Brendan Fraser Opens Up About His Ongoing Confidence Struggles Post-Oscar Win
Brendan Fraser.
Credit :
Jesse Grant/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Brendan Fraser leads the new movie Rental Family, from filmmaker Hikari.
- He accepted the role of a struggling actor after winning an Academy Award.
- “I struggle with confidence,” Fraser admitted in a candid new interview.
Brendan Fraser stars in the new film Rental Family, a poignant exploration of a struggling actor navigating tough times. The film, directed by Hikari, features Fraser as an American actor taking on odd jobs in Tokyo, Japan.
In a recent interview with the Associated Press, the 2023 Best Actor Oscar winner reflected on the role, stating, “Don’t get too comfortable. It can happen to me.” His candid admission about grappling with self-doubt resonates with many, as he noted, “I always have the feeling of not being good enough.” Fraser further elaborated, “Believe me, no one can be harder on me than me. No critic, no pithy internet comment can be more biting to me than myself in my private thoughts.”
Rental Family.
James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures
Despite his acclaimed comeback performance in The Whale, Fraser continues to face internal challenges. He shared a memory from hosting Saturday Night Live, recalling producer Lorne Michaels telling him, “You know, it’s all about confidence. I don’t know if that psyched me up or not.”
In a moment of introspection, Fraser emphasized the importance of ownership in performance: “Forget everything you know and just own it. Can you do that is the question, the eternal one.”
Reflecting on his Oscar win, Fraser noted a sense of uncertainty during that period, mentioning he was “kind of floating” without an agent. He expressed a desire for meaningful projects, saying, “I was looking for that unicorn project that hadn’t been made into oblivion.”
Fraser acknowledged that working with Hikari provided a fresh opportunity during a transformative time in his career. “It was a moment of: I guess things are going to be a little different going forward,” he recalled.
Immersing himself in Japanese culture for this role was important for Fraser. “It was personally what I needed. I wanted to remove myself from whatever this place is, just for a while,” he stated.
Rental Family.
James Lisle/Searchlight Pictures
Looking ahead, Fraser has several exciting roles lined up, including portraying Dwight D. Eisenhower in the war drama Pressure and a return to The Mummy franchise. Teasing his reunion with Rachel Weisz, he shared, “The one I wanted to make is forthcoming. And I’ve been waiting 20 years for this call… It’s time to give the fans what they want.”
Rental Family, which also stars Mari Yamamoto, Takehiro Hira, Shannon Mahina Gorman, and Akira Emoto, is currently in theaters.
