Wagner Moura Makes History as First Brazilian to Win Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, Honors Those Who Stand by Their Values in Tough Times
The Golden Globes have marked a significant milestone for Brazilian talent in recent years. Following Fernanda Torres’ historic win last year for Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for I’m Still Here, Wagner Moura has now made history as the first Brazilian to secure the title of Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama for The Secret Agent.
During his acceptance speech, Moura reflected on the film’s themes, stating, “The Secret Agent is a film about memory, or the lack of memory, and generational trauma. I think that if trauma can be passed along generations, values can too. So this is to the ones that are sticking with their values in difficult moments.”
He expressed gratitude to his team for their “friendship,” as well as to his fellow nominees, distributor Neon, and director Kleber Mendonça Filho. Moura praised Filho’s contributions, saying, “You’re a genius and you are my brother, and I thank you for this, and for many more other things.”
Moura, who received a Golden Globe nomination in 2015 for his acclaimed role as Pablo Escobar in Netflix’s Narcos, faced tough competition this year. He triumphed over notable actors including Michael B. Jordan (Sinners), Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein), Dwayne Johnson (The Smashing Machine), and Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere). His performance in The Secret Agent also earned him the Cannes Film Festival’s Best Actor award and nominations at the Critics Choice Awards and the Gotham Awards.
Written and directed by Filho, The Secret Agent was recognized earlier in the evening with the award for Best Foreign Language Film and made history as the first Brazilian film nominated for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Released in North America in November, the film is a political thriller set during Brazil’s 1977 military dictatorship, following a political dissident (Moura) who returns to Recife to reunite with his son, only to navigate life as a spy to survive.
This film was highly acclaimed at Cannes, winning multiple awards including Best Director, the Art House Cinema Award, and the FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film. Additionally, it has made the Oscars shortlist for Best International Feature Film, having been designated as Brazil’s official entry.
The Golden Globes ceremony took place at The Beverly Hilton, with comedian Nikki Glaser returning as host.
