Earning his second Best Actor Oscar 22 years after his first, Adrien Brody entered the history books as the first leading actor to win two statuettes on his first two attempts on Sunday.
He won for his role as an ingenious, haunted architect in Brady Corbet’s epic, following his win in 2003 for Roman Polanski’s biographical World War II drama “The Pianist.”
And by wining Best Actor on Sunday, Brody not only made history but also preserved his place among Oscar milestones. Had 29-year-old Timothée Chalamet won in the category for “A Complete Unknown,” he would have become the youngest Best Actor victor ever, beating Brody’s own record from 2003.
Brody is the 11th leading actor to win twice in the top category.
“Acting is a very fragile profession,” Brody opened his acceptance speech. “It looks very glamorous, and certain moments it is, but the one thing that I’ve gained having the privilege to come back here is to have some perspective.”
“And no matter where you are in your career, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all go away. I think what makes this night most special is the awareness of that and the gratitude that I have to still do the work that I love,” he continued. “Winning an award like this is it signifies a destination and something my character references in the film.”
“But to me, it also beyond the pinnacle of a career. It is a chance to begin again, and the opportunity to hopefully be fortunate enough for the next 20 years of my life that I can prove that I am worthy of such meaningful and important and relevant roles,” Brody promised.
He closed out his speech asking for a more “inclusive world.”
“I’m here once again to represent the lingering traumas and the repercussions of war and systematic oppression and of anti-Semitism and racism and of othering,” Brody said. “I pray for a healthier and a happier and a more inclusive world. And I believe if the past can teach us anything, it’s a reminder to not let hate go unchecked.”
He joins an esteemed list of fellow two-time Best Actor champs. From the Hollywood Golden Era, they include Spencer Tracy (“Captains Courageous” and “Boys Town”), Frederic March (“Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and “The Best Years of Our Lives”), Gary Cooper (“Sergeant York” and “High Noon”), and Marlon Brando (“On the Waterfront” and “The Godfather”).
In addition, still-living two-time Best Actors include Dustin Hoffman (“Kramer vs. Kramer” and “Rain Man”), Jack Nicholson (“One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest” and “As Good as It Gets”), Tom Hanks (“Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump”), Sean Penn (“Mystic River” and “Milk”), Anthony Hopkins (“The Silence of the Lambs” and “The Father”) and three-timer Daniel Day-Lewis (“My Left Foot,” “There Will Be Blood” and “Lincoln”).
But each one of those men had been nominated either before or in between their two wins. Brody is the only leading male actor ever to win on his first two nominations.
In doing so, he joins a smaller list of actors with a perfect 2-for-2 record at the Academy Awards, including Hilary Swank (“Boys Don’t Cry” and “Million Dollar Baby), Christoph Waltz (“Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained”), Mahershala Ali (“Moonlight” and “Green Book”), Luise Rainer (“The Good Earth” and “The Great Ziegfeld”), Helen Hayes (“The Sin of Madelon Claudet” and “Airport”), Vivien Leigh (“Gone With the Wind” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”) and Kevin Spacey (“The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty”).
