The actor beat out the other favorite in this category, Austin Butler for his performance in “Elvis,” as well as Collin Farrell, (“The Banshees of Inisherin”); Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Bill Nighy (Living).
Missing from the industry for years after starring in 1990s action hits like “George of the Jungle” and “The Mummy,” Fraser made a big comeback with this role, that of a morbidly obese English teacher who he tries to curry favor with his daughter in the most agonizing days of her life.
Visibly moved and with a broken voice, Fraser accepted this award thanking the film’s director, Darren Aronofsky, for giving him the role of a lifetime and for embarking him on this “ship with the whale”, in reference to the film’s title.
He recalled that he began his career thirty years ago and at that time when he had many facilities he did not know how to thank them. “Until she stopped,” she wailed.
“Thank you for this recognition because I couldn’t have done it sooner,” Fraser said.
Brendan Fraser has had in his hands a character that Hollywood likes, no matter how tormented he is looking for redemption and because it required a great physical transformation of the actor. He would put on a 300-pound prosthesis to become Charlie.
The Oscar has been the icing on the cake for Fraser in an awards season, since with this role he also obtained the one from the actors union and from the Hollywood critics association.