How Adrien Brody made Oscar history again at age 51

Last night, at the 97th Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Adrien Brody once again etched his name into cinematic history. The 51-year-old actor accepted the Best Actor Oscar for his riveting portrayal of László Tóth in Brady Corbet’s epic drama The Brutalist, marking his second win in the category. This victory, coming 22 years after his record-breaking win as the youngest Best Actor recipient for The Pianist at age 29, solidified Brody’s legacy as one of the most compelling talents of his generation.

The Acceptance Speech: A Blend of Gratitude and Resilience

Brody’s acceptance speech was a poignant reflection of his journey—both personal and professional. "Thank you God, thank you for this blessed life," he began, his voice steady but thick with feeling. He acknowledged the "tremendous outpouring of love" he’d received, a nod to the overwhelming support that had carried him through awards season.

As the orchestra began to play him off, Brody, with a wry smile, asserted his veteran status: “I’ve done this before—cut the music, let me finish.” The audience chuckled, and the music faded, allowing him to continue. He spoke candidly about the fragility of an acting career: “No matter where you are, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away. What makes this night most special is the awareness of that and the gratitude I have to still do the work I love.”

Brody also connected his role to his family’s history, particularly his mother Sylvia Plachy’s escape from Hungary after the 1956 revolution. “I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression,” he said, his words a powerful echo of the themes in The Brutalist. He concluded with a plea for a “healthier, happier, and more inclusive world,” a sentiment that resonated deeply in a room filled with storytellers.

The Brutalist: A Monumental Cinematic Achievement

The Brutalist, directed by Brady Corbet and co-written with Mona Fastvold, is a sprawling 3½-hour epic that has captivated audiences and critics alike. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the film follows László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor who immigrates to the United States with dreams of rebuilding his life. Brody’s portrayal of Tóth is a tour de force—angular, fierce, and deeply human—charting the character’s journey from hope to disillusionment as he navigates a complex relationship with a wealthy, controlling patron, Harrison Van Buren (played by Guy Pearce).

The film’s narrative weaves together themes of ambition, trauma, and the intersection of art and power, all framed against the stark, modernist architecture that Tóth creates. Commissioned by Van Buren to design a massive community center in Pennsylvania, Tóth’s vision becomes both a monument to his resilience and a battleground for his soul. Felicity Jones shines as his wife Erzsébet, grounding the story in a tender yet strained partnership shaped by shared loss.

Critics have hailed The Brutalist as a triumph. The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw called Brody’s performance “a career best,” praising its “angular fierceness and passion.” The film’s meticulous detail—down to the AI-smoothed Hungarian accents of Brody and Jones—has sparked both admiration and debate, though Corbet has emphasized that the performances remain authentically their own. With 10 Oscar nominations, tying with Wicked for the second-most of the night, The Brutalist underscores its status as a towering achievement in contemporary cinema.

A Career of Peaks and Valleys

Brody’s second Oscar win places him among an elite group of actors with a perfect batting average at the Academy Awards, joining the likes of Vivien Leigh and Dustin Hoffman. His first win in 2003 for The Pianist, Roman Polanski’s haunting Holocaust drama, had made him an overnight sensation—and a record-holder as the youngest Best Actor winner. That night, he famously kissed presenter Halle Berry, a moment playfully revisited on this year’s red carpet when Berry returned the gesture.

In the years since, Brody has navigated a career of “peaks and valleys,” as he described it in a reflective Instagram post after his nomination. From blockbusters like King Kong to collaborations with Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Asteroid City), he’s balanced commercial success with arthouse credibility. The Brutalist represents a return to the kind of soul-baring, transformative role that first put him on the map—a full-circle moment that reaffirms his enduring talent.

A Night of Celebration and Reflection

Backstage, Brody elaborated on the significance of the win. “It’s been decades, and I’ve had a long life and career… It’s given me great appreciation for this moment because it can go away,” he said, echoing his speech. He also credited his parents, Sylvia Plachy and Elliot Brody, who were in the audience, beaming with pride. His mother’s immigrant journey mirrored László’s, lending the role a personal weight that Brody carried with him throughout the film’s journey.

As the Dolby Theatre erupted in applause, it was clear that this was more than just an award—it was a testament to Brody’s resilience, artistry, and ability to find meaning in the stories he tells. The Brutalist may be a fictional tale, but through Brody’s performance, it speaks to real struggles and triumphs, making his second Oscar a victory not just for him, but for the countless lives his work seeks to honor.