Helen Mirren shed happy tears when her pal, Brendan Fraser, won his first-ever Oscar at the 95th Academy Awards.
Speaking on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Friday, The Queen actress said she was in a restaurant when her friend won the Best Actor Award for his performance in The Whale.
“I did watch it. I was in a restaurant, actually,” Mirren said. “I cried when Brendan Fraser got the award.”
“He’s such a lovely person. I’m sure you know what a beautiful man he is. He’s a magical man — he was clearly very very moved it was a huge moment for him,” she continued. “It was the right person for me — the way he responded to it, I just found it very moving. It was the highlight for me out of the whole show.”
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.
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Sources: The Kelly Clarkson Show
