Adrian Brody denied Jack Nicholson's request to boycott the Oscars in 2003 because he didn't want to let his parents down
The 'King Kong' star was invited to the Academy Awards after being nominated in the Best Actor category for his role in war drama 'The Pianist' and he'd arranged for his mother and father to come to the ceremony with him - but shortly before the Oscars, Adrian was called to Nicholson's Los Angeles mansion for a secret meeting with Hollywood stars including Daniel Day-Lewis and Sir Michael Caine to discuss plans to boycott the event over the American invasion of Iraq
21 January 2025
However, Adrian was adamant he couldn't cancel his plans, telling The Sunday Times newspaper: "Well, that was a unique moment.
"I was a young actor, invited to a powwow with men I held in the highest regard. It was a pretty profound life experience, but, yes, I said that I had to go.
"Jack's request was for me to stay at home, but I said I had to attend. I had my parents coming."
Adrian - who was 29 at the time - went to the ceremony and emerged victorious after winning the Best Actor Oscar.
After winning the industry's highest honour, Adrian left Los Angeles and attempted to shun the spotlight - and he admits he found fame totally baffling.
He added to the publication: "I had never had that kind of love for my work - from anyone. And it didn't make a lot of sense to me.
"I was young and opportunities came to me, but I didn't want to start taking things for granted. So I shunned it. I moved.
"I isolated myself to live in the countryside and be in nature and to fix up an old pick-up truck and house. I saw how much was coming to me and felt unnerved."
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