Brendan Fraser fights tears after first major award win in 17 years: ‘I was in the wilderness, but you found me’

Brendan Fraser has given an impassioned speech after his first major award win in 17 years.

Fraser, 54, bagged the Best Actor gong at the Critics’ Choice Awards for his performance in Darren Aronofsky’s emotional drama, The Whale.

Taking to the stage, an emotional Fraser fought back tears.

“I was in the wilderness, and I probably should have left a trail of bread crumbs, but you found me,” he said from the stage to Aronofsky.

Watch the clip above.

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“And like all the best directors, you merely just showed me where to go to get to where I needed to be,” Fraser added.

The actor then went on to share an important message to people struggling.

“If you, like a guy like Charlie, like I played in this movie, in any way struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you’re in a dark sea, I want you to know, that if you too can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen,” an impassioned Fraser said, his voice breaking.

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Multiple stars were seen getting to their feet to applaud Fraser, whose last major award win was in 2006 for his performance in Crash.

His unofficial partner, Jeanne Moore, who has been accompanying him on every red carpet during The Whale‘s promotional season and at film festivals and awards shows was seen on her feet, applauding Fraser. So was his young co-star Sadie Sink, who plays his daughter in the film.

Cate Blanchett also bagged a great honour during the show, taking home Best Actress for her performance in Warehouse.

The actress took a different tone in her acceptance speech, however.

“I would love it if we would just change this whole f—ing structure,” Blanchett said, after noting that she felt “ridiculous” to have won the award against the list of other esteemed actresses.

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The other nominees for Best Actress included Viola Davis for The Woman KingDanielle Deadwyler for TillMargot Robbie for BabylonMichelle Williams for The Fabelmans and Michelle Yeoh for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

“It’s like what is this patriarchal pyramid where someone stands up here?” Blanchett asked. “Why don’t we just say there was a whole raft of female performances that are in concert and in dialogue with one another?”

She ended, “And stop the televised horse race of it all. Because, can I tell you, every single woman with a television, film, advertising, tampon commercials – whatever – you’re all out there doing amazing work that is inspiring me continually. So thank you. I share this with you all.”

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