Brendan Fraser took home the Academy Award for best actor on Sunday, and fans have said there is “no one more deserving”. The Oscar-winner, 54, earned the award for his role in Darren Aronofsky’s drama The Whale.
In the acclaimed film – based on Samuel D Hunter’s 2012 play of the same name – Fraser plays a reclusive and morbidly obese English teacher who attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, played by Stranger Things star Sadie Sink. The Whale also earned the Oscar for best makeup and hairstyling.
The Canadian-American actor became a huge star in the 1990s and early 2000s after starring in The Mummy trilogy and hit children’s comedy George of the Jungle. He is also known for roles in Encino Man, Bedazzled, Looney Tunes: Back in Action and Crash.
His Oscar win rounds of a remarkable comeback having being out of the limelight for many years – including a five-year hiatus from Hollywood. Though Fraser never stopped acting, his career as a Hollywood leading man began to dwindle in the early 2000s, with the actor mainly appearing on television or in supporting and minor film roles.
He began to pull away from the spotlight in the early 2000s and later took a hiatus from Hollywood in 2014. He did not appear in another film until 2019.
Fraser has said he stepped back from Hollywood after allegedly being sexually assaulted, along with his divorce from actress Afton Smith and the death of his mother, which led to him dealing with depression. He also said he believed he had been blacklisted by Hollywood after making the allegations of assault.
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His starring role as the 600lb Charlie in The Whale – and the overwhelming recognition it has earned – marks a return to the spotlight for the beloved star. In his acceptance speech, a visibly emotional Fraser thanked director Aronofsky for “throwing [him] a creative lifeline” by casting him in the film.
The star was later greeted by a standing ovation in the press room following his win, to which Fraser – who has earned a reputation as one of Hollywood’s humblest men – joked: “Is it gonna be like this all the time?”
Since his win, social media has been flooded with praise for the man who brought joy to many people’s lives for his roles in the 1990s. Many fans have shared their joy at the conclusion of a remarkable comeback dubbed the “Brenaissance”.
Taking to Twitter, @UcetaAl said: “Congratulations! Brendan Fraser performance was brilliant, outstanding, devastating... He gives the performance of a lifetime.”
@teamRuleszh echoed: “Brendan Fraser was everything as Charlie. His eyes gave so many emotions in every scene. He deserved it.”
@DavidM0780 said: “Oh, I’m so glad he got that. Talk about a hell of a comeback.”
@gsepulveda35 said: “The Brenaissance is complete!”
@TimothyDunham9 simply added: “No one is more deserving.”
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