Brady James Monson Corbet ( ; born August 17, 1988) is an American filmmaker and former actor. Since retiring from 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.
As an 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).
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 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.
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 the economy of northern California. The project is expected to begin filming in summer 2026.
Personal life Since 2013, Corbet has been in a relationship with Norwegian filmmaker and actress Mona Fastvold. They have a daughter born in 2014.
Fastvold and Corbet met by being introduced by their mutual friend, actor Christopher Abbott, who is now their daughter’s godfather. After meeting, they became friends and began co-writing films. They then became a couple after finishing the first film they wrote together, The Sleepwalker.
Filmography Film Year Title Director Writer Producer Notes 2008 Protect You + Me. Short film 2012 Simon Killer Written with Antonio Campos and Mati Diop 2014 The Sleepwalker Written with Mona Fastvold 2015 The Childhood of a Leader 2018 Vox Lux 2019 30/30 Vision: 3 Decades of Strand Releasing Anthology film; segment "The Day the 'Conducator' Died" 2024 The Brutalist Written with Mona Fastvold 2025 The Testament of Ann Lee TBA The Origin of the World Filming
Acting Year Title RoleNotes2003ThirteenMason Freeland 2004Mysterious SkinBrian LackeyThunderbirdsAlan Tracy 2007Funny GamesPeter 2010Two Gates of SleepJack Also editor (with Alistair Banks Griffin)2011Martha Marcy May Marlene Watts MelancholiaTim2012Simon KillerSimon2014Clouds of Sils MariaPiers RoaldsonEdenLarry Force MajeureBradySaint LaurentDavidThe SleepwalkerIraWhile We're YoungKent ArlingtonEscobar: Paradise LostDylan BradyPortrait of the ArtistSpectatorUncreditedYellowbirdWilly (voice)English dub
Television Year Title Director Writer ProducerNotes2020Homemade Episode: "Annex"2023The Crowded Room 3 episodes
Acting Year Title RoleNotes2000The King of QueensStuEpisode: "Big Dougie"NieA under 7Additional voicesEnglish dub4 episodes2001I My Me! Strawberry EggsYoshihiko NishinadaEnglish dubEpisode: "Rebellious Eyelash Curler Boys"2003Oliver BeeneSpencerEpisode: "Oliver's Best Friend"Greetings from TucsonBrianEpisode: "Eegee's vs. Hardee's"200624Derek Huxley6 episodes2008Law & OrderPatrick FriendlyEpisode: "Lost Boys"2010Law & Order: Special Victims UnitHenry ChristensenEpisode: "Quickie"2014Olive KitteridgeHenry ThibodeauMiniseries
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work ResultRef.2008Young Hollywood AwardsOne to Watch - MaleFunny Games2009Sundance Film FestivalShort Filmmaking Award - Honorable MentionProtect You + Me 2011Gotham AwardsBest Ensemble PerformanceMartha Marcy May Marlene2012RiverRun International Film FestivalSpecial Jury Prize - Spark Award(shared with David Oyelowo and Amy Seimetz)2016East End Film FestivalBest FilmThe Childhood of a Leader2015Venice International Film Festival Luigi De Laurentiis Award for a Debut Film Orizzonti Award for Best Director 2018Golden Lion Vox Lux 2024The Brutalist Silver Lion 2024Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Best Director Best Original Screenplay2024The Astra Awards Best Director Best Original Screenplay 2024 San Diego Film Critics SocietyBest Director2024Chicago Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2024Las Vegas Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorBest Screenplay Original Boston Online Film Critics AssociationBest Director2024St. Louis Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2024San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics CircleBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2024New York Film Critics OnlineDirectorScreenplay2024Seattle Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorBest Screenplay2024Southeastern Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2024Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorBest Screenplay2025 Kansas City Film Critics CircleBest Original Screenplay2025Golden Globe AwardsBest DirectorBest Screenplay2025Austin Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2025Georgia Film Critics AssociationBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2025Alliance of Women Film JournalistsBest DirectorBest Screenplay, Original2025Houston Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorBest Screenplay2025Satellite AwardsBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2025Online Film Critics SocietyBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2025London Film Critics' CircleDirector of the YearScreenwriter of the Year2025Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay 2025 Directors Guild of America AwardsFeature Film 2025 International Cinephile SocietyBest Director2025AACTA AwardsBest DirectionBest Screenplay 2025 Dorian AwardsDirector of the Year2025British Academy Film AwardsBest FilmBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay2025Independent Spirit AwardsBest Director2025Academy AwardsBest PictureBest DirectorBest Original Screenplay
Directed Academy Award performancesUnder Corbet's direction, these actors have received Academy Award nominations (and one win) for their performances in their respective roles. +YearPerformerFilmResultAcademy Award for Best Actor2024Adrien BrodyThe BrutalistAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor2024Guy PearceThe BrutalistAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actress2024Felicity JonesThe Brutalist References
External links