Brendan Fraser Makes Epic Comeback, Winning Oscar for Best Actor

Brendan Fraser won his first Oscar for Best Actor with his performance in The Whale, after a long-awaited comeback.

After a long break from the film industry, Fraser made his return by starring in The Whale. At the 2022 Venice Film Festival, Fraser received a six-minute standing ovation, leading him to tears at the audience’s applause. At this year’s Oscars, the film won two awards, including Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

According to NPR, he suffered injuries from his role in The Mummy, a tumultuous medical history, and a divorce. After coming forward with his story of sexual assault, Fraser seemed to disappear from the industry.

In a 2018 profile by GQ, the actor opened up about his earlier days of stardom. He spoke out on his struggles with mental health as well as his mother’s death. Despite this, he stated “Something good came out of something that was bad.”

And “something good” was certainly on its way, as the next five years would bring immense change for the actor. After becoming a household name for his performance in The Mummy, fans have been eagerly waiting for his return.

Fortunately, Fraser was chosen for the A24 film, The Whale, which explores an English teacher struggling with obesity while trying to reconnect with his daughter. The film was critically acclaimed and won multiple awards and nominations, including a Critics Choice Award and two Hollywood Critics Association Awards.

Finally, the success culminated in Fraser winning the award for Best Actor at this year’s Oscars.

Brendan Fraser accepts the #Oscar for Best Actor for #TheWhale. https://t.co/ndiKiHfmID pic.twitter.com/kNuDy85dpH

— Variety (@Variety) March 13, 2023

With misty eyes, he gratefully accepted the Oscar to the delight of a cheering audience. His speech was incredibly emotional as he thanked Darren Aronofsky “for throwing [him] a creative lifeline.”

After years of struggling with his public and private image, Fraser alluded to his difficult past while being thankful for his award. “I started in this business 30 years ago, things didn’t come easy to me but there was a facility that I didn’t appreciate at the time, until it stopped. I just want to say thank you for this acknowledgment,” he stated.

On the subject of Fraser, assistant professor of film studies, Nicholas Baer, tells NPR that The Whale “is offering [audiences] an opportunity to kind of recognize the virtue and the kind of fundamental decency of Brendan Fraser, who has been really wronged by the industry and has long suffered.”

Fraser’s success is one of many satisfying wins of the Oscars. Michelle Yeoh and Jamie Lee Curtis both won their first Academy Awards after a long history of acting. Similarly, Ke Huy Quan won an award for his legendary comeback in Everything Everywhere All At Once.

Fans can watch Fraser’s award-winning performance on Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV, and in some select theaters.