I was in the wilderness before The Whale, says Brendan Fraser

Los Angeles: Hollywood actor Brenden Fraser won best actor for 'The Whale' at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards. He thanked director Darren Aronofsky and said he was in the wilderness before the film.

"Darren Aronofsky, I was in the wilderness - and I probably should've left a trail of breadcrumbs - but you found me, and like all the best directors, you merely just showed me where to go to get me where I needed to be," said the actor about his comeback film.

Speaking at the ceremony, he said The Whale is a film about love and redemption. "It's about finding the light in a dark place, and I'm so lucky to have worked with an ensemble that is incredible." He also mentioned his co-workers Hong Chau and Sadie Sink.

Thanking the Critics Choice Association, he said: "It was Herman Melville who once wrote that there are only five critics in America - the rest are asleep. I don't know what it means, either, but I'm glad you woke up for me. Where were you for Furry Vengeance?!", calling out his 2010 comedy co-starring Brooke Shields and Ken Jeong," reported People magazine.

Speaking about his character, he said: "If you - like Charlie, who I played in this movie - in any way, struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you're in a dark sea, I want you to know that if you, too, can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen." He once again teared up talking about the film.

Fraser played a 600-pound obese man in the film. Sadie Sink played his estranged daughter.