Brady James Monson Corbet (/kɔːrˈbeɪ/ kor-BAY; born August 17, 1988) is an American filmmaker and actor. He had roles in films such as Thirteen (2003), Mysterious Skin (2004), Funny Games (2007), Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Melancholia (2011), and Clouds of Sils Maria (2014), as well as the series 24 (2006) and Olive Kitteridge (2014).

Since he quit acting in 2014 to pursue his filmmaking career with his partner Mona Fastvold, Corbet made his directorial debut with the psychological drama The Childhood of a Leader (2015). He has since co-written and directed the musical drama Vox Lux (2018) and the period epic The Brutalist (2024). The latter earned him the Silver Lion, BAFTA, and Golden Globe for Best Director as well as three Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Director and Original Screenplay.

Early life

Brady James Monson Corbet was born in Scottsdale, Arizona, on August 17, 1988. He was raised by a single mother, whom he regards as the closest thing he has to "a hero". On his mother's side, he has Irish, Serbian (from Apatin), and Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry; he attended Catholic school.

Career

Corbet in September 2004

Corbet began an acting career at age eleven with a guest role in an April 2000 episode of CBS' The King of Queens, and he followed it up with voice work in the English version of the animated Japanese series NieA under 7. Over the next few years he was a regular on another animated series, I My Me! Strawberry Eggs (2001), and he guest-starred in a May 2002 episode of the WB sitcom Greetings from Tucson. He also appeared in a May 2003 episode of Fox's sitcom Oliver Beene. In 2003 he landed his first film role when he was cast in Thirteen.

In 2004 Corbet starred as the youngest son of a billionaire ex-astronaut in Thunderbirds, Jonathan Frakes' live-action movie based on the 1960s British T.V. series. Later that same year, Gregg Araki cast him in Mysterious Skin, based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Scott Heim; Corbet portrayed a troubled teenager who is plagued by nightmares and believes that he may have been abducted by aliens. The film debuted in that year's Venice Film Festival and had a limited release in 2005.

In 2006, Corbet returned to television with a recurring role as the son of Jack Bauer's new girlfriend in the fifth season of 24. He also appeared in the independent rock band Bright Eyes' music video "At the Bottom of Everything" (2005). In October 2006, he was featured in the Ima Robot video for "Lovers in Captivity", which was produced independently of their Virgin Records label and was featured in an Out Magazine article. He played the role of Watts in the 2011 psychological thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene.

Corbet in May 2014

In 2013, Corbet signed to direct his first feature film, The Childhood of a Leader. It premiered in the Horizons section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, where he won Best Director in the festival's Horizons (Orizzonti) section. In 2018, Corbet directed his second feature film Vox Lux.

In September 2020, it was reported that Corbet would direct his third feature film, the immigrant drama The Brutalist. The film was released in 2024 to critical acclaim and earned ten nominations at the 97th Academy Awards, including Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. He also won the Silver Lion at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and Best Director at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards.

In November 2025, Corbet revealed that his next film would be an "X-rated movie" that takes place "mostly in the 1970s", adding that the film would span from the 19th century to the present day, stating that it will be about economy in California. The project is expected to begin filming in summer 2026.

Personal life

Since 2012, Corbet has been in a romantic relationship with Norwegian filmmaker and actress Mona Fastvold, whom he met on the set of her film The Sleepwalker. They have since co-written five films together. They have a daughter named Ada (born 2014).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2008Protect You + Me.YesYesNoShort film
2012Simon KillerNoStoryNoWritten with Antonio Campos and Mati Diop
2014The SleepwalkerNoYesNoWritten with Mona Fastvold
2015The Childhood of a LeaderYesYesYes
2018Vox LuxYesYesNo
201930/30 Vision: 3 Decades of Strand Releasing (segment "The Day the 'Conducator' Died")YesYesTBDAnthology film
2024The BrutalistYesYesYesWritten with Mona Fastvold
2025The Testament of Ann LeeNoYesYes

Acting

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003ThirteenMason Freeland
2004Mysterious SkinBrian Lackey
ThunderbirdsAlan Tracy
2007Funny GamesPeter
2010Two Gates of SleepJackAlso editor (with Alistair Banks Griffin)
2011Martha Marcy May MarleneWatts
MelancholiaTim
2012Simon KillerSimon
2014Clouds of Sils MariaPiers Roaldson
EdenLarry
Force MajeureBrady
Saint LaurentDavid
The SleepwalkerIra
While We're YoungKent Arlington
Escobar: Paradise LostDylan Brady
Portrait of the ArtistSpectatorUncredited
YellowbirdWilly (voice)English dub

Television

YearTitleDirectorWriterProducerNotes
2020HomemadeNoYesNoEpisode: "Annex"
2023The Crowded RoomYesNoExecutive3 episodes

Acting

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000The King of QueensStuEpisode: "Big Dougie"
NieA under 7Additional voicesEnglish dub 4 episodes
2001I My Me! Strawberry EggsYoshihiko NishinadaEnglish dub Episode: "Rebellious Eyelash Curler Boys"
2003Oliver BeeneSpencerEpisode: "Oliver's Best Friend"
Greetings from TucsonBrianEpisode: "Eegee's vs. Hardee's"
200624Derek Huxley6 episodes
2008Law & OrderPatrick FriendlyEpisode: "Lost Boys"
2010Law & Order: Special Victims UnitHenry ChristensenEpisode: "Quickie"
2014Olive KitteridgeHenry ThibodeauMiniseries

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.
2008Young Hollywood AwardsOne to Watch - MaleFunny GamesWon
2009Sundance Film FestivalShort Filmmaking Award - Honorable MentionProtect You + MeWon
2011Gotham AwardsBest Ensemble PerformanceMartha Marcy May MarleneNominated
2012RiverRun International Film FestivalSpecial Jury Prize - Spark Award (shared with David Oyelowo and Amy Seimetz)Won
2015Venice International Film FestivalLuigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut FilmThe Childhood of a LeaderWon
Orizzonti Award for Best DirectorWon
2018Golden LionVox LuxNominated
2024The BrutalistNominated
Silver LionWon
2024Washington D.C. Area Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorWon
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2024The Astra AwardsBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2024Atlanta Film Critics CircleBest DirectorWon
Michigan Movie Critics GuildWon
Best Screenplay (Adapted or Original)Nominated
2024San Diego Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorNominated
2024Chicago Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2024Phoenix Critics CircleBest DirectorWon
Best ScreenplayNominated
Las Vegas Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorNominated
Best Screenplay OriginalWon
Boston Online Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorWon
2024St. Louis Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2024San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics CircleBest DirectorWon
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2024Indiana Film Journalists AssociationBest DirectorRunner-up
Best Original ScreenplayWon
New York Film Critics OnlineDirectorRunner-up
ScreenplayWon
2024Seattle Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorNominated
Best ScreenplayNominated
2024Southeastern Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorWon
Best Original ScreenplayRunner-up
2024Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
Best ScreenplayWon
2024Black Film Critics CircleOriginal ScreenplayWon
Nevada Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorWon
Best Original ScreenplayWon
Online Association of Female Film CriticsBest DirectorNominated
North Texas Film Critics AssociationNominated
Best ScreenplayNominated
2025Columbus Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
North Carolina Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayWon
Oklahoma Film Critics CircleBest DirectorRunner-up
Best Original ScreenplayWon
DiscussingFilm Critic AwardsBest DirectorBronze
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
Kansas City Film Critics CircleNominated
Greater Western New York Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
Original ScreenplayNominated
2025Golden Globe AwardsBest DirectorWon
Best ScreenplayNominated
2025Austin Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2025Georgia Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorRunner-up
Best Original ScreenplayRunner-up
2025Alliance of Women Film JournalistsBest DirectorNominated
Best Screenplay, OriginalNominated
2025Minnesota Film Critics AllianceBest DirectorWon
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
Music City Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorNominated
ScreenplayNominated
Utah Film Critics AssociationBest Achievement in DirectionWon
Best ScreenplayNominated
Puerto Rico Critics AssociationBest Original ScreenplayNominated
Hawaii Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
North Dakota Film SocietyBest DirectorNominated
Best ScreenplayNominated
Houston Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorWon
Best ScreenplayNominated
Portland Critics AssociationBest DirectorWon
Best ScreenplayWon
Chicago Indie Critics Windie AwardBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
Denver Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2025Satellite AwardsBest DirectorWon
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2025Online Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2025London Film Critics' CircleDirector of the YearNominated
Screenwriter of the YearNominated
2025Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2025Directors Guild of America AwardsFeature FilmNominated
2025International Cinephile SocietyBest DirectorNominated
2025AACTA AwardsBest DirectionNominated
Best ScreenplayNominated
2025Dorian AwardsDirector of the YearNominated
2025British Academy Film AwardsBest FilmNominated
Best DirectorWon
Best Original ScreenplayNominated
2025Latino Entertainment Journalists AssociationBest DirectorWon
Original ScreenplayNominated
2025Independent Spirit AwardsBest DirectorNominated
2025Academy AwardsBest PictureNominated
Best DirectorNominated
Best Original ScreenplayNominated

Directed Academy Award performances Under Corbet's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations and wins for their performances in their respective roles.

YearPerformerFilmResult
Academy Award for Best Actor
2024Adrien BrodyThe BrutalistWon
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
2024Guy PearceThe BrutalistNominated
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
2024Felicity JonesThe BrutalistNominated

External links