Adrien Brody and his girlfriend Georgina Chapman at West Lake Photo: Chen Zhongqiu
News Brief
By Jin Yingying
Over the past week, many Hangzhou residents had unexpected encounters with two-time Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody.
From leisurely strolls along the Grand Canal to feeding koi fish at West Lake, Brody has been spotted soaking in the cultural essence of Hangzhou. He was also seen exploring the Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum, trying his hand at traditional seal carving, and taking photos at the iconic Lingyin Temple.
While walking along West Lake, Brody was often seen taking selfies. Observant fans noted that after visiting Lingyin Temple, each member of his group wore a traditional “Eighteen Seeds” prayer bead bracelet--a meaningful local keepsake.
Brody also had his first taste of freshly brewed Longjing tea during Hangzhou’s best season, finally connecting his favorite tea to its place of origin.
At the Hangzhou Arts and Crafts Museum, Brody and his group were treated to up-close demonstrations of several traditional crafts and intangible cultural heritage techniques. He was captivated by the intricately crafted kites, vivid double-sided embroidery, culturally rich fan art, and finely detailed wood carvings. Guided by a master seal carver, Brody even picked up the carving knife himself to carve the final stroke of his own Chinese name seal.
Adrien Brody made history in 2003 by becoming the youngest-ever winner of the Academy Award for Best Actor at age 29, thanks to his powerful performance in The Pianist. This March, 22 years later, he once again took home an Oscar for his haunting portrayal of a Jewish architect in The Brutalist.