gthe Oscars 2023 will be remembered as one of the editions with the least surprises. However, up to the last was not certain that Brendan Fraser it would have won as best leading actor For The Whale. Instead, the protagonist of the film directed by Darren Aronofsky he got the better of the other favourite Austin Butlerprotagonist of Elvisand on Colin Farrell, Paul Mescal and Bill Nighy.
Oscars 2023: Brendan Fraser, «I would like to say that you have a whale’s heart»
When Jessica Chastain and Halle Barry mentioned his name, Fraser was visibly moved. He arrived on stage dazed, almost in disbelief. “The multiverse is probably like this”, he jokes. “My God! I have to thank the Academy for this honor and who believed in this brave film“, goes on.
“I am extremely grateful to Darren for giving me the chance to save myself with The Whale», he underlines, referring to the director. He thanks all the insiders and adds: «Gentlemen, you have such a big heart that you can see your souls. I did and it’s great to be here. Thanks to you and to all the candidates in my category, because it’s an honor».
Brendan Fraser, winner of the 2023 Academy Award for Best Actor with “The Whale”. (Getty Images)
Then the conversation gets underway. “I would say that you have the heart of a whale. Only whales can go that deep. I started working in cinema for 30 years. At first, there was something I couldn’t appreciate. Then this thing ended and now I’m here and I’m being recognized.”
From left to right: Holden and Leland Fraser – two of Brandan’s three children – at the 2023 Oscars. (Spa)
«It was an expedition to the bottom of the ocean, going back up is not easy»
“Thank you for this because it wouldn’t have been possible without my cast. It was a bit of an expedition to the bottom of the ocean. Going back is not easy, but there are people who have allowed me to». Among the people mentioned, also the children, Griffin Arthur, Holden Fletcher and Leland Francis, born from his marriage to his ex-wife Afton Smith. Finally he reiterates: «I am very grateful».
Brendan Fraser wins the Oscar at the age of 54, after a life dedicated to cinema, but also studded with ups and downs. He achieved success at the end of the 90s with the role of Rick O’Connell in The Mummy. Sequels followed The Mummy Returns and The Mummy Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
In the following decade, thanks to some unsuccessful films, career takes a hit and to make a comeback it will have to wait another decade. Meanwhile in 2018 he reveals a detail of his private life. He claims to have suffered harassment by Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
The facts would date back to 2003 and the shock would have been so great as to have led him to think of retiring from the scene. Furthermore, he claims to have declined several job offers following the incident. It has been for the past few months candidate to Golden Globe for Best Actor and announced that he would not appear at the awards ceremony because he does not like to behave as a “hypocrite”.
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