The Pianist star Adrien Brody shot to onto the Hollywood A-list after winning a best actor Oscar last month, and now he may be becoming one of fashion's hottest properties as well.
Italian menswear designer Ermenegildo Zegna – the label Adrien wore on his big night – has signed the star for its autumn/winter 2003 campaign, to be shot by Steven Klein. The striking New York born actor, who was chosen because Zegna wanted "interesting and 'real' men" for the series, currently stars in the designer's spring/summer 2003 ads.
The fashion house "is happy to be sharing in Adrien's success", said the label's US communications and fashion director Djordje Stefanovic. "The poor guy has so many events to go to these days we've sent him a bunch of outfits to help out."
And it wasn't just Adrien's suit that garnered attention after his Oscar appearance. The actor's soldier pal Tommy Zarobinski, currently serving with the US forces in Kuwait, was called into his sergeant's office soon after Adrien mentioned him in his heartfelt acceptance speech. "He said: 'Who do you know in Hollywood? The press wants to talk to you because apparently somebody mentioned your name at the Academy Awards'," said the army specialist. "I knew it had to be Adrien."
Tommy has some words of gratitude for his famous friend Stateside. "I'd like to congratulate him, and thanks, man, for looking out for me in your shining time," he said. "He'll always be there for me and I'll always be there for him. I'm still dumbfounded and filled with awe."