Brendan Fraser has revealed that his son helped him connect with his morbidly obese character in his latest film “The Whale”.
Fraser plays Charlie, a 600-pound English teacher who struggles to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter, played by “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink.
The actor, 53, reflected on being with his eldest son Griffin, 20, when discussing the role.
“He just turned 20. He’s a big kid, he’s 6-foot-5. He has big hands and feet, big body. I understand intimately what it means to be intimate with someone who is obese,” Fraser told Interview magazine.
Griffin is the eldest of Fraser’s three children (along with Holden, 18, and Leland, 16) with ex-wife Afton Smith.
Fraser explained that his son Griffin, who has autism, is also the happiest person he knows. “Because of the beauty of his spectrum — call it a disorder if you will, I disagree with you — he knows nothing of irony,” Fraser said.
“He doesn’t know what cynicism is. You cannot insult him. He cannot insult you. He is the happiest person and also the manifestation of love, in my life and that of many others. “
The actor explained that his relationship with Griffin and his family helped him relate to his character, for which he was highly praised.
“Being with my kids and their mom and our family has given me so much love that I had to try to put something of value at some point and translate that to what was important to Charlie. [character in ‘The Whale’]I didn’t have to look far,” Fraser said.
A24 released the first official trailer for Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale” earlier this month, after the film received lengthy acclaim at several film festivals.
Fraser shared that his son Griffin is the happiest person he knows.
The actor’s eldest son Griffin, 20, whom he shares with his ex-wife Afton Smith.
The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival, where Fraser was moved to tears during a six-minute standing ovation for his performance. “The Whale” hits theaters on December 9.
The film marks Fraser’s return to Hollywood after a hiatus due to depression. In 2018, he revealed that the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association had accused him of sexual assault in 2003.
He has since refused to attend the Golden Globes, even though he was nominated for his role.
