Brendan Fraser Accepts the Oscar for Lead Actor Transcript

And the Oscar goes to Brendan Fraser, The Whale.

As a child, Brendan Fraser developed an interest in acting after seeing a West End performance of the musical, Oliver.

Thank you. Thank you. So this is what the multiverse looks like. Oh my goodness. I thank the Academy for this honor and for our studio, A24, for making such a bold film. And I’m grateful to Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship, The Whale. That was written by Samuel D. Hunter, who is our lighthouse. Gentlemen, you laid your whale sized hearts bare so that we could see into your souls like no one else could do. And it is my honor to be named alongside you in this category.

(01:39)
I want to tell you that only whales can swim at the depth of the talent of Hong Chau. And 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 appreciate at the time until it stopped. 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 on a diving expedition on 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, Griffy. My manager, JoAnne Colonna; Jennifer Plant; and my best first mate, Jeanne. Thank you again, each one and all. I’m so grateful to you. Goodnight.