Brendan Fraser says it’s ‘gratifying’ to be praised for comeback role in The Whale

Brendan Fraser was overwhelmed Thursday when he was honored with the Spotlight Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

The 54-year-old star received the acting honor for his acclaimed role as a 600-pound man struggling to reconnect with his estranged daughter in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale.

“It’s been gratifying, it’s been eye-opening,” Fraser said of the acclaim his latest role has brought him, according to People.

“It’s given me a sense of accomplishment to see how this story is changing people’s hearts and minds.”

Overwhelming: Brendan Fraser said it had been very “gratifying” to be honored for his role in The Whale after receiving the Spotlight Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Wednesday, according to People

The Mummy star leads the whale as a lonely English teacher who has been consumed by binge eating to ease his grief over the loss of his lover.

But even as he continues his self-destructive behaviors, he longs to be reunited with his teenage daughter (Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink) before it’s too late.

Fraser noted that the role was very important to him, especially considering the dearth of juicy roles like this.

“That’s rewarding, to say the least, and that kind of opportunity doesn’t come along with this circus showbiz extravaganza that we all toy with sometimes,” he continued. “But when it does, and it’s material that’s handled with care and the project behaves in a way that’s interesting and important, I feel very fortunate and lucky to be a part of it.”

Heartwarming: Fraser leads the whale as a lonely English teacher who has been consumed by binge eating to ease his pain, but hopes to reconnect with his troubled teenage daughter (Sadie Sink) in the limited time he has left.

Applause: “It’s been gratifying, it’s been eye-opening,” Fraser said. ‘It has given me a sense of accomplishment to see how this story is changing people’s hearts and minds’; seen with her co-star Hong Chau on Wednesday

Fraser added that the praise he received for The Whale was another major boost in his return to film with some of his most high-profile roles in years.

“It strengthens me to see the positive effects this film is having for its audience,” he continued. “And after all is said and done about giving a performance and a movie that’s popular, it’s all good and wonderful.”

He added: “It’s rewarding, in a way, for me to think that this is a story that will live on and that you can go back and watch it again.” And I think it can do some good.

Although The Whale has garnered mixed reviews from critics, with some criticizing Aronofsky’s direction as well as the script and source material with claims that he has a phobia of fat, even his detractors have been largely positive about the acting. Fraser’s main

“I burst into tears, it solved all the problems”: Brendan Fraser said on Late Night With Seth Meyer on Wednesday that the six-minute standing ovation for The Whale gave him validation

On Wednesday, Fraser appeared on Late Night with host Seth Meyers and shared how moved he was by the six-minute standing ovation he received after The Whale had its Venice Film Festival premiere.

“I started crying, it solved all the problems,” he said.

However, he admitted that even with the success and critical acclaim, he still feels like an “impostor” in Hollywood.

“I feel that I am still waiting for someone to come in and tell me that the squad is over,” he admitted. They haven’t discovered me yet, but I know I’m doing what I love and it’s a privilege. I’m very happy to be able to do that.’