AI will never replace emotion, Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody says
Adrien Brody insists that artificial intelligence will never “replace emotion”.
The star won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in 2024’s The Brutalist, which faced criticism for using the technology, but insists it will never be able to replicate the authenticity of an emotional performance.
“There are new tools that are now available that will definitely enhance all our abilities to do great work, but there is nothing to replace emotion,” he said at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Even if you can fabricate it or whatever, we really should always cherish and support the creative process and the beauty of filmmaking, but that’s not to say that an evolution of that which is inevitable is bad.
“We have choices in what we choose as individuals to agree to ingest.”
Brody admits it was stressful shooting The Brutalist over a 23-day period but refused to pull back in his performance as architect Laszlo Toth.
“There is no way to say, ‘I’m going to hold back today’,” he said.
“The way I hold back is, I have no personal life when I’m filming. In as much as I love the people I work with, I don’t hang out with my actors or crew when I have heavy lifting or emotional work.”
“I have my own techniques to have the space to give it when needed.”
Brody said acting is “not a science, you’re not a machine” and some days you won’t be at your best and have to find ways of overcoming personal distractions and on-set complexities.
“Whatever you are, you have to deliver work. That is the responsibility of the actor.”
Brody is a two-time Best Actor Oscar winner, having also claimed the prize for his role in the 2002 film The Pianist, but insists his desire to act remains strong despite awards recognition.
“There are new doors that are open, which is wonderful, but the journey continues. I love acting more than ever. I yearn to act more than ever,” he said.
“I yearn to be a storyteller more than ever, in that I have a lifetime working with the finest directors ever, wonderful producers, amazing actors, and I know how to interact and give actors the space so that they can shine and feel most comfortable.
“And I know a great deal about narrative storytelling, so there’s a degree of evolution that I hope to add value to.”
