Wagner Moura Makes Golden Globes History with Best Actor Win

A Historic Victory for Brazilian Cinema

Wagner Moura has taken home the 2026 Golden Globe award for best actor in a drama for The Secret Agent, marking a momentous occasion for Brazilian cinema. Making history as the first Brazilian actor to ever win in this category, the 49-year-old actor’s triumph represents not only a personal achievement but also a significant milestone for Latin American representation in international cinema.

The Journey to Success

Years after breaking out with Netflix’s Narcos and earning a Golden Globe nomination for playing Pablo Escabar, Wagner Moura has finally taken home the statue at the 2026 Golden Globes. He won best male actor in a drama film for The Secret Agent on Sunday night, one of two wins for the Brazilian feature, which also took home foreign language film. The political thriller, set in 1977 Brazil under military dictatorship, showcases Moura’s powerful performance as Marcelo, a technology expert and political dissident attempting to flee persecution.

The political thriller, from filmmaker Kleber Mendonça Filho, debuted to massive acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival, becoming the year’s most-awarded title at the fest. During his acceptance speech, Moura said, ‘Secret Agent is a film about memory, or the lack of memory, and generational trauma. I think if trauma can be passed along generations, values can too. So this is to the ones who are sticking with their values in difficult moments’.

Looking Forward

Now, with a Golden Globe on his shelf, Moura has significantly strengthened his case ahead of the Academy Award nominations on Jan. 22. Wagner enters 2026 with five projects already confirmed, two of them in post-production—that is, ready to enter the world—and three others in early stages, outlining the next arc of his career. His victory not only elevates his personal career trajectory but also shines a spotlight on Brazilian cinema’s growing international influence, inspiring future generations of Latin American actors and filmmakers to pursue their dreams on the global stage.