Brendan Fraser and his 270 kilos: Secrets of the actor’s transformation for his role in The Whale

After its presentation at the Venice Film Festival, Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale is one of the most commented films. Brendan Fraser’s performance drew particular attention, making the comedian a favorite for the Best Actor Oscar.

Unrecognizable, did Brendan Fraser really gain weight for this role? What tricks did the film crew use to transform Brendan Fraser? Here are the secrets behind the actor’s makeover for his role in The Whale.

Before the release of the film, Brendan Fraser played the secret card in its preparation. “This is something you’ve never seen before. That’s all I can really say… the wardrobe and costumes were extensive. It’s a far cry from anything I’ve done before“, he explained.

Brendan Fraser’s appearance is actually a mixture of several things: make-up, padded suit, prosthetics and special effects. Brendan Fraser wears a costume that gives the appearance of an overweight person, a “fatsuit” (a word for which we do not have a French translation). The appearance of this suit, which weighs 50 kilograms, was then digitally altered to give the illusion of a 270 kilogram human build.

Brendan Fraser has also been doing a lot of research to prepare for his role. He interviewed people with obesity. With Darren Aronofsky, she consulted Dr. Rachel Goldman, a psychologist specializing in eating behaviors and obesity treatment, as well as the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC), the nation’s leading advocacy association. In addition to advising them on the specifics of the language and script, the OAC connected them with people willing to share their experiences of obesity.

The actor also admitted that he watched many films featuring a big-bodied personality to see how different actors approached the role. He reread Moby Dick.

About the role, which marks his return after a long absence, Brendan Fraser admits this poignant part: “I had to gather everything I was and everything I knew, mobilize my body, memory, brain. I knew this was the role of my life, even if it meant doing nothing after that. So everything that I am is there, on the screen. Charlie is far from an angel, but he is incredibly human.”

The Whale, in theaters from Wednesday, follows Charlie, an English teacher at a stay-at-home stay. The latter tries to connect with his teenage daughter for a final chance at redemption… Brendan Fraser’s cast includes Sadie Sink, Ty Simpkins, Hong Chow and Samantha Morton.