LOS ANGELES — Wagner Moura is making Oscars history. “The Secret Agent” star is the first Brazilian nominated for Best Actor. The recognition comes just one year after “I’m Still Here” became Brazil’s first film to win Best International Feature at the Academy Awards.
“I think we’re going through a very beautiful moment for Brazilian culture, Brazilian films,” said Moura, who is garnering global praise for his turn as Armando, a man on the run in the genre-bending spy thriller, set in 1977 Brazil at the height of a military dictatorship.
His performance earned him Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Globe.
Looking ahead to the Oscars, “The Secret Agent” is nominated in four categories, including Achievement in Casting. It’s the Academy’s first new category in 25 years. Moura shared his admiration for the entire cast, adding, “I think that cast really represents that diversity in a very beautiful way, in terms of like, body shape, skin color. That’s what Brazil is, a very diverse place.”
Keep your eye out for scene-stealer Tânia Maria, who may be small in stature but possesses a big presence on-screen. At 79 years old, the seamstress-turned-actress is having a moment. “She became an unexpected star in Brazil. Right now, she’s doing commercials for Burger King,” said Moura, “For sure you’re going to see many people dressing up like her during Carnival in Brazil.”
From political persecution, references to the movie “Jaws,” and an urban legend about a hairy leg that attacks people, “The Secret Agent” is a movie all its own. Moura sees it this way: “This is basically a film about a man sticking to the values that he has when everything around him says the opposite.”
“The Secret Agent” is rated R and now playing in theaters.
FULL LIST: See the full list of nominees for the 2026 Oscars
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