Adrien Brody was moved to tears during his emotional acceptance speech on Wednesday at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in New York City.
The 51-year-old Oscar winner — who walked the red carpet with his girlfriend Georgina Chapman — turned his attention to the ‘bravery’ of firefighters battle the out-of-control wildfires around Los Angeles after he won the Best Actor award for his acclaimed performance in historical epic The Brutalist, which helped cement his status as an Academy Award frontrunner.
‘I would be remiss to not mention the weight of what’s on all of our mind and in our hearts tonight,’ Brody said after receiving his award, via People.
‘It’s been a heavy day for me,’ he continued as his voice began to break, and he stopped speaking as the tears began to well up before offering up a quick apology.
‘It’s hard to accept something like this when there’s so much suffering in the world,’ he continued. ‘And, you know, my heart goes out to all of the families and the animals and our colleagues.’
Brody, who thanked the critics group in his speech, noted that he was accepting his award even as many buildings and homes on the ‘beach side’ of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway were ‘gone.’
Adrien Brody was moved to tears during his acceptance speech on Wednesday at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in New York City as he about the devastation of the LA wildfires
Fires have devastated communities in Pacific Palisades, Pasadena and the Hollywood Hills; a house is seen on fire on Wednesday in Altadena, near Pasadena
‘This is our community,’ he continued, before honoring first responders putting their lives on the line amid the wildfires.
‘I just want to thank and commend the bravery of the first responders and sacrifices and their meaningful work that deserves our recognition tonight,’ Brody said to thunderous applause throughout the audience.
He wrapped up his acceptance speech by reiterating that his ‘thoughts’ were with those ‘affected by this horrific event.’
‘They’re in my prayers and I know that we’re all praying for their safety,’ he concluded.
Brody also shared special praise for his Brutalist costar Guy Pearce.
‘I loved acting with you every day, and I assume many of you have seen the film, but for those of you who haven’t, Guy delivered such a complex and nuanced representation of Van Buren,’ Brody gushed, via Variety. ‘I don’t feel that I would be standing here tonight if he didn’t deliver such a magnificent performance.’
The Brutalist was also honored with the NYFCC’s Best Picture award, which its director Brady Corbet accepted.
The Vox Lux filmmaker and actor noted that he understood some of the emotions those in Los Angeles were feeling, as his home in New York had burned down several years ago.
‘It’s been a heavy day for me,’ he continued as his voice began to break, and he stopped speaking as the tears began to well up before offering up a quick apology; pictured arriving with Georgina Chapman
‘It’s hard to accept something like this when there’s so much suffering in the world,’ he continued. ‘And, you know, my heart goes out to all of the families and the animals and our colleagues’
‘I just want to thank and commend the bravery of the first responders and sacrifices and their meaningful work that deserves our recognition tonight,’ Brody said to thunderous applause throughout the audience; pictured with The Brutalist director Brady Corbet
Brody also shared special praise for his Brutalist costar Guy Pearce (L). ‘I loved acting with you every day… Guy delivered such a complex and nuanced representation…’ Brody gushed; pictured Thursday with (L–R) Pearce, Corbet and co-screenwriter Mona Fastvold
The Brutalist has been one of the most awarded films this season, and it is expected to pick up several high-profile nominations for the Academy Awards when they are announced later this month.
It’s not clear if Brody owns any property in the affected areas, but he famously bought the Stone Barn Castle in Central New York in 2007 and spent seven years renovating, which was captured in a documentary named after the castle.
Host of the awards David Sims and Sean Baker, who took home the best screenplay award for Anora, also acknowledged the people of Los Angeles during the ceremony.
Many celebrities have been devastated by the wildfires ravaging Los Angeles.
John Goodman and Anthony Hopkins were left with nothing but rubble after their homes burned, and Billy Crystal and Eugene Levy also lost their houses.
Adam Brody and Leighton Meester were similarly unlucky, and Anna Faris’ mansion was burned to the ground.
Guy delivered such a complex and nuanced representation of Van Buren,’ Brody gushed
Adrien was supported at the event by his girlfriend Georgina
A Real Pain‘s Kieran Culkin ended up winning Best Supporting Actor
Kieran happily mingled with his Igby Goes Down co-star Claire Danes as he showed off his award
Robert Pattinson enjoyed an animated chat with Brody and Pearce
Actor James Woods shared video of the approaching flames shortly before he evacuated ahead of the destruction of his house.
The Hills stars Spencer Pratt and Heidi Montag saw their home destroyed in the wildfire, and Spencer was pictured looking somberly at the approaching flames before his family was forced to flee.
While the NYFCC gala went ahead as scheduled, a number of Hollywood events have been postponed or cancelled as a result of the fires.
Premieres of movies such as Wolf Man, Unstoppable, Better Man and Back in Action have been cancelled and the upcoming Critics Choice Awards were rescheduled from Sunday January 12 to January 26.
