Brendan Fraser Shares How Dwayne Johnson Supported His Oscar Journey for The Whale

Dwayne Johnson and Brendan Fraser at the 2001 premiere of ‘The Mummy Returns’.
Credit :

LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP via Getty

NEED TO KNOW

• The Mummy Returns co-stars Brendan Fraser and Dwayne Johnson reunited for Variety’s 2025 “Actors on Actors” series.
• Fraser credited Johnson as a “godfather of sorts” for the success of The Whale, highlighting his support on social media.
• Johnson revealed that Fraser’s emotional response to The Whale‘s standing ovation inspired him to take on the role in The Smashing Machine.

Brendan Fraser and Dwayne Johnson first joined forces in the 2001 film The Mummy Returns, marking Johnson’s debut in film. Fast forward two decades, and Fraser recently achieved a momentous milestone by securing an Oscar, attributing part of his success to the unwavering support of his former co-star.

During their appearance on Variety’s 2025 “Actors on Actors” series, the duo exchanged heartfelt acknowledgments for each other’s accomplishments. Fraser, 57, asserted that the recognition he received for his Oscar-winning performance in The Whale has been significantly influenced by Johnson’s public endorsement.

“I owe you a debt of gratitude because when I took The Whale to Venice, and they applauded for a very long time and stayed on their feet — I’d never been there before. I didn’t know the whole ritual of it,” Fraser recounted during the interview.

Johnson reflected on his emotional response to Fraser during the standing ovation the actor received at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival, which lasted six minutes. At the time, Johnson publicly celebrated Fraser’s achievement, sharing a video of the moment on social media.

Brendan Fraser in ‘The Whale’.
A24/YouTube

In the interview, Fraser described witnessing the reaction to his performance as an “out-of-body experience.” He lauded Johnson’s support, dubbing him a “godfather” of the film’s success. “Dwayne, you’re a godfather of sorts of the success of that project. Thank you for that,” Fraser added.

Johnson affirmed his happiness in supporting Fraser and noted how deeply moved he was by the moment in Venice. “But also, that moment rocked me and it moved me,” Johnson expressed.

He further revealed that Fraser’s experience served as a catalyst for his own work, ultimately leading him to tackle the role in The Smashing Machine, where he portrays UFC legend Mark Kerr.

“I had not experienced Venice until Smashing Machine,” Johnson said. “I saw this long applause for you. You’re emotional; I’m emotional watching you get emotional.”

Johnson continued, expressing joy for Fraser’s success, which he deemed a reward for hard work. “I want to do that. I want to find that role,” he declared.

‘The Mummy Returns’ movie poster.

Alamy

Both actors described the response to their respective films, The Whale and The Smashing Machine, as fulfilling dreams. “It felt like the fulfillment of a dream I would never have admitted to having,” Fraser noted, prompting Johnson to discuss his own journey with The Smashing Machine.

Johnson reflected, “I was living my dream; not others’ dreams,” emphasizing the personal nature of his projects.

With a shared history and mutual support, Fraser and Johnson continue to celebrate each other’s successes while paving their own paths in the cinematic world.