It was the role of a lifetime when in 2014 Wagner Moura was cast in hit series Narcos as the Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar.
The Brazilian actor, 49, who is probably best known for playing the Medellín Cartel leader in the hit show, has gone on to star in films such as Puss in Boots and crime series Dope Thief.
Despite his respectable career, he was one of the shock wins at the Golden Globes on Sunday night where he triumphed over some huge Hollywood names in the best performance by an actor in the drama category for his film The Secret Agent.
It was a tough category where he beat the likes of Joel Edgerton (Train Dreams), Oscar Isaac (Frankenstein), Dwayne Johnson (Smashing Machine), Michael B. Jordan (Sinners) and Jeremy Allen White (Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere).
The win made history as Moura became the first Brazilian to scoop the top gong in this category at the Golden Globes.
On the red carpet before the ceremony he proudly posed with his wife Sandra Delgado who he married in 2001.
Who is Wagner Moura? The Brazilian star famed for playing Pablo Escobar in Narcos made history with a shock triumph at the Golden Globes on Sunday night
It was the role of a lifetime when in 2014 Moura was cast in hit series Narcos (seen) as the Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar
In the film Moura plays a technology expert in 1977 Brazil who flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown of Recife in search of peace. He soon realizes that the city is far from being the refuge he seeks as the dictatorship in the country rumbles on.
In addition to being the first Brazilian winner, he was also the first Brazilian to be nominated in the best actor – drama category.
‘The Secret Agent is a film about memory – or the lack of memory – and generational trauma. I think that if trauma can be passed along generations, values can too,’ Moura said in his acceptance speech.
‘So this is to the ones that are sticking with their values in difficult moments.’
Backstage Moura spoke about Brazil’s military dictatorship, which lasted from 1964 to 1985.
He said: ‘I think we have to keep making films about the dictatorship. The dictatorship is still an open scar in our Brazilian life. It happened 50 years ago only. We recently had from 2018 to 2022 a far-right-wing president in Brazil.
‘That was a physical manifestation of the echoes of the dictatorship. The dictatorship is still very present in Brazilian daily life, so we have to keep making films about it.’
Before the Golden Globes win he had achieved accolades at the Cannes Film Festival for Best Actor for his performance in The Secret Agent.
Despite his respectable career, he was one of the shock wins at the Golden Globes on Sunday night where he won for best actor in the drama category for his film The Secret Agent
In the film Moura plays a technology expert in 1977 Brazil who flees from a mysterious past and returns to his hometown of Recife in search of peace
The Brazilian actor, 49, is probably best known for playing the Medellín Cartel leader in the hit show Narcos
Wagner is seen in The Elite Squad (2007)
Seen left in the Prime Video series Mr and Mrs Smith
He has won five Brazilian Academy Film Awards and before his win on Sunday was previously nominated at the Golden Globes for his excellent portrayal of Escobar in Narcos.
He also received an Annie Award nomination for his voice performance as Death in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish which was released in 2022.
Wagner was born in Salvador in Brazil and raised in Rodelas where he took acting classes as a teen.
Working as a journalist in his twenties he continued to audition for film roles and began working in Brazilian cinema.
In 2007, Moura starred as police officer Captain Nascimento in José Padilha’s Elite Squad, while the film Elysium (2013) marked his Hollywood debut.
He then shot to more mainstream fame in 2015 when he was cast as Escobar in Narcos alongside the likes of Pedro Pascal and Boyd Holbrook.
Moura had to learn Spanish for the role and also gained 40lbs to play the part which he later lost through a vegan diet.
Other acting credits come in the Apple TV+ series Shining Girls, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Netflix’s The Gray Man, Prime Video series Mr. & Mrs. Smith and The Secret Agent.
Not much is known about his personal life but he has been married to his photographer wife Sandra since 2001. They share three sons.
The family are thought to have homes in Salvador, Los Angeles, and Rio de Janeiro.
He previously said of his family: ‘My sons and my wife are the most important things I have, but being an artist is also very important.
‘I am a political person, so it’s just natural that’s what I gravitate toward.’
Seen left in The Gray Man with Ryan Gosling
Seen in the film Elysium (2013)
He also directed the film Marighella (a still from the movie is pictured featuring Seu Jorge as Carlos Marighella)
On the red carpet before the ceremony he posed with his wife Sandra Delgado who he married in 2001
‘The Secret Agent is a film about memory – or the lack of memory – and generational trauma. I think that if trauma can be passed along generations, values can too,’ Moura said in his speech
Moura had to learn Spanish for his role in Narcos and also gained 40lbs to play the part which he later lost through a vegan diet (seen as Escobar in the show)
Wagner is pictured in Shining Girls
Moura recently appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers where he spoke about gaining weight for Narcos.
He joked: ‘I like to think that I’m looking better now! I was 40 pounds heavier back then.
‘It was for the role and I was eating delicious things, you know. I was eating whatever I wanted.’
Moura has proudly stuck to his roots and principles when it comes to the projects he has chosen to take on – often shunning big Hollywood blockbusters to make quick cash.
He previously told The Los Angeles Times: ‘I had an agent here who was like, ‘You do this to get that,’ and I was like, ‘That’s not my thing,’.
‘I’m proud to say that since I was a young actor, even when I had to pay the rent, I’ve never done anything that I was like, ‘Oh, man, this is embarrassing but I have to do this in order to get there,’ or ‘I have to pay the bills.’
‘Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done some things but the intention was right.
‘You just never know how it’s going to turn out. I only did things in my life for the sole purpose of thinking: This is going to be great.
‘I’ve never done anything for money or as a step to get to something else, or because ‘Oh, this film is going to be seen by so many people.’ I’ve never cared about that.’
He shot to more mainstream fame in 2015 when he was cast as Escobar in Narcos alongside the likes of Pedro Pascal and Boyd Holbrook
Timothee Chalamet soared over Leonardo DiCaprio – who stars in One Battle After Another – as the betting favorite to win the coveted Best Actor Oscar as he earned the top honor at the Golden Globe Awards 2026 for Marty Supreme.
Before Award season it was 51-year-old DiCaprio who was the odds favorite to take home the coveted gong, but now Chalamet is a massive favorite to win the top acting prize at March’s Academy Awards according to regulated exchange and prediction market Kalshi.
However, DiCaprio’s flick One Battle After Another (directed by Paul Thomas Anderson) did earn the last laugh at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Californian Sunday night as the film not only triumphed over Chalamet’s project but also beat out Blue Moon, Bugonia, No Other Choice, and Nouvelle Vague for Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical.
One Battle After Another was the most awarded film of the night with four but will no doubt face stiff competition in the Oscars race from Hamnet (directed by Chloe Zhao) as it earned the last award of the night in the Best Picture – Drama category over Frankenstein, It Was Just An Accident, The Secret Agent, Sentimental Value, and Sinners.
On the television side, it was The Pitt (created by R. Scott Gemmill), The Studio (created by Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, and Peter Huyck), and Adolescence (created by Stephen Graham and Jack Thorne) which earned wins in the drama, comedy or musical, and limited series categories, respectively.
Meanwhile, 30-year-old Chalamet surely had tongues wagging as he barely acknowledged girlfriend Kylie Jenner during his acceptance speech for Marty Supreme.
The French-speaking actor had another major awards show moment as he earned Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy and abruptly ended his speech by saying: ‘To my parents and partner, I love you. Thank you so much.’
It was noticeably a much more muted acknowledgement for Jenner, 28, as he boldly declared her love for her at last week’s Critics Choice Awards 2026.
Chalamet beat out an impressive field led by Leonardo DiCaprio for One Battle After Another as the field also featured: George Clooney – Jay Kelly, Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon, Lee Byung-Hun – No Other Choice, Jesse Plemons – Bugonia.
One Battle After Another led all winners with four including the aforementioned Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical gong along with Best Director and Screenplay for Paul Thomas Anderson and a surprise Best Supporting Actress win for Teyana Taylor.
One Battle After Another has already had a very successful Awards Season 2026 run but will face a formidable opponent in Hamnet – starring Jessie Buckley and Paul Mescal – which earned the top prize Best Picture – Drama.
Buckley earned one of the top acting gongs of the night as she earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama.
The 36-year-old Irish actress triumphed over an A-list field including: Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love, Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value, Julia Roberts – After the Hunt, Tessa Thompson – Hedda, and Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby.
On the television side, it was Netflix’s Adolescence that had the biggest night as it swept their categories including 16-year-old star Owen Cooper becoming one of the youngest Golden Globe Awards winners of all-time.
The teenage actor was recognized in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie category.
His Adolescence co-star Stephen Graham later earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV.
In addition to being the first Brazilian winner, he was also the first Brazilian to be nominated in the best actor – drama category
It was a massive night for the Netflix series as Erin Doherty also earned Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie.
Adolescence swept their categories as it finished the night winning Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV over: All Her Fault, The Beast in Me. Black Mirror, Dying for Sex, and The Girlfriend.
Noah Wyle kept up his winning ways after winning at last week’s Critics Choice Awards 2026 as he was earned Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama for The Pitt (created by R. Scott Gemmill).
Wyle also led the beloved HBO show to the top television honor as The Pitt was honored with Best TV Series – Drama.
Another big winner was The Studio as it earned Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy in addition to a Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series win for Seth Rogen.
Golden Globe Awards 2026 winners
FILM
Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Blue Moon
Bugonia
Marty Supreme
No Other Choice
Nouvelle Vague
One Battle After Another – WINNER
One Battle After Another earned the most with four including Best Picture – Comedy Or Musical
Best Picture – Drama
Frankenstein
Hamnet – WINNER
It Was Just An Accident
The Secret Agent
Sentimental Value
Sinners
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Drama
Joel Edgerton – Train Dreams
Oscar Isaac – Frankenstein
Dwayne Johnson – Smashing Machine
Michael B. Jordan – Sinners
Wagner Moura – The Secret Agent – WINNER
Jeremy Allen White – Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Timothee Chalamet – Marty Supreme – WINNER
George Clooney – Jay Kelly
Leonardo DiCaprio – One Battle After Another
Ethan Hawke – Blue Moon
Lee Byung-Hun – No Other Choice
Jesse Plemons – Bugonia
Timothee Chalamet is one step closer to the Oscar as he earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy for Marty Supreme
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Drama
Jessie Buckley – Hamnet – WINNER
Jennifer Lawrence – Die, My Love
Renate Reinsve – Sentimental Value
Julia Roberts – After the Hunt
Tessa Thompson – Hedda
Eva Victor – Sorry, Baby
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture — Musical or Comedy
Rose Byrne – If I Had Legs I’d Kick You – WINNER
Cynthia Erivo – Wicked: For Good
Kate Hudson – Song Sung Blue
Chase Infiniti – One Battle After Another
Amanda Seyfried – The Testament of Ann Lee
Emma Stone – Bugonia
Best Supporting Actress
Emily Blunt – The Smashing Machine
Elle Fanning – Sentimental Value
Ariana Grande – Wicked: For Good
Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas – Sentimental Value
Amy Madigan – Weapons
Teyana Taylor – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Teyana Taylor earned Best Supporting Actress for One Battle After Another
Best Supporting Actor
Benicio Del Toro – One Battle After Another
Jacob Elordi – Frankenstein
Paul Mescal – Hamnet
Sean Penn – One Battle After Another
Adam Sandler – Jay Kelly
Stellan Skarsgård – Sentimental Value – WINNER
Best Original Song
“Dream as One” – Avatar: Fire and Ash
“Golden” – KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER
“I Lied to You” – Sinners
“No Place Like Home” – Wicked: For Good
The Girl in the Bubble” – Wicked: For Good
“Train Dreams” – Train Dreams
Best Original Score– Motion Picture
Alexandre Desplat – Frankenstein
Ludwig Göransson – Sinners – WINNER
Jonny Greenwood – One Battle After Another
Kangding Ray – Sirāt
Max Richter – Hamnet
Hans Zimmer – F1
Best Director – Motion Picture
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Guillermo del Toro – Frankenstein
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Joachim Trier – Sentimental Value
Chloé Zhao – Hamnet
Best Screenplay
Paul Thomas Anderson – One Battle After Another – WINNER
Ronald Bronstein and Josh Safdie – Marty Supreme
Ryan Coogler – Sinners
Jafar Panahi – It Was Just an Accident
Maggie O’Farrell – Hamnet
Paul Thomas Anderson earned Best Director and Screenplay for One Battle After Another
Best non-English Language Film
It Was Just an Accident
No Other Choice
The Secret Agent – WINNER
Sentimental Value
Sirât
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Best Animated Film
Arco
Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle
Elio
KPop Demon Hunters – WINNER
Little Amélie or the Character of Rain
Zootopia 2
Outstanding Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
Avatar: Fire and Ash
F1
KPop Demon Hunters
Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning
Sinners – WINNER
Weapons
Wicked: For Good
Zootopia 2
TELEVISION
Best TV Series – Drama
The Diplomat
The Pitt – WINNER
Pluribus
Severance
Slow Horses
The White Lotus
The Pitt took home the coveted Best TV Series – Drama
Best TV Series – Musical or Comedy
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Hacks
Nobody Wants This
Only Murders in the Building
The Studio – WINNER
Best Limited TV Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Adolescence – WINNER
All Her Fault
The Beast in Me
Black Mirror
Dying for Sex
The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama
Sterling K. Brown – Paradise
Diego Luna – Andor
Gary Oldman – Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo – Task
Adam Scott – Severance
Noah Wyle – The Pitt – WINNER
Noah Wyle was recognized for his work on The Pitt
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Drama
Kathy Bates – Matlock
Britt Lower – Severance
Helen Mirren – MobLand
Bella Ramsey – The Last of Us
Keri Russell – The Diplomat
Rhea Seehorn – Pluribus – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Claire Danes – The Beast in Me
Rashida Jones – Black Mirror
Amanda Seyfried – Long Bright River
Sarah Snook – All Her Fault
Michelle Williams – Dying for Sex – WINNER
Robin Wright – The Girlfriend
Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy
Adam Brody – Nobody Wants This
Steve Martin – Only Murders in the Building
Glen Powell – Chad Powers
Seth Rogen – The Studio – WINNER
Martin Short – Only Murders in the Building
Jeremy Allen White – The Bear
Seth Rogen earned Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy; he’s pictured with Chase Sui Wonders
Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series — Musical or Comedy
Kristen Bell – Nobody Wants This
Ayo Edebiri – The Bear
Selena Gomez – Only Murders in the Building
Natasha Lyonne – Poker Face
Jenna Ortega – Wednesday
Jean Smart – Hacks – WINNER
Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for TV
Jacob Elordi – The Narrow Road to the Deep North
Paul Giamatti – Black Mirror
Stephen Graham – Adolescence – WINNER
Charlie Hunnam – Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Jude Law – Black Rabbit
Matthew Rhys – The Beast in Me
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie
Owen Cooper – Adolescence – WINNER
Billy Crudup – The Morning Show
Walton Goggins – The White Lotus
Jason Isaac – The White Lotus
Tramell Tillman – Severance
Ashley Walters – Adolescence
Owen Cooper was among the youngest winners ever as he earned Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie for Adolescence
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — TV Series, Limited series or TV Movie
Carrie Coon – The White Lotus
Erin Doherty – Adolescence – WINNER
Hannah Einbinder – Hacks
Catherine O’Hara – The Studio
Parker Posey – The White Lotus
Aimee Lou Wood – The White Lotus
Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy on TV
Bill Maher – Is Anyone Else Seeing This?
Brett Goldstein – The Second Best Night of Your Life
Kevin Hart – Acting My Age
Kumail Nanjiani – Night Thoughts
Ricky Gervais – Mortality – WINNER
Sarah Silverman – Postmortem
PODCASTING
Best Podcast
Armchair Expert
Call Her Daddy
Good Hang – WINNER
The Mel Robbins Podcast
Smartless
Up First
Amy Poehler earned the inaugural best Podcast award for Good Hang With Amy Poehler
