Wagner Moura has officially entered Golden Globes history, becoming the first Brazilian actor ever nominated for Best Actor in a Drama. His acclaimed performance in Kleber Mendonça Filho’s The Secret Agent — a film that was just named Best Film of 2025 by The Hollywood Reporter — places Brazil at the center of this year’s global awards conversation and marks a breakthrough moment for Brazilian representation in one of Hollywood’s most influential categories.
For international audiences discovering him now, Moura may feel like a sudden contender. But for anyone familiar with Brazilian cinema and TV — from Elite Squad to Narcos — this recognition has been a long time coming. Moura has spent years building a career defined by political intensity, emotional subtlety and storytelling that resonates far beyond Brazil’s borders.
A Landmark Role in a Formidable Brazilian Film
In The Secret Agent, Moura plays a civil servant pulled into a vortex of conspiracy and state surveillance, delivering one of the most commanding performances of his career. The film reunited him with Kleber Mendonça Filho, the celebrated Brazilian auteur behind Aquarius and Bacurau. After premiering at Cannes, the film became the festival’s most decorated title, winning jury prizes for both director and actor.
The Golden Globes clearly took notice: alongside Moura’s nomination, The Secret Agent also received nods for Best Picture – Drama and Best Non-English Language Film, signaling a strong awards-season trajectory for Latin American cinema.
Moura joins a high-profile group of nominees including Joel Edgerton, Oscar Isaac, Dwayne Johnson, Michael B. Jordan, and Jeremy Allen White — a lineup that underscores the significance of his presence in this category.
A Global Career Reaching New Heights
This nomination follows another milestone: Moura recently became the first Latino actor ever to win the Best Actor award from the New York Film Critics Circle, historically one of the most influential critic groups in the United States. The honor amplified his global visibility and highlighted the industry’s growing openness to non-English-language performances.
The ripple effect recalls the rise of Fernanda Torres last season, when another Brazilian artist transformed early awards buzz into a Golden Globe win and an unexpected Oscar nomination. With the Globes scheduled for January 11, the question is already circulating: will The Secret Agent keep pushing Latin American cinema forward through the rest of awards season?
Named One of the Best Performances of the Year by The New York Times
Adding to the momentum, The New York Times included Wagner Moura among the 10 standout performances of 2025, inviting him to portray primal emotions for a special feature. His accompanying reflection was intimate, political and unmistakably him:
“The older I get, the more I try to bring myself into the character… I’m a very political person, and of course that manifests in the things I do. Art and politics are very close.”
He also offered a glimpse into the curiosity and playfulness behind his process:
“I still feel joy as if I were a child… Children are great actors, when they’re not tamed. They are natural, the best actors in the world.”
It’s a rare window into the artistic philosophy of someone who consistently brings both vulnerability and fire to every role he touches.
A Defining Moment for Brazilian Talent on the Global Stage
Male Brazilian actors have historically struggled to break into Hollywood’s major awards races, despite the country’s long tradition of Oscar-recognized films and world-class performers. Moura’s nomination shifts that narrative — not subtly, but decisively.
For Brazil, it is a proud milestone. For global viewers, it’s an invitation to look closer at one of the most compelling talents of Latin America. And for Wagner Moura, it marks the beginning of what could be a defining chapter in his international career.
Brazilcore will be watching closely on January 11. Whatever happens next, this historic nomination has already reshaped the landscape — and placed a Brazilian leading man exactly where he deserves to be: at the center of the global conversation.
