Brendan Fraser and Michelle Yeoh have won the Oscar for Best Actor and Best Actress, respectively, at the 95th Academy Awards. Fraser won the award for his portrayal of a love-lorn, obese man in Darren Aronofsky's psychological drama The Whale, while Yeoh won it for her role in Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Fraser beat Austin Butler (Elvis), Colin Farrell (The Banshees of Inisherin), Paul Mescal (Aftersun) and Bill Nighy (Living) to clinch the trophy. Yeoh beat Cate Blanchett (Tár), Ana de Armas (Blonde), Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans)
Yeoh scripted history by winning the Oscar for Best Actress at the 95th Academy Awards tonight. She is the first Asian woman and the second woman of colour to win the award.
"For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is a beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof that dreams do come true,” an emotional Yeoh said in her acceptance speech.
In an emotional acceptance speech, Fraser thanked Darren Aronofsky for throwing him “a creative lifeline.”
“So, this is what the Multiverse looks like. Gentlemen, it was an honour for me to be named alongside you in this category,” the visibly emotional actor said.
“I started in this business 30 years ago. Things didn't come easily to me. I didn't appreciate the opportunities, until it stopped. Thank you to each one of you. I'm so grateful to you,” he added.
Fraser began his acting career in 1991 with Nancy Savoka’s Dogfight. He shot to fame with the 1997 comedy film George of the Jungle and is mostly remembered for his portrayal of Rick O'Connell in the adventure film The Mummy (1999).
His performance in The Whale has won Fraser a Critics' Choice Movie Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Hollywood Critics Association Award this year.
Yeoh rose into prominence in the 1990s with Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000). She has also been part of recent blockbuster hits like Marvel’s Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings (2021) and Crazy Rich Asians (2018).
