Brendan Fraser again received a long standing ovation for his film The Whale. which was shown at the London Film Festival on Tuesday.
The actor broke down in tears during the five-minute ovation for the film, marking his Hollywood comeback after years of grappling with depression following allegations of sexual assault alongside multiple health issues.
In a video shared by a guest, an emotional Brendan, 53, can be seen bowing to thunderous audience applause before hugging director Darren Aronofsky and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter, who joined him on stage.
Tears: Brendan Fraser received another long standing ovation for his film The Whale. which was shown at the London Film Festival on Tuesday
“Am I in Venice? 5 minute standing ovation for Brendan Fraser’s masterpiece in #TheWhale. He had the audience in his hands throughout the film. My heart is pounding in my throat,” one viewer wrote alongside the video.
Brendan was proudly joined by his glamorous partner Jeanne Moore as he walked the red carpet for the UK premiere on day seven of the BFI London Film Festival.
The Whale, which hits theaters in December, had its premiere at the Venice Film Festival last month and quickly garnered rave reviews.
In footage shared on social media after the film’s screening in Venice, Brendan fought back tears as he received a long standing ovation.
Moment: An emotional Brendan, 53, bows to thunderous audience applause before hugging director Darren Aronofsky and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter
Fans and friends on Twitter loved Fraser’s emotional response, and actor Dwayne Johnson penned a lovely message of support.
“Man, it makes me so happy to see that beautiful ovation for Brendan. He supported me in getting into his Mummy Returns franchise for my very first role that launched my Hollywood career.
“Roots for all your success brother and congratulations to my mate Darren Aronofsky.”
The Whale is a psychological drama in which Brendan underwent a physical transformation as he plays a 600-pound gay man confined to a wheelchair, a role that also required him to wear prosthetic limbs.
Comeback: The actor broke down in tears during the five-minute ovation for the film, which marks his Hollywood comeback after years of dealing with depression
Acclaimed performance: The Whale, which hits theaters in December, made its debut at the Venice Film Festival last month and quickly garnered rave reviews
The official synopsis reads: “A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity seeks to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.”
The movie is slated to hit theaters December 9 and marks Brendan’s first starring role in a movie since 2013’s straight-to-DVD thriller Breakout, leading many fans to believe this is his comeback.
Fraser rose to stardom when he was cast in the most popular children’s film franchises, George of the Jungle and The Mummy.
His incredibly toned physique earned him a position as a Hollywood heartthrob as he twirled around sets and performed stunts in action-packed roles.
But Fraser revealed the toll the stunts had taken on his body in a later interview.
Well-received: The Whale is a psychological drama in which Brendan underwent a physical transformation and wore a prosthetic leg to play a man “living with obesity.”
He told GQ in 2018 that while filming the third installment in The Mummy franchise, he was taped and injured between takes.
From his home in Bedford, New York, he said the physical toll his roles take makes him feel like a workaholic from Orwell’s Animal Farm.
After finding fame in action-packed films, Fraser described his muscular physique as “a walking steak.”
In the same interview, the actor revealed that he believed he had been blacklisted by Hollywood after claiming he was sexually assaulted by former Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Philip Berk in 2003.
Picture perfect: Brendan was proudly joined by his glamorous partner Jeanne Moore for the UK premiere of The Whale at the BFI London Film Festival on Tuesday
Fraser claimed he was leaving an HFPA-hosted luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Hollywood when Berk shook his hand.
Fraser said: “His left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek and one of his fingers touches me in the blemish. And he starts pushing it around.’
He added: “I felt sick. I felt like a little kid. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry.”
Here you are! Accompanying Brendan (center) to the premiere were Darren Aronofsky (left), director of The Whale, and screenwriter Samuel D. Hunter (right).
Fraser claimed he was able to remove Berk’s hand before running out of the hotel and going straight home. He told his then-wife Afton Smith about the incident but never made it public.
Instead, his representatives asked Berk for a written apology, which he produced but admitted no wrongdoing.
Speaking to GQ about the claims, Berk admitted he had written an apology letter to Fraser but insisted he had done nothing wrong and dismissed Fraser’s report as “total fabrication”.
Emotional: Brendan previously got emotional when he received a long standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival for his latest Oscar-winning film
After reporting the allegation to the HFPA, Fraser said he believes he may have been “blacklisted” and was rarely invited to the Golden Globe Awards.
Fraser said the incident prompted him to “retire” as he fell into depression.
He described feeling “unworthy” as the decade progressed, leading him to take on roles he was less proud of.
Support: Fans and friends on Twitter loved Fraser’s reaction, with actor Dwayne Johnson writing a lovely message of support