He went to magic camp, performed at children's birthday parties and practiced on editors at The Village Voice, where his mother, Sylvia Plachy, was a photographer. Houdini had long been one of Brody's favourite figures, dating back to his boyhood in New York City, when he put on magic shows in Queens as 'the Amazing Adrien'. Brody – true to form – could not resist the chance to dig into a complex, tormented character.

In success, Houdini could put Brody's acting talents in front of more than 15 million viewers and tap Hollywood on the shoulder: This guy can anchor a major project. But his representatives argued that TV was a valuable opportunity. He had worked continuously in film since his teenage years, winning best actor at 29 for his Nazi-tormented musician in The Pianist. When Brody pushed his agents to bring him a big role that would be widely seen, television was not exactly what he had in mind. Kristen Connolly, known for playing a congressional staffer on House of Cards, appears as Houdini's wife, Bess. The miniseries tells the entire Harry Houdini tale, from his unsuccessful start as a carnival magician, to global celebrity as an escape artist, to his later years wrestling with the spiritualism movement. And he is taking a calculated risk with Houdini. In an alternate universe – one where Hollywood lets men with character-actor faces play romantic leads, and studios make casting decisions based on talent and not foreign box-office algorithms – Brody would most likely be able to play any part he wanted.īut this is reality, darn it, and instead of wallowing in frustration, Brody seems to have decided to roll with the punches. But I don't think actors should restrict themselves that way.' 'There are people who make a career in Hollywood by being a type. 'I think that perhaps I have confused people with my approach to work,' Brody said. Adrien Brody has a reputation in Hollywood as loyal and affable.

Houdini brody