Halle Berry Kisses Adrien Brody on Oscars Red Carpet, 22 Years After Their Iconic Academy Awards Moment: ‘I Had to Pay Him Back’

Halle Berry Surprises Adrien Brody With 'Payback' Kiss at Oscars

FI

Published Mar 3, 2025

Twenty-two years after their unexpected kiss at the 2003 Academy Awards, Halle Berry caught Adrien Brody off guard on the 2025 Oscars red carpet with a kiss of her own. Berry, scheduled to present at the 2025 ceremony, noticed "The Brutalist" star and best actor nominee Brody and took the chance to return the gesture from their famous 2003 moment.

"That was an amazing night for him and for me too. To share his moment... tonight I needed to give him payback," Berry told Variety's Marc Malkin during the Oscars Red Carpet interview. "I've spotted him at events, but this is the first time since that night I've seen him on a red carpet. He's nominated this year. He earned that."

The pair first interacted on stage at the 2003 Oscars when Berry handed Brody the best actor award for his work in "The Pianist." When Brody stepped up to accept, he hugged Berry, kissed her and quipped, "I bet they didn't tell you that was in the gift bag." The unexpected kiss (and Berry's startled response) created news, but Brody discussed the incident in a recent Variety feature.

"We exist in a very aware time, which is a good thing," Brody explained to Variety. "And nothing I ever do or have done or would have done is ever done with the aim of making anyone feel uncomfortable."

Berry recently praised Brody on his Golden Globe victory for "The Brutalist," apparently leaving any past issues behind. "Congratulations my friend," Berry wrote on Brody's Instagram post. "You are truly one of one!"

This year, Brody received a nomination for his role as Hungarian-Jewish architect and Holocaust survivor László Tóth in Brady Corbet's "The Brutalist," a historical film nominated for 10 Academy Awards including best picture, best director, best supporting actress (Felicity Jones), best supporting actor (Guy Pearce), and best original screenplay.

Berry remains the only Black actress to win the best leading actress Oscar, recognized in 2002 for her performance in the drama "Monster's Ball."