Everybody got the memo this awards season: it's the Brenaissance, people. Although he knows it won't please everyone, Brendan Fraser has been receiving high praise and numerous accolades for his performance in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale — among them being a Critics Choice Award for Best Actor, which he accepted through tears (and the cut-off music) at the annual ceremony last night.
"It was Herman Melville who once wrote that there are only five critics in America — the rest are asleep," Fraser said. "I don't know what it means, either, but I'm sure glad you woke up for me."
He went on to speak directly to director Aronofsky, who has said that it took him a decade to cast the right actor in the role.
"I was in the wilderness, and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs. But you found me," the actor said. "And like all the best directors, you merely just showed me where to go to get to where I needed to be." Fraser likewise praised co-stars Hong Chau and Sadie Sink for their performances in the film, which is marked by themes of "love" and "redemption," according to the actor.
"If you, like a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie, in any way, struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you're in a dark sea… I want you to know that if you too can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen," Fraser concluded, with the industry standard cut-off music only adding to the emotional heft of his words.
The actor beat out some other Hollywood heavy-hitters from 2022's crop of critical darlings to win, including Colin Farrell's performance in The Banshees of Inisherin and Austin Butler's in ELVIS.
Watch a clip of Fraser's speech below.
"It was Herman Melville who once wrote that there are only five critics in America — the rest are asleep," Fraser said. "I don't know what it means, either, but I'm sure glad you woke up for me."
He went on to speak directly to director Aronofsky, who has said that it took him a decade to cast the right actor in the role.
"I was in the wilderness, and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs. But you found me," the actor said. "And like all the best directors, you merely just showed me where to go to get to where I needed to be." Fraser likewise praised co-stars Hong Chau and Sadie Sink for their performances in the film, which is marked by themes of "love" and "redemption," according to the actor.
"If you, like a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie, in any way, struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you're in a dark sea… I want you to know that if you too can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen," Fraser concluded, with the industry standard cut-off music only adding to the emotional heft of his words.
The actor beat out some other Hollywood heavy-hitters from 2022's crop of critical darlings to win, including Colin Farrell's performance in The Banshees of Inisherin and Austin Butler's in ELVIS.
Watch a clip of Fraser's speech below.