‘Twas a big night for Adrien Brody, whose performance in drama/history film The Brutalist won him a coveted best leading actor gong at the 2025 Baftas.
With a stellar cast also featuring Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones, the Brady Corbet-directed flick has been hailed as a ‘masterpiece’ by critics, telling the story of a Hungarian-Jewish immigrant who flees post-World War II Europe for a new life in America.
The film won three Golden Globes, was victorious at the Critics Choice Awards, and is predicted to triumph at this year’s Oscars, earning 10 nominations.
But that’s not to say success came easily for its lead star, as Brody told Metro that he’s been ‘working very hard for a long time’ to achieve such dizzying heights.
Speaking at this year’s British Academy Film Awards, the 51-year-old actor, whose character is architect Laszlo Toth, reflected on his career, having had his first breakthrough 20 years ago with The Pianist.
Asked what he’s learned as an actor in the intervening years, he replied: ‘Well, the beauty of being an actor is that any life experience—and there have been many since that wonderful film—anything you’ve experienced is so valuable in shaping a sense of understanding, so the moments of triumph and the moments of loss and the moments of complexity along your path.
‘And all creative paths are complex. They give you an ability to represent those more truthfully and authentically in your work. And I’m just so grateful to have had this meaningful opportunity come my way.’
‘I’ve been yearning for this for a long time, I’ve been working very hard,’ he continued. ‘But it’s not for a lack of hard work; it’s just there are so many wonderful, magical things that have to happen for film to achieve greatness, and I’m really so grateful that all those things conspired on The Brutalist.’
Elsewhere, Brody spoke highly of the ‘beauty of film’ and its ability to allow audiences to ‘immerse [themselves] in the lives of others’.
Noting that the film’s release is timely given the rise of antisemitism, he explained how movies such as The Brutalist offer ‘perspective’, even if it portrays a life ‘unfamiliar’ to your own.
‘It’s very important that a film that speaks to tremendous cruelty and despicable behaviour in our past, that we see elements existing today, can guide us and remind us of that,’ he shared.
‘It won’t necessarily change those things, I don’t have an expectation that it does, but we all have to recognise that we’re one and that we live in a time that is quite divisive, and it speaks to the need for all of us to share in the responsibility—how we want others to be treated and how we want to be treated by others.’
Brody declared ‘there’s no place anymore for antisemitism’ or bigotry in any form, concluding: ‘If you can look at the past and you can look at this universal hardship of so many, you gain, hopefully, some perspective, and we’re able to change and improve upon the things that have been have ailed society over the years.’
The movie star, who previously won the leading actor Academy Award in 2003, was taken aback this evening as he collected his Bafta.
He beat tough competition in his category, with other nominees including Hugh Grant, Ralph Fiennes, Sebastian Stan, Adrien Brody, Colman Domingo, and Timothee Chalamet.
Insisting that he proudly shares his win with his fellow nominees, Brody said in his acceptance speech that the film was about ‘pursing something meaningful’.
‘I want to thank the Bafta and the voters, and I want to thank the British public for embracing me and my endeavours,’ he added, while referencing recent stage work in London, saying ‘England has felt like home’.
‘For everyone who has rooted for me along the way, I am so thankful,’ he also said.
‘Thank you to my wonderful, beautiful girlfriend Georgina Chapman, if it wasn’t for my wonderful parents and you, I wouldn’t be here.’
The Brutalist was a big winner of the night, tying with papal drama Conclave to take home four trophies. The latter also won outstanding British film, while the former took home the directing gong.
Other standout moments included Mikey Madison taking best leading actress for Anora, while Zoe Saldana and Kieran Culkin won in the best supporting categories.
Fantasy musical Wicked was recognised for its production design, while Emilia Perez won two of its 11 nominations, including best film not in the English language.
