The man’s battled armies full of mummies in previous films, but this most recent role may have been his most intense.
In a conversation with Vanity Fair, Brendan Fraser opened up about the process behind his upcoming role in Darren Aronofsky’s “The Whale.”
Fraser stars in the film as Charlie, a severely overweight man dealing with the lost relationship of a loved one as he tries to get back in touch with his estranged teenage daughter. Sadie Sink of “Stranger Things” fame will be playing the daughter.
It’s been almost a decade since Fraser had top-billing in a film, and he told Vanity Fair about taking on one now that was so involved.
“If there’s no risk, then why bother?” He said. “I want to learn from the people I’m working with at this point in my career. I’ve had variety, a lot of high highs and low lows, so what I’m keen for, in the second half of my time doing this, is to feel like I’m contributing to the craft and I’m learning from it.
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Fraser went on saying this opportunity was too good to pass up and how his hope was to be come “unrecognizable.”
To get into the role Fraser told VF he worked with the Obesity Action Coalition to understand how people with higher body weight were portrayed.
“This may be the first and last time I ever do this again, so I gave it everything I’ve got,” he said. “And I did. That’s all I got.”
The role of Charlie required hours of extensive wardrobe and costume work each day for Fraser. “This is certainly far removed from anything I’ve ever done. I know it’s going to make a lasting impression,” he said.
“The Whale” premieres September 4 at the Venice International Film Festival.
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