Brendan Fraser tears up as he receives ANOTHER standing ovation at London screening of 'The Whale'
LONDON, ENGLAND: Brendan Fraser is on a roll. The acclaimed actor received yet another extended standing ovation for his performance in the upcoming movie 'The Whale' which screened at the London Film Festival on Tuesday, October 11.
The 53-year-old Hollywood star broke down in tears as he received a five-minute ovation for the film, which marks his acting comeback after years of grappling with depression and health issues. An emotional Brendan was seen in videos shared by attendees bowing to thunderous applause from the audience before he embraced director Darren Aronofsky and screenwriter Samuel D Hunter, both of who joined him on stage following the UK premiere on the seventh day of the BFI London Film Festival.
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'The Whale' received its first premiere at the Venice Film Festival last month and is rapidly garnering rave reviews ahead of its release in December. Video footage shared on social media captured the moments following the film's screening, when Brendan fought back tears as he received a lengthy standing ovation.
Another standing ovation for Brendan Fraser for his incredible performance in THE WHALE at #LFF2022 pic.twitter.com/u82w8FuCK2
— Matt Neglia @NYFF (@NextBestPicture) October 11, 2022
Those who attended the screening remarked how they had never witnessed a standing ovation like that at the London Film Festival.
"Am I at Venice? 5 min standing ovation for Brendan Fraser’s masterpiece performance in #TheWhale," Film critic Lauren Bradshaw tweeted, sharing video footage of the tribute. "He had the crowd in the palm of his hand the entire movie. My heart is in my throat."
"I have never seen a standing ovation at London Film Festival but Brendan Fraser just blew the roof off #LFF #TheWhale," filmmaker Jack Aling, who also attended the event, added.
"You can really tell from his expression just how appreciative and thankful he is. What an actor, but also what a human being," a fan gushed.
"I've been attending London Film Festival since 2018 and this is the first standing ovation I've ever seen there. Lasted about 5 minutes too - each one absolutely deserved," another chimed in.
Am I at Venice? 5 min standing ovation for Brendan Fraser’s masterpiece performance in #TheWhale. He had the crowd in the palm of his hand the entire movie. My heart is in my throat. #LFF @a24 pic.twitter.com/dHsCAErgu0
— Lauren Bradshaw (@flickchickdc) October 11, 2022
I have never seen a standing ovation at London Film Festival but Brendan Fraser just blew the roof off #LFF #TheWhale pic.twitter.com/DFILizrUuF
— Jack Aling at #LFF (@AlingMedia) October 11, 2022
You can really tell from his expression just how appreciative and thankful he is. What an actor, but also what a human being 👏
— Fan First Reviews (@fanfirstreviews) October 11, 2022
I've been attending London Film Festival since 2018 and this is the first standing ovation I've ever seen there. Lasted about 5 minutes too - each one absolutely deserved.
— Ben Eales (@ben_eales) October 11, 2022
'The Whale' is a psychological drama for which Brendan underwent a physical transformation to play a 600-pound gay man who is confined to a wheelchair. The role required him to wear prosthetics. "A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption," the movie's official synopsis reads.
The hotly anticipated film is expected to hit theaters on December 9 and marks Brendan's first lead role in a movie since straight-to-DVD thriller 'Breakout' in 2013. The actor shot to fame following his roles in blockbusters 'George of the Jungle' and 'The Mummy'.
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In an interview at last month's Toronto Film Festival, Brendan said his confidence is sky-high following the glowing reviews he's received for his latest performance. "So often, I have just felt like a working actor who was glad to have a job, 'What do you got? I’ll do it,'" he said, as quoted by the Toronto Star. "And that’s a different guy than who I am right now." He added, "In recent years when I was a bit more reticent to step forward - have a life with kids and an oldest son with special needs, another kid who’s going to be a senior now and another one who is [learning] to drive and he’s picking up the guitar - I think it just gave me a sense of purpose that I don’t know that I would have appreciated as a younger man." Speaking of Brendan's performance in the motion picture, director Aronofsky gushed, "It’s the right actor, for the right part, at the right time."