According to Guinness World Records, Adrien Brody's acceptance speech for Best Actor at the 2025 Oscars stands as the longest in the Academy Awards' storied history. On Hollywood's grandest night, amidst the glittering Dolby Theatre, Brody emerged victorious, besting a formidable line-up that included Timothée Chalamet, Sebastian Stan, Colman Domingo, and Ralph Fiennes. His triumph was sealed for his portrayal of Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth in the film, "The Brutalist."
Ascending the stage, Brody first casually dispatched his chewing gum, expertly flicking it towards his partner Georgina Chapman before ignoring the customary 45-second limit. Instead, he embarked on an epic, five-minute-and-40-second monologue. This feat surpassed the previous record held by Greer Garson, who delivered a five-minute-and-30-second speech upon winning for "Mrs. Miniver" in 1943—although footage of her entire speech has been lost to time.
As the orchestra began to gently prod him to conclude, Brody quipped, "Turn the music off! I’ve done this before. Thank you. It’s not my first rodeo, but I will be brief." This moment may have resonated deeply with Brody, who had faced a similarly premature interruption during his historic Best Actor win for "The Pianist" at the tender age of 29 in 2003. Back then, he had protested, "One second, please. One second. Cut it out. I got one shot at this. I didn’t say more than five names, I don’t think."
This time, however, Brody made the most of his extended moment in the spotlight, touching on various profound topics, notably antisemitism and racism. He declared, "I’m here once again, to represent the lingering traumas, the repercussions of war and systematic oppression, antisemitism, racism, and the act of othering. I believe that I pray for a healthier, happier, and more inclusive world. If the past teaches us anything, it's a stark reminder not to let hate fester unchecked."
The actor also shed light on the fragile nature of his profession, saying, "Acting may appear glamorous, and indeed, it has its moments, but what I’ve gained from the privilege of returning here is perspective. No matter where you are in your career, no matter what you’ve accomplished, it can all vanish in an instant. What makes this night truly special is the awareness of that fleeting nature and the profound gratitude I feel for still being able to do the work I love."
As he wrapped up, Brody quipped, "OK, I’ll get out of here. I love you, I appreciate you all. Let’s fight for what’s right, keep smiling, keep loving one another. Let’s rebuild together. Thank you."
In a post-speech interview with Good Morning America, Brody quipped, "It’s a pretty long movie, so I had to take a bit of extra time to say what’s relevant. It’s been quite a while since my last speech."
Elsewhere at the 2025 Oscars, "Anora" dominated the proceedings, while "The Brutalist" also secured wins for Best Original Score and Best Cinematography. Mikey Madison was crowned Best Actress, and Sean Baker made history by scooping a record-breaking four awards for his film: Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and ultimately, Best Picture.
In the supporting actor categories, Kieran Culkin won the Oscar for his role in "A Real Pain," while Zoe Saldaña made history as the "first American of Dominican origin to accept an Academy Award," earning the Best Supporting Actress honor for her performance in "Emilia Pérez."
