camp including figures like Vivien Leigh, Hilary Swank, and Mahershala Ali. Receiving the award, Brody expressed profound gratitude, acknowledging the precarious nature of acting and the importance of kindness, care, and fighting against hate, oppression, and bigotry.

In The Brutalist, Brody plays László Tóth, an architect who survives the second world war and its concentration camps before moving to the US. His character is commissioned to build a community center, and the film explores his career, personal relationships, and the political climate of the time. Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian commended Brody’s performance, deeming it a career best. Despite winning numerous awards leading up to the Oscars, including the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice, Brody’s victory was foiled at the Screen Actors Guild awards by Chalamet.

The use of AI to help with the Hungarian accents of Brody and co-star Felicity Jones stirred controversy earlier in the year. The events unfolding at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, hosted by Conan O’Brien, marked another significant yet contentious chapter in the evolution of awards season challenges, possibly setting a new precedent with AI technology at the center.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/mar/03/adrien-brody-oscar-best-actor-brutalist