Golden Globe Victory Adrien Brody Honored for Moving Holocaust Survivor Role

American actor Adrien Brody won Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globes on Sunday for his powerful portrayal of Hungarian Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor László Tóth in The Brutalist. The film, which follows Tóth’s life after surviving the Holocaust and emigrating to the United States, was one of the biggest winners of the night, also taking home Best Drama Film and Best Director for Brady Corbet.

In an emotional acceptance speech, Brody dedicated the award to his parents, especially his mother, photographer Sylvia Plachy, whose own family fled Hungary in 1956 during the Hungarian Revolution.

"You always hold me up," he told his mother in the audience. "I often credit my mother for her influence on me as an artist, but Dad, you are the foundation of this family, and all this love that I receive flows back to you."

Brody also spoke about how deeply The Brutalist resonated with him:

"The character’s journey is very reminiscent of my mother’s and my ancestral journey of fleeing the horrors of war and coming to this great country," he said. "I owe so much to my mother and my grandparents for their sacrifice. And although I do not know fully how to express all of the challenges that you have faced and experienced, I hope that this work stands to lift you up a bit and to give you a voice."

Backstage, Brody reflected on the significance of winning another major award 23 years after his Oscar-winning performance in The Pianist, where he portrayed Polish Jewish Holocaust survivor Władysław Szpilman.

"It’s been decades, and I’ve had a long life and career, with many peaks and valleys," he said. "To have a triumph like this again is incredibly healing and rewarding, especially for what it represents about my family's struggles."

He also highlighted the universal theme of the film seeking a home and acceptance:

"The resilience and sacrifice of my mother’s family was very important for me to honor. This story is about the desire to find a home, to not be ‘other’-ed because of how you look, how you sound, or what your religion might be."

Brody faced strong competition in his category, beating out Timothée Chalamet (A Complete Unknown), Daniel Craig (Queer), Colman Domingo (Sing Sing), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Sebastian Stan (The Apprentice).

In the Best Drama Film category, The Brutalist won over Dune: Part Two, Nickel Boys, September 5, Conclave, and A Complete Unknown.

Notably, September 5, which tells the story of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, was also in contention, reflecting a growing interest in films that explore Jewish history and resilience.

Brody’s deeply personal connection to his role, combined with the film’s powerful narrative, makes this win particularly meaningful not just for him, but for the memory of Holocaust survivors and the enduring impact of their stories.

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