Brendan Fraser has pulled off the ultimate career revival after winning the Best Actor award at the 2023 Academy Awards.
The Canadian actor, 54, took out the prestigious golden statue for his role as Charlie, an obese English teacher attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter, in Darren Aronofsky's film The Whale.
"So this is what the multiverse looks like!" Fraser shouted as he arrived at the microphone.
"I started in this business 30 years ago. and things didn't come easily to me. There was a facility that I didn't appreciate at the time, until it stopped," he said.
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"And I just want to say thank you for this acknowledgment because it couldn't be done without my cast.
"It's like I've been on a diving expedition on 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 like my sons, Holden and Leland and Griffin."
Fraser went on to thank his manager, friends and his "best first mate Jeannie", referring to his partner, Jeanne Moore.
The Oscar win cements Fraser's return from professional obscurity.
In January, Fraser won the Golden Globe for his performance as Charlie, marking his first major acting award win in 17 years.
"I was in the wilderness, and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs, but you found me," Fraser said from the stage to Aronofsky during that speech.
He then shared an emotional message to anyone facing personal struggles.
"If you, like a guy like Charlie, like 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 said, his voice breaking.
Fraser first appeared on the big screen in the 1992 teen comedy Encino Man.
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His popularity soon skyrocketed, nabbing a series of roles during the 1990s including Airheads, George of The Jungle, before landing his most well known role in The Mummy film franchise.
Fraser was cast in a series of films during the early 2000s, including the gritty 2002 The Quiet American opposite Michael Caine.
However, his career soon stalled with the once A-lister appearing in bit parts in TV series including Condor, Trust and The Affair.
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Title: Brendan Fraser wins Best Actor Oscar for The Whale
Sourced From: celebrity.nine.com.au/latest/brendan-fraser-the-whale-star-wins-best-actor-oscar/6beef86e-52b8-4f07-b6c1-f37ddec085d9
Published Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2023 03:03:00 GMT
