Brendan Fraser gets emotional over comeback Best Actor Oscar win for The Whale

Brendan Fraser, who made a career comeback with The Whale, won the Best Actor award at the 2023 Oscars for his role in the acclaimed film. The actor was up against Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin), Paul Mescal (Aftersun), Austin Butler (Elvis) and Bill Nighy (Living) in the best actor category.

Fraser tearfully accepted the award for best actor on Sunday. “So, this is what the multiverse looks like,” Fraser began his speech. “I’m grateful to Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship ‘The Whale.’ That was written by Samuel D. Hunter who is our lighthouse. Gentleman, you laid your whale-sized hearts bare so that we could see into your souls like no one else could do.

“It is my honor to be named alongside you in this category. I want to tell you that only whales can swim at the depth of talent of Hong Chau [fellow nominee],” he added. Fraser then emotionally recalled his 30-year career in Hollywood. “I started in this business 30 years ago and things didn’t come easily to me. I just want to say thank you for this acknowledgment because it couldn’t be done without my cast.

The 54-year-old continued, “It’s been like I’ve been on a diving expedition at the bottom of the ocean and the air on the line to the surface is on a launch being watched over by some people in my life.” Fraser won the award for his performance in The Whale that received 14-minute standing ovation during the world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

The critically acclaimed film follows a 600-pound English teacher named Charlie (Fraser) who suffers from morbid obesity and is struggling to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter (Sadie Sink). Fraser also took home the trophies from the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Critics’ Choice Awards.

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