Wagner Moura achieved a significant milestone on Thursday morning with his nomination for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the upcoming film “The Secret Agent,” directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho. This achievement marks Moura as the first Brazilian actor to receive an Oscar nomination in this prestigious category.
In “The Secret Agent,” Moura portrays Armando, a former professor attempting to protect his young son while navigating the dangers of Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s. If he wins the award at the ceremony scheduled for March 15, Moura would make history as the first Brazilian to victory in an acting category.
Moura joins an elite group as only the third Brazilian national nominated for an acting Oscar, following in the footsteps of Fernanda Montenegro and her daughter Fernanda Torres. Montenegro earned her nomination for her role in the 1998 film “Central Station,” while Torres was recognized for her portrayal in the 2024 film “I’m Still Here.”
In addition to his Oscar nomination, Moura has already made waves this awards season by winning the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama for his performance in “The Secret Agent.” He is the second Brazilian and the first Brazilian man to achieve this honor, following Torres’s success the previous year.
Moura’s journey in cinema saw him receiving the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival last year, making him the first Brazilian performer to receive this accolade. His recent achievements come on the heels of “I’m Still Here,” which made history as the first fully Brazilian production to win an Academy Award in the international feature category.
After an extended hiatus from Brazilian cinema due to various challenges—including political shifts and the pandemic—Moura’s return in “The Secret Agent” signifies a personal cinematic homecoming. Director Mendonça Filho expressed confidence in Moura’s adaptability despite his time away from Brazil’s film landscape.
Moura’s work is often intertwined with political narratives; however, he emphasizes his broader identity as an actor above any singular theme or legacy. “I don’t want to be the Che Guevara of film,” he stated, highlighting his multifaceted approach to acting.
As Moura approaches this pivotal moment in his career, anticipation builds not only for his performance but also for what it represents for Brazilian cinema on the global stage.