Brendan Fraser says it’s ‘satisfying’ to be honored for his comeback role in the Whale After Awards ceremony at the Palm Springs Film Festival: ‘I feel very lucky’

Brendan Fraser was stunned when he picked up the Spotlight Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on Thursday.

The 54-year-old star received the acting award for his award-winning role as a 600-pound man struggling to reconnect with his estranged daughter in Darren Aronofsky’s film The Whale.

“It was satisfying, it opened my eyes,” Fraser said of the recognition his latest role brought him, according to People.

“It made me feel fulfilled to see this story transform people’s hearts and minds.”

The Mummy star leads the whale as a reclusive English professor consumed by binge eating to ease his grief over the loss of his beloved.

But even as he continues his self-destructive behavior, he longs to see his teenage daughter (Stranger Things’ Sadie Sink) before it’s too late.

Fraser noted that the role is important to him, especially given the lack of juicy bits like this.

“At least it’s gratifying, and that kind of opportunity doesn’t come with this show business circus show that we all play with sometimes,” he continued. “But if that’s the case and the material is handled carefully and the project behaves in an interesting and important way, I’m very privileged and happy to be a part of it.”

Moving: Fraser leads the whale as a reclusive English professor who is consumed by binge eating to ease his grief but hopes to reconnect with his troubled teenage daughter (Sadie Sink) in the limited time he has left

Applause: “It was gratifying, it was eye-opening,” said Fraser. “It made me feel fulfilled to see how this story changed people’s hearts and minds”; Seen with costar Hong Chau on Wednesday

Fraser added that the acclaim he received for The Whale was another big boost as he returned to film with some of his most iconic roles in years.

“It gives me energy to see the positive impact this film has on its audience,” he continued. “And after all is said and done to make a performance and a film that people love, that’s all well and good and wonderful.”

He added: “It pays off in a way for me to think it’s a story that will live on and relate to it and be seen again. And I think it could do some good.’

While The Whale received mixed reviews from critics, some of whom criticized Aronofsky’s direction, script and source material and claimed it was fatphobic, even critics were largely positive about Fraser’s lead role.

“I burst into tears, it solved all the problems”: Brendan Fraser said on Wednesday’s “Late Night With Seth Meyer” that the six-minute standing ovation for “The Whale” gave him validation.

Appearing on Late Night with host Seth Meyers on Wednesday, Fraser shared how moved he was by the six-minute standing ovation he received after the premiere of The Whale at the Venice Film Festival.

“I burst into tears, it solved all the problems,” he said.

However, he admitted that despite the success and critical acclaim, he still feels like a “con artist” in Hollywood.

“I feel like I’m still waiting for someone to come in and tell me the form is up,” he admitted. “They haven’t discovered me yet, but I know I’m doing what I love and it’s a privilege. I’m very happy to be able to do that.”