NEW YORK – by Markos Papadatos
[Photo: Trae Patton, The Academy]
On Sunday, March 2nd, Adrien Brody won the 2025 Academy Award for “Best Actor” for his powerful acting work as László Tóth in “The Brutalist.”
Following his Oscar win, Brody spoke with members of the media at the Oscars Press Room.
Brody triumphed over his fellow “Best Actor” nominees Timothée Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”), Colman Domingo (“Sing Sing”), Ralph Fiennes (“Conclave”), and Sebastian Stan (“The Apprentice”).
This marked Brody’s second career Oscar win, both of which have been for “Best Actor.” He previously won for “The Pianist” in 2002, where he became the youngest person to ever win the “Best Actor” Academy Award at the age of 29.
“The Brutalist” was directed by Brady Corbet from a screenplay written by Corbet and Mona Fastvold.
The synopsis is: “When a visionary architect László Tóth (Adrien Brody) and his wife Erzsébet (Felicity Jones) flee post-war Europe in 1947 to rebuild their legacy and witness the birth of modern United States, their lives are changed forever by a mysterious, wealthy client.
As a Queens College alum, Brody made history by becoming the first lead actor to win two Oscars with only two nominations.
“The Brutalist” won a total of three Oscars out of 10 nominations. Aside from “Best Actor,” it also won for “Best Original Score” and “Best Cinematography.”
Brody on the importance of mentioning anti-Semitism, racism, and hate in his speech
In his moving acceptance speech, Brody felt it was an important time to mention anti-Semitism, hate, and racism.
Regarding this significance, he remarked, “I think we all know that it’s an important time to recognize that there’s no place for intolerance.”
“As I had mentioned in my speech, I’m oddly receiving recognition for representing a time in history that we witness unchecked anti-Semitism, and that hatred and oppression have no place in this world and that we must learn from the past,” he expressed.
Brody on whether the issues shown in the film are things that people are forgetting
“It has been a long journey and a beautiful one and an artistic path,” Brody noted.
“As you try to navigate creative choices, there are many variables and there are wonderfully, there’s an enormous amount of talented individuals all vying for very few great opportunities, and that’s the bottom line.”
Brody continued, “I have been working very hard for the past 22 years, but nothing quite connected on this level and so I’m conscious of that.”
“I’m grateful that I had the good fortune of being selected by Brady and Mona to be a part of a very meaningful story, one that speaks to injustice and not just along the lines of what we had discussed,” he noted.
“It’s also quite relevant to consider the lives of others, the lives of people who have the hopes and dreams to be free of oppression and very difficult circumstances abroad and, and you know my grandparents’ struggles, and, and their loss and their resilience have paved the way for my own good fortune,” he explained.
“I had an opportunity to honor them in this film, and the truths and the insight that I’ve gained to these hardships of so many people, of many different backgrounds and ethnicities, have made me aware of a need for us to be empathetic,” he added.
Brody on the script by Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet
He also spoke about the script written by Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet.
Regarding the script, Brody stated, “Mona Fastvold and Brady Corbet co-wrote a remarkable script and one of vast storytelling and tremendous intimacy and nuance and frailty.”
“So, I’m truly grateful for their contribution to cinema and their own bravery and for believing in me and for giving me an opportunity to be a part of something of such importance and against all odds,” he elaborated.
“This has been a seven-year journey for them, and I’m really grateful to have helped them tell a story of great meaning and to be included and being a part of this very special project. Thank you all,” he said, effusively.
Please Note: This journalist was credentialed for the 2025 Academy Awards, and participated in the Press Room interviews with the 2025 Oscar winners following their wins.
