'My body melted eight bags': Brendan Fraser opens up about his 300lbs prosthetic suit for 'The Whale'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Brendan Fraser has set the world on fire with an incredible performance in his most recent Oscar buzzing movie, 'The Whale'. Brendan Fraser had an incredibly hard time in the last couple of years, but he is back with a bang. The movie received massive love from critics when it first premiered at the film festivals for Fraser and Sink's performances. Fraser plays Charlie, who is a 600-pound English man struggling to cope with family pressures as he anticipates a coming death. It was released in the second week of December and has already shattered the box office. The film also stars Sadie Sink as Charlie's daughter, Hong Chau as his nurse, and Samantha Morton as his ex-wife.
Adding pressure to the character was his make-up. Apparently, the actor revealed with pounds of make-up and a full bodysuit covering him, Fraser was always at risk of hurting himself by staying in the suit for too long even after he gained weight, especially for the film. Furthermore, the 3D-printed prosthetic suit weighed 300 pounds and used to take Fraser a minimum of six hours to get done with his make-up and transform into Charlie.
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In an interview with Variety, Fraser discusses just how difficult it was to keep from overheating in his costume. He said, "The pieces that were created went on like a glove, and I was in this five-point harness. We learned a lot as we went along about the legs, which were like boots that went to about mid-thigh. Underneath was a body-sculpted costume that was modular, and there were several layers and a cooling suit similar to what racecar drivers wear. It’s tubes that are crisscrossed and run cold water over your body. Mastering the right temperature was a challenge... My body melted eight bags."
He further elaborated on the storyline, saying, "It is a man who has been living alone for a considerable amount of time. He’s been harming himself by overeating and overconsumption, and his health is compromised severely. He certainly regrets some life choices that he has made or that life has made for him. Nonetheless, he needs to reconnect with his daughter in a bid for redemption, and he has five days, from Monday to Friday to do so."
The movie was released on December 9, 2022, by A24, and Fraser has already received a Best Actor nomination at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.