Brendan Fraser Sobs At The Critics’ Choice 2023 As He Wins Best Actor Gong
Brendan Fraser is not just dubbed Hollywood’s Comeback King, but he also proved that he still got it as an actor after winning the Best Actor gong for this year’s Critics’ Choice awards. The awards ceremony was held last Sunday night.
The George of the Jungle actor sobbed when he was called for the Best Actor award. This was for his performance on The Whale. Brendan’s win was one of the highlights and most moving parts of the star-studded Critics’ Choice award night. Not only did he prove that a Hollywood comeback is possible, but he also showed that career comebacks can be sweeter the second time around.
Brendan bested an impressive competition that included Austin Butler for Elvis, Colin Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin, Bill Nighy for Living, Paul Mescal for Aftersun, and Tom Cruise for Top Gun: Maverick.
54-year-old Brendan, during his acceptance speech, had to pause several times to regain his composure.
It was evident how overwhelming the recognition was, and the actor’s emotions were raw. He finished his speech on a positive and emotional note, “If you, a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie. If you struggle with obesity or feel like you are in a dark sea, I want you to know that if you can have the strength to get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen. Thank you. Good night.”
Further into his speech, he thanked his director, Darren Aronofsky, for including him on the project by saying, “I was in the wilderness. I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs. But you found me. And like all best directors, you merely showed me where to go to where I needed to be.”
Many of Brendan’s fellow celebrities were in tears during his speech, with Lisa Ann Walter and Sheryl Lee Ralph, actresses from Abbott Elementary, both emotional.
Meanwhile, fellow Thespian Henry Winkler was one of the many who gave Brendan a standing ovation.
Brendan’s girlfriend, actress Jeanne Moore, was also visibly touched and proud of her beau’s achievement. She was also seen with tears streaming down her face and standing with the crowd.
The heartfelt response to Brendan’s win did not just come from his colleagues from the industry. Even followers and fans were able to relate to The Mummy actor’s struggle, as seen in the many social media comments where conversations about Brendan’s victory were trending.
One user tweeted: “Standing ovation for Brendan Fraser! Who’s chopping onions here?” Another wrote, “Seeing Brendan Fraser cry makes me so emotional.”
Brendan started his speech by quoting an American novelist. He started, “Thank you. Thank you for this honor, Critics Choice Association. Thank you. Herman Melville once wrote that there are only five critics in America. The rest are asleep. I don’t know what it means, either. But I’m sure glad that you woke up for me. Where were you?”
Brendan’s comeback movie, The Whale, has the actor playing a reclusive and morbidly obese Charlie, an English teacher trying to reconnect with his at-odds teenage daughter.
