Oscars 2023: Brendan Fraser Takes Home Best Actor Award For ‘The Whale'
95th Academy Awards: Brendan Fraser won the best actor in a leading role for his powerful performance in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘The Whale’.
Hollywood’s biggest night is on and actor Brendan Fraser took home the 2023 Oscar for best actor in a leading role, for his powerful performance as an obese, reclusive man desperate to reconnect with his estranged daughter in Darren Aronofsky’s ‘The Whale’. Brendan Fraser was competing with Colin Farrell (‘The Banshees of Inisherin’), Austin Butler (‘Elvis’), Bill Nighy (‘Living’) and Paul Mescal (‘Aftersun’). Fraser’s ‘The Whale’ co-star Hong Chau was nominated this year in the best supporting actress category at Oscars 2023.
An emotional Fraser got on stage and said, “So this is what the multiverse looks like!”
He then continued and thanked his cast, crew and family.
He further said, “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…. It is my honor to be named alongside you in this category.”
He finished by thanking his three sons and his “first mate”, wife Afton Smith.
In the movie, Brendan Fraser starred as Charlie, a house-bound obese English teacher who is trying to salvage his relationship with his estranged daughter, played by Sadie Sink.
Fraser’s role in ‘The Whale’ has already won him the best actor at the Screen Actors Guild and Critics’ Choice awards.
He also bagged best actor nominations for the Baftas and Golden Globes (for film drama). Fraser chose not to attend the latter, after alleging in 2018 that the Golden Globes' former president Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in 2003.
Coming back to Oscars 2023, the ceremony is being held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel is hosting the mega awards night and this is his third time hosting the event, after the 89th and 90th editions of the ceremony which were held in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
The nominations for Oscars 2023 were announced on January 24 by actors Riz Amed and Allison Williams.
