• Faith: Judaism
• Career: Actor
• Birthday:  April 14, 1973

Adrien Brody is an Oscar-winning American actor best known for his roles in historical dramas. He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Władysław Szpilman in Roman Polanski’s war drama "The Pianist" (2002) and later played a Holocaust survivor rebuilding his life in the United States in Brady Corbet’s "The Brutalist" (2024). Both performances earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor, with his win for The Pianist making him the youngest recipient in the category at age 29.

Adrien Brody was born on April 14, 1973, in Woodhaven, Queens, New York City. He is the only child of Sylvia Plachy, a Hungarian-born photographer, and Elliot Brody, a retired history professor and painter. His mother, who fled Hungary following the 1956 revolution, has a diverse heritage—her father was a Catholic Hungarian aristocrat, and her mother was Czech Jewish. Brody's father is of Polish Jewish descent. Raised without a strong connection to either Judaism or Christianity, Brody's multicultural background has influenced his artistic sensibilities.

Brody's acting career began in adolescence with appearances in Off-Broadway plays and a role in the 1988 television movie "Home at Last." He made his film debut with a minor role in "New York Stories" (1989). Throughout the 1990s, he took on various roles in films such as "The Boy Who Cried Bitch" (1991), "King of the Hill" (1993), and "Angels in the Outfield" (1994). Despite a significant part in "The Thin Red Line" (1998), much of his performance was cut during editing.

Brody's breakthrough came with Roman Polanski's "The Pianist" (2002), where he portrayed Władysław Szpilman, a Polish-Jewish pianist surviving the Holocaust. His performance earned him the Academy Award for Best Actor at age 29, making him the youngest actor to receive the honor in that category.

Following this success, Brody appeared in a variety of films, including "The Village" (2004), "King Kong" (2005), and "The Darjeeling Limited" (2007). He continued to showcase his versatility with roles in "Midnight in Paris" (2011) and "The Grand Budapest Hotel" (2014). In 2021, he joined the cast of the television series "Succession," portraying Josh Aaronson, a billionaire investor.

In 2024, Brody starred in "The Brutalist," playing László Tóth, a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor rebuilding his life in America. His portrayal garnered critical acclaim, earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor at the 2025 Oscars, 22 years after his first win.

Brody has been in a relationship with fashion designer Georgina Chapman since 2020. The couple has made several public appearances together, and Brody has credited Chapman for her support and inspiration in his personal and professional life.

What religion is Adrien Brody?

Brody's Jewish heritage has significantly influenced his career choices and performances. His father, Elliot Brody, is of Polish Jewish descent, and his maternal grandmother was Czech Jewish. Although raised without a strong connection to organized religion, Brody has drawn upon his heritage in his work.

In "The Pianist," Brody portrayed a Polish-Jewish musician during the Holocaust, a role that resonated with his family's history. Similarly, in "The Brutalist," he played a Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor, bringing depth and authenticity to the character through his personal background.

Brody has acknowledged the importance of learning from the past, especially in light of rising antisemitism. He emphasizes the need to remember and reflect upon historical atrocities to prevent their recurrence.

His performances in these roles have been lauded for their emotional depth and commitment, underscoring his connection to his heritage and its impact on his artistry.