For many Hollywood stars, such a role would have been a leap into the void, but that is precisely what motivated Fraser: “I was excited.”
Brendan Fraser has opened up about why he wasn’t afraid to take on his role as Charlie in ‘The Whale’, for which he was recently nominated for Best Leading Actor at the 2023 Oscars. In an interview with Digital Spythe actor talked about whether there was anything in the script that instantly felt like a challenge and what he really thought of reading it.
I didn’t feel scared. I felt, I don’t know, energized. I felt enthusiastic. I felt, ‘That’s going to be a good challenge. That’s new. I haven’t seen it before.’ I felt really inspired. I also felt that it was something that I wanted to do so badly that I could feel it in my bones. And the feeling of letting that go many times before in my life, in my career, I’ve seen that ship sail enough times. I didn’t know if it was really going to fit. It was almost like a ‘too good to be true’ feeling, until we really got going. And he never left me in any way, until I saw him. Myself, alone, for the first time. I was speechless. I know what I’m seeing here. It’s good for me and I know I’m in it. But I don’t know what was going to happen next. As I looked at the credit list, I was anchored in place and it made me feel very calm. I had a little talk with myself about re-prioritizing things and beliefs that I might have held in secret, previously, and how this is going to change so much for so many people. And I could also feel that in my bones.
Speaking about casting Brendan in the role, the play’s writer and author Samuel D Hunter said:
I know Darren Aronofsky had looked at hundreds of actors over the years, both famous and not famous, but Brendan was the first name Darren mentioned to me. And that was in 2019, late 2019. And then we did a script reading in early 2020, just before the pandemic hit, with Brendan already in the role. The big question about this movie was, ‘Who is Charlie going to be? We have to find the right Charlie.’ That was really what got in the way, I think, of making the movie, period. So it wasn’t until we did that reading that it became so clear to everyone in the room.
The Golden Globe or the Best Actor Award at the Critics Choice Awards, plus the most likely Oscar, ensures that they were successful in that casting.
‘La ballena (The Whale)’ is already in theaters in Spain since last Friday, January 27, 2023.
Source: Fotogramas
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
