Brendon Fraser won his first-ever Oscar in the Best Actor category for his film, The Whale.
In the movie, Fraser played the character of a 600-pound depressed gay teacher named Charlie, who tries to reconnect with her estranged teen daughter.
Ever since the movie’s release, Fraser has received multiple standing ovations for his epic comeback after disappearing from the limelight for many years and received the Critics’ Choice Award in January.
Last night, after his name was announced as the winner of the Best Actor category, Brendon took to the stage to receive the prestigious accolade and became emotional during his acceptance speech.
“So this is what the multiverse looks like!” he exclaimed, holding back tears.
“Oh. My goodness. I thank the academy for this honor and for our studio a-24 for making such a bold film. And — I’m grateful to Darren [Aronofsky] for throwing me a creative lifetime and hauling me aboard the good ship The Whale.”
He then acknowledged the film’s writer, Samuel D. Hunter, and costar Hong Chau before reflecting on his career.
“I started in this business 30 years ago, and things – they didn’t come easily to me, but there was a facility that I didn’t…I didn’t appreciate at the time until it stopped.”
He added, “And I just want to say thank you for this acknowledgement, because it couldn’t be done without my cast, it’s been like I’ve been in a diving expedition at 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. I love you. My manager Joann, Jennifer plant, and my best first mate, Jeanne. Thank you, again, each one and all. I’m so grateful to you. Good night.”
The Mummy superstar attended the ceremony with his two sons, Leland Francis Fraser, 16, and Holden Fletcher Fraser, 18. His girlfriend, Jeanne Moore, also accompanied him on the red carpet as the family posed for the pictures.
While talking to the paparazzi, Fraser’s sons said they are incredibly proud of their dad and his achievements.
“We are unbelievably proud. Over the moon,” Holden told E! on the red carpet.
Before the event, the 54-year-old told Extra that his boys were extremely excited about his Oscar nomination and threw him a little party to celebrate the happy moment.
“…My kids surprised me with cake and balloons. They sneaked into the house, they had a plan. That and the feeling that sharing that moment with my loved ones is now a core memory of mine.”
Talking about being a part of The Whale, he said,
“I think it’s a fulfillment of an aspiration that I would have never even thought to dare to have allowed, let alone to myself, until I came into my 50s and I looked at my life, who I am, what I know about love from my kids and it gives it a context now.”
“I love my job — it is the best one in the world, it also has proven to be something that I can do to help reach others in a way that’s meaningful that has gratitude, that has taught me some humility, that’s why.”
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