by Brendan Fraser praised the virtues of “perseverance” after receiving the Best Actor Oscar at the 95th awards ceremony for his performance in “The Whale.”
The 54-year-old Hollywood actor said he felt “light-headed” after his win but said the film, which won two Oscars during Sunday’s ceremony, would “change hearts and minds”.
Fraser beat out Elvis’ Austin Butler, Irish actors Colin Farrell from The Banshees Of Inisherin and Paul Mescal from Aftersun, and British actor Bill Nighy for Living.
The award is Fraser’s first Oscar nomination and win.
In “The Whale,” he plays the obese and reclusive schoolteacher Charlie, who struggles to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink.
When asked in the winning room how he was feeling, he said: “I feel a little light in the head, it’s actually a little heavy – one arm could be longer than the other at the end of the evening.”
Speaking of his role as Charlie, he said, “Charlie is so much more than just a gay man. He’s a father, he’s an educator, he’s a truth seeker… and that he’s hopelessly and improperly in love with whoever doesn’t matter.
“He found love, lost it, and then found it again — I think that’s something we can all take a page from and know with perseverance … and if you put one foot in front of the other like Charlie did.” has, go to the light.
“Believe me, if I can do it, so can you. Good things will happen.”
He added, “I think it’s a movie that’s going to change hearts and change minds — and that feels good, that feels really good.”
During his emotional acceptance speech for the Oscars, Fraser thanked director Darren Aronofsky for “giving me a creative lifeline” and the studio for making “such a brave movie.”
“So this is what the multiverse looks like,” he said, picking up the gong.
“I thank the Academy for this honor…Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline and getting me aboard the good ship The Whale.”
Addressing his fellow Best Actor contenders, he continued, “You have bared your whale-sized hearts for us to see into your souls in a way no one else could, and I’m honored to be in this category alongside you.” to be named.”
Fraser thanked his family and sons, as well as his The Whale co-star Hong Chau, during the tearful speech.
“I want to tell you that only whales can swim in the depths of Hong Chau’s talent,” he said.
The whale won two Oscars during the ceremony, with Adrien Morot, Judy Chin and Annemarie Bradley scoring a gong for makeup and hairstyling.
In his acceptance speech, makeup artist Morot said, “We would like to thank the amazing makeup artists who worked with us to create the character of Charlie. Thank you to our director, Darren Aronofsky, for taking us to new heights.
“Our great actor Brendan Fraser over there, thank you. Our producer, the studio and the academy, thank you so much.”
