· Alice Darla · Lifestyle
The Brutalist Cast and Characters: Who’s Who in Brady Corbet’s Ambitious Epic?
Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist has been turning heads since its December 2024 release, earning praise for its sweeping 215-minute dive into architecture, trauma, and the immigrant experience in post-World War II America.
The film follows László Tóth (Adrien Brody), a Hungarian-Jewish architect who arrives in America after surviving the Holocaust, hoping to rebuild his life.
But his path soon collides with industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren (Guy Pearce), setting off a relationship defined by ambition, power, and exploitation.
Beyond its striking visuals, The Brutalist thrives on its performances.
With a mix of established stars and rising talent, the film uses its ensemble to bring depth to its meditation on artistic integrity, displacement, and survival.
Here’s a closer look at the cast of The Brutalist and their roles.
Adrien Brody as László Tóth
Adrien Brody leads the film as László Tóth, a brilliant but tormented architect seeking a fresh start in America.
Critics have hailed it as one of Brody’s most powerful performances since The Pianist, and it’s easy to see why.
In an interview with CNN, Brody spoke about how deeply he connected with László’s immigrant experience: “I am fortunate to have an understanding of that immigrant experience and the many parallels of an artist’s journey.”
His portrayal taps into the tension between László’s artistic ambitions and the scars of his past, particularly as his work becomes entangled with the manipulative patronage of Harrison Lee Van Buren.
The character’s arc—filled with moments of creative triumph and personal devastation—makes for an emotionally charged performance that lingers long after the credits roll.
Felicity Jones as Erzsébet Tóth
British actress Felicity Jones plays Erzsébet, László’s wife who reunites with him in America after their separation during World War II.
She brings quiet strength and resilience to the role, standing by her husband as he navigates the pressures of his career.
While The Brutalist largely focuses on László’s artistic struggles, Erzsébet isn’t merely a supporting figure—she’s his moral compass.
As he grows more entangled with Harrison, she remains the only person urging him to stay true to his principles.
Her most powerful moment comes when she confronts Harrison after uncovering his exploitation of her husband, an act that shifts the course of the film.
Jones’ performance grounds The Brutalist in a deeply human reality, adding emotional weight to the story’s themes of sacrifice, loyalty, and survival.
Guy Pearce as Harrison Lee Van Buren Sr.
Australian actor Guy Pearce brings a chilling ambiguity to Harrison Lee Van Buren, the wealthy industrialist who commissions László to build a community centre in memory of his mother.
On the surface, Harrison appears to be a benefactor who believes in László’s vision—but his true nature is far more sinister.
Pearce plays him with just the right mix of charm and menace, embodying a character who represents both the seductive promise of artistic freedom and the dark underbelly of American capitalism.
His relationship with László is complex, shifting from patronage to control, culminating in a disturbing act of sexual violence during a trip to Italy.
After Erzsébet publicly confronts him, Harrison mysteriously disappears.
The film never offers a definitive answer to his fate—did he escape? Take his own life?
The ambiguity only adds to the unease that surrounds his character.
Raffey Cassidy as Young Zsófia
Rising star Raffey Cassidy portrays the younger version of Zsófia, László’s niece who immigrates to America with him and Erzsébet.
She’s introduced as an observant and deeply loyal young woman, adjusting to a new life while witnessing the increasingly fraught relationship between her uncle and Harrison.
Cassidy’s performance brings warmth and subtlety to the role, particularly as Zsófia grows into a more independent figure.
Her decision to move to Jerusalem with her husband—despite László’s wishes—creates a quiet but significant rift between them, one that shapes the film’s emotional undercurrent.
Ariane Labed as Older Zsófia
As the film jumps forward to 1980, Greek-French actress Ariane Labed takes over the role of Zsófia.
Now a respected figure in the art world, she presents László’s architectural work at the Venice Architecture Biennale, framing his achievements within the context of his Holocaust survival.
Her speech, in which she repeats László’s words—“No matter what the others try and sell you, it is the destination, not the journey”—becomes one of the film’s defining moments.
It raises a key question: does she fully understand the pain behind her uncle’s work, or is she reshaping his legacy in a way that fits her narrative?
Labed’s performance is quietly haunting, highlighting the inevitable distance that forms between an artist’s intentions and how their work is later interpreted.
Supporting Cast
The Brutalist cast features several other notable performances that help flesh out the world around László:
- Isaach De Bankolé as Gordon, an architect and trusted friend of László.
- Joe Alwyn appears as Harry, Harrison’s son, whose interactions with Zsófia suggest he may have inherited some of his father’s predatory tendencies.
- Alessandro Nivola cast as Attila, László’s cousin, who has his own complex relationship with the past. Attila’s presence reinforces László’s ties to Hungary and the weight of family expectations.
- Stacy Martin Portrays Maggie Van Buren, Harrison’s daughter and Harry’s twin. Though she appears in a limited capacity, Maggie represents another angle of the Van Buren family’s power dynamic.
A Film About Art, Exploitation, and Legacy
László’s work is deeply personal, built from the echoes of his past, yet it’s constantly influenced—and sometimes corrupted—by those around him.
The film’s epilogue, set at the Venice Architecture Biennale, drives this point home.
By then, László can no longer speak for himself, leaving others to interpret and present his work to the world.
The absence of both Harrison and Erzsébet only reinforces the idea that, in the end, all that remains is the art itself—and the people who choose how to tell its story.
Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist uses its exceptional cast to explore profound themes about art, survival, and exploitation.
Through meticulous character development and outstanding performances, particularly from Brody, Jones, and Pearce, the film delivers a nuanced portrait of how personal trauma can become public art, and how that transformation both honours and distorts the original experience.
The film’s deliberately ambiguous ending encourages viewers to contemplate what happens to art when separated from its creator’s intentions—making The Brutalist not just a character study but a meditation on creativity itself.
