Adrien Brody went through a lot for his Oscar-winning role in The Pianist, both physically and emotionally. Known for fully immersing himself in his characters, Brody took it to the extreme for this film, where he played Holocaust survivor Władysław Szpilman. To accurately portray Szpilman, Brody followed a strict near-starvation diet, losing 30 pounds and dropping his weight to just 129 pounds.
In an interview with New York Magazine’s Vulture, Brody shared the impact this transformation had on his body and mind. He explained that the physical change gave him a deep understanding of emptiness and hunger. The film’s shooting schedule, which started with Brody’s most physically depleted scenes, added emotional intensity to the role.
However, the experience left lasting effects. Brody admitted to struggling with insomnia, panic attacks, and even PTSD after the role. He also mentioned having an eating disorder for a year and dealing with depression, although he joked about it being a lifetime struggle.
Brody’s dedication to his roles often led to unusual situations. On The Jacket, he asked to be left in a straitjacket to feel the character’s psychological and physical constraints. During the filming of Summer of Sam, he was accidentally punched in the face, leaving him with a permanent dent. For Oxygen, Brody decided to wear real braces for his role as a serial killer, a choice he regretted because of the pain involved in removing them.
