Almost from his debut performance as an orphan from New York City who finds a new life in Nebraska in the PBS period drama "Home at Last" (1988), Adrien Brody has garnered critical kudos and made audiences sit up and take notice. The lanky, angular-featured, dark-haired actor seemed to be poised on the verge of stardom after landing the coveted role of Corporal Fife, the authorial stand-in in Terrence Malick's highly-anticipated filming of James Jones' World War II novel "The Thin Red Line" (1998). Unfortunately, his part was edited down to little more than a cameo, an insult only compounded by the amount of advance press his starring role had received. Still, the young actor persevered, and made a name for himself with subsequent portrayals that showcased his talent and classically compelling screen presence.