Brendan Fraser

Fraser won the best actor trophy for "The Whale" at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards Sunday night.

Fraser said "I was in the wilderness and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs, but you found me, and like all the best directors, you merely just showed me where to go to get me where I needed to be," Fraser said." In an emotional acceptance speech, Fraser noted "The Whale" is about "finding the light in a dark place" and shared a powerful message for those suffering emotionally.

"The Whale" star Brendan Fraser, "Abbott Elementary" star Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jeff Bridges gave powerful speeches at Sunday's Critics Choice Awards.

You can find the best acting class in this town and I will work overtime to pay for it.' " ["Elvis" heartthrob Austin Butler](https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/06/22/austin-butler-sings-elvis-how-former-teen-star-turned-into-king/7651819001/), who took the best drama actor award at [ last Tuesday's Golden Globes. All you need is one!" I did what I normally do: cry." "But when you look in the mirror, you better love what you see!" "And wow, I've made a lot of movies! Jeff Bridges channeled his famed character The Dude from "The Big Lebowski" when accepting his lifetime achievement award at the Critics Choice Awards. "He was so right. With tears in his eyes, he replied, "More than I know how to say in words." "Sidney Poitier looked at me and said, 'You're a damn good actress.' " And good things will happen." In "The Whale," Fraser, 54, plays an English teacher housebound by severe obesity who tries to restore his relationship with his teenage daughter.

Brendan Fraser delivered an emotional speech while accepting the award for best actor at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards for his role in "The Whale."

Fraser called the suit "cumbersome" in an interview ahead of the film's Venice premiere, according to "Darren Aronofsky, I was in the wilderness, and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs, but you’ve found me," he said. Where were you for 'Furry Vengeance'?" I don’t know what it means, either, but I’m sure glad you woke up for me. "It was Herman Melville who once wrote that there are only five critics in America — the rest are asleep. [his role in "The Whale,"](https://www.today.com/popculture/movies/brendan-fraser-transforms-600-pound-teacher-whale-rcna40137) started crying once his name was announced, and still managed to start off his speech with a joke.

Brendan Fraser won Best Actor for his role in 'The Whale,' beating out other performances, including Austin Butler for 'Elvis' and Colin Farrell for 'The ...

[lost to Butler’s portrayal of Elvis Presley](https://globalnews.ca/news/9397850/golden-globes-2023-winners-list-nominees/) for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Drama) at the Golden Globes. When asked what a potential nomination would mean for him, Fraser joked that he would have to get another suit. “Darren Aronofsky, I was in the wilderness, and I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs, but you’ve found me,” he said. “If you, like a guy like Charlie, who I played in this movie, in any way, struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you’re in a dark sea… I don’t know what it means, either, but I’m sure glad you woke up for me,” he said. [Brendan Fraser](https://globalnews.ca/tag/brendan-fraser/) delivered a passionate speech after he took home the Best Actor trophy at the [Critics Choice Awards](https://globalnews.ca/tag/critics-choice-award) for his starring role in The Whale.

At the 28th annual Critics Choice Awards on Sunday, Ke Huy Quan reflected on reuniting with 'Encino Man' costar Brendan Fraser for the first time in decades ...

"I cannot believe I won "For that I am so grateful to you." And I thank [Everything Everywhere co-directors] the Daniels so, so, so much." "I just, every time I think about it, I think about those years that I was struggling. "For me, I cannot believe I'm still here," Quan added, in reference to how much time has passed since Encino Man. "I will never forget those three words and it's actually right."

Brendan Fraser, who belongs in a rarified club occupied by the likes of only Keanu Reeves (and almost Joshua Jackson (RIP)), has been toiling away largely ...

[Film](https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/) [Dustin Rowles](https://www.pajiba.com/staff/dustin-rowles-1.php) [that people have already forgotten](https://www.pajiba.com/film_reviews/review-steven-soderberghs-no-sudden-move-plays-it-too-subtle-for-its-own-good.php), but Fraser was phenomenal in it. Abbott Elementary was the big winner on the television side, although Better Call Saul won for Best Drama and The Dropout for best Limited Series. [who belongs in a rarified club occupied by the likes of only Keanu Reeves](https://www.pajiba.com/celebrities_are_better_than_you/joshua-jackson-rip-belongs-in-the-keanu-reeves-and-brendan-fraser-club.php) (and almost Joshua Jackson (RIP)), has been toiling away largely in obscurity for the last 12-15 years, save for some voice work in HBO’s Doom Patrol. In the meantime, he’s also winning awards, like the one he received for Best Actor in a Motion Picture last night from the Critic’s Choice Awards.

Brendan Fraser's resurgance arc has made fans and critics into piles of emotion yet again, thanks to a touching awards speech.

Here’s the moment Ke Huy Quan spotted him in the Winners Lounge and sprinted over to congratulate him. Not only do Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan have people hyped for their resurgence arcs, but as the next reaction shows, it's been a good season through many actors taking home some well earned wins: The Twitter user " [blewis1103](https://twitter.com/blewis1103/status/1614826633009004545)" seems to think that this specific play off falls into the more positive category, through the following thought process: After winning the Critic’s Choice Award for Best Actor, Fraser gave an emotional speech that sounds like it was partially addressed to Aronofsky. He's got a role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon coming up, but it was his powerhouse role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale that really brought the actor back to prominence, and both Fraser and his fans are a bit teary after that journey was celebrated in a recent acceptance speech.

"The Whale" star Brendan Fraser, "Abbott Elementary" star Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jeff Bridges gave powerful speeches at Sunday's Critics Choice Awards.

He won best actor at the ceremony in Los Angeles for his turn as a morbidly obese depressed man.

Its stars, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson, were not in attendance, with reports suggesting the pair had both contracted Covid-19. And I probably should have left a trail of breadcrumbs. But you found me," Fraser said to director Darren Aronofsky. "I had no idea I had something to offer the world and I just need to thank the people who turned me into the man I am now and turned me into the director I am today, my mother. It's about finding the light in a dark place. It's about redemption.