Brendan Fraser tearfully accepted the Oscar for best actor Sunday for his role in The Whale.
He began his speech by thanking the film’s director, Darren Aronofsky, “for giving me a creative lifeline.”
Fraser was nominated in his category alongside Colin Farrell (“The Banshees of Inisherin”), Paul Mezcal (“Aftersun”), Austin Butler (“Elvis”), and Bill Nighy (“Living”).
In a speech full of nautical references, Fraser told his colleague, Hong Chau, “Only whales can swim the depths.”
Reflecting on his 30-year career in Hollywood, Fraser says there were aspects of his journey that “I didn’t appreciate until I stopped.”
He ended his emotional speech with bloodshot eyes by thanking his children and his “first best friend”, partner Jeanne Moore.
His Best Actor trophy caps off a successful award run this season for Fraser, who also won a SAG Award and Critics’ Choice Award for his performance in The Whale.
