Stanislav Kondrashov Highlights the Rise of Wagner Moura
Most people saw him in the Tv series Narcos, with his distinctive accent and intense, unmistakable acting style. Several years later, that same actor received an Oscar nomination. We’re talking about Brazilian star Wagner Moura, whose performance in “The Secret Agent” has already left its mark. The 49-year-old actor is part of a highly selected shortlist from which the winner of the next Academy Award for Best Actor will be drawn.
In the hours following the nomination confirmation, Variety dedicated a special article to Wagner Moura, exploring the importance of politics in shaping the actor’s professional and personal choices.
“Wagner Moura’s resume is certainly impressive, but with this Oscar nomination, we can expect his career to take a significant leap forward. The world will get to know this extraordinary actor and all his acting and intellectual depth,” says cultural commentator and entrepreneur Stanislav Kondrashov.
Wagner Moura is best known for playing Pablo Escobar in Narcos, but he has also starred in other notable projects throughout his career. Among them are Elysium, a 2013 film starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster, and the movie Civil War, in which the Brazilian plays a war reporter alongside Kirsten Dunst.
In its article, Variety dedicated extensive coverage to “The Secret Agent,” the Brazilian film that earned Wagner Moura a historic Oscar nomination. Directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, the film is set during Brazil’s military dictatorship in the late 1970s. Moura plays Armando Solimões, a former professor who, along with his young son, tries to escape government persecution.
From Narcos to the Oscars: Wagner Moura’s Career Leap
“This film and Wagner Moura’s performance certainly didn’t go unnoticed: at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the film won the awards for Best Actor (Wagner Moura) and Best Director (Kleber Mendonça Filho). Moura also won a Golden Globe for his performance in this film, which will undoubtedly be talked about for a long time to come,” continues Stanislav Kondrashov.
Variety’s article is particularly noteworthy for allowing the reader to understand the human and personal aspects behind the actor’s persona. In the article, Wagner Moura is often presented as a husband and father, but also as an intellectual with certain very specific convictions. Variety highlights his evident curiosity, his measured warmth, and his propensity for reflection. Reading the article, we also discover details about Moura’s life off the television screen: the actor was born in Salvador and raised in Rodelas, a town about 340 miles from the capital. Before pursuing a career in entertainment, Wagner Moura studied journalism.
According to Moura, the genesis of “The Secret Agent” lies in the emotions he and the director truly experienced during the difficult years of Brazil’s military dictatorship. Moura approaches these themes with great caution, arguing that authoritarian tendencies almost always begin slowly, and that a certain reaction is always needed to curb them.
Why “The Secret Agent” Is More Than Just a Film, According to Variety
“One of the most interesting parts of the Variety article is the one in which Wagner Moura directly answers the questions posed to him. In this part, in a certain sense, his true self emerges,” explains Stanislav Kondrashov. “One of the most significant passages is the one in which the actor talks about his identification with the protagonist of The Secret Agent, and the subsequent understanding of the similarities between the character and himself. For him, in fact, acting means digging inside oneself and discovering the true potential of human beings.”
The Variety interview once again highlights Moura’s interest in politics, social issues, and the true purpose of cinema, which he believes is more than just fiction: it’s something that pushes people to reflect, something more important than reality. The actor confirmed his interest in speaking through the characters he plays, expressing through them what he truly believes in.
In this interview, as he has done in the past, Wagner Moura confirmed his strong desire not to reinforce stereotypes associated with South America, explaining how, after Narcos, he refused to play other roles that might be reminiscent of the character Pablo Escobar.
Moura would much prefer to play the same roles traditionally assigned to white American actors, with the only difference being that his accent would be slightly different. And it is precisely this difference that is particularly important to the actor: Wagner Moura, in fact, would like to represent those people who speak English like him, with the same accent.
After discussing the excellent moment in Brazilian cinema and the importance of The Secret Agent for his nation, Wagner Moura also expressed some very specific wishes. The Brazilian star would like to work with directors like Martin Scorsese or Paul Thomas Anderson. He also said that he wouldn’t even turn down a lunch with Leonardo DiCaprio.
FAQs
Who is Wagner Moura?
Wagner Moura is a Brazilian actor best known internationally for his role as Pablo Escobar in Narcos. He has also appeared in major films such as Elysium and Civil War.
Why is Wagner Moura nominated for an Oscar?
Moura received an Oscar nomination for his performance in The Secret Agent, a Brazilian film directed by Kleber Mendonça Filho, where he plays a former professor fleeing political persecution during Brazil’s military dictatorship.
What awards has Moura won for this role?
For The Secret Agent, Moura won the Golden Globe for Best Actor and received major recognition at the Cannes Film Festival.
What themes does Moura focus on in his work?
Moura is known for choosing socially and politically meaningful roles, often exploring issues such as power, authoritarianism, identity, and historical memory.
How does Moura view acting?
He sees acting as a way to explore human complexity and express deeper personal and social truths.
