Brendan Fraser, who gained prominence in the film industry acting in the role of Rick O’Connell in The Mummy trilogy, will appear in the upcoming psychological drama The Whale alongside Sadie Sink. The actor plays an obese reclusive English teacher, who tries to reconnect with his estranged daughter. The George in the Jungle actor, who had a reputation for his chiseled body, shared his experience with obesity because of his oldest son Griffin who has autism.
Fraser reveals how his movie The Whale sends an important message to the audience, teaching the lesson of kindness and empathy.
Brendan Fraser talks about obesity
Brendan Fraser, who once possessed a chiseled body acting in George of the Jungle, talked about his experience with obesity because his oldest son is autistic. The actor also revealed how his recent movie The Whale gave an important message about kindness and empathy.
”We live in a cynical world and this film is the antidote. It’s easy and cheap to be cynical — it doesn’t take much intelligence at all — but to act with authenticity and dignity, that’s where the real work is.”
The actor also added how we live “in times where it’s so easy to be cruel” sending the message of how one should take a bigger step to embrace kindness.
“He just turned 20. He’s a big kid, he’s 6-foot-5. He’s got big hands and feet, a big body. I understand intimately what it is to be close to a person who lives with obesity,” The Hair Brained actor talked about his son’s autism on the topic of obesity.
The Whale is an adaptation of Hunter’s 2012 play of the same name.
Brendan Fraser describes sexual assault that made him almost quit acting
Brendan Fraser has been quite a well-known name in the film industry. However, the actor’s career was paused for a while which was the result of an alleged assault, a subsequent divorce, and his mother’s death.
While the assault took place in 2003, the Line of Descent actor couldn’t muster up the courage to talk about the incident till 2018. The actor’s perpetrator was the then-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk. It is stated that Berk pinched Fraser’s ass, which while the former claims were in jest, the latter denies.
“His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around.” Fraser said explaining the assault.
Fraser removed Berk’s hand, however, the incident affected him deeply. While he tried to confess to the police, he didn’t and shared about the happenings with his wife.
“Am I still frightened? Absolutely. Do I feel like I need to say something? Absolutely. Have I wanted to many, many times? Absolutely. Have I stopped myself? Absolutely.”
Also Read: MCU’s Fantastic Four: Why Brendan Fraser Is Perfect To Play The Thing
Philip Berk later acknowledged sending an apology letter to Fraser, however, not admitting to any wrongdoing, claiming his actions weren’t meant to hurt.
“My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual ‘If I’ve done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended and I apologize.’ ”
Brendan Fraser even admitted that he won’t attend Golden Globe Awards even if his movie is nominated because the former president of the organization that runs the awards was Philip Berk.
The Whale is scheduled to be released on December 9, 2022.
Source: Interview Magazine
