Brendan Fraser wins Best Actor at the Critics Choice Awards for The Whale

Brendan Fraser has won the Best Actor gong at the Critics Choice Awards for his role in The Whale.

It's Fraser's first major award for the 2022 movie, which has been praised around the world for its heavy and heartbreaking storyline.

The Whale tells the tale of a reclusive overweight teacher Charlie (Fraser), who tries to reconnect with his 17-year-old daughter (Sadie Sink).

The film, which has been directed by Darren Aronofsky, copped two standing ovations at the Venice and Toronto film festivals and there has been a lot of awards buzz since it premiered.

Other notable wins a the Critics Choice Awards include Cate Blanchett taking out Best Actress for Tár and Everything Everywhere All at Once winning Best Picture.

Ke Huy Quan kept the good times rolling from the Golden Globes by taking out Best Supporting Actor for Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Angela Bassett did the same by winning Best Supporting Actress award for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

The Best Acting Ensemble and Best Comedy awards were given to Glass Onion: A Knives Out Story.

Brendan Fraser's performance in The Whale has been called one to look out for during awards season.

When the film to London critics in October, Fraser was labelled the 'performance of the year' and 'a force of nature' by the British press.

One critic said: "If Brendan Fraser, Hong Chau and Sadie Sink don’t get Oscar-nominations for The Whale then I’ll be mad. Their performances are as fantastic as they are devastating. Highly recommend checking out this film as soon as you can."

While he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award, he famously snubbed the glitzy event.

The reason stems back to a 2018 profile with GQ magazine, in which The Mummy star said Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) president Philip Berk groped him in 2003.

UPI/Alamy

An internal investigation was launched and, according to Fraser, tried to explain Berk's alleged actions were intended as 'a joke'.

The HFPA released a statement which read: "The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behaviour described in this article.

"Over the years we've continued a positive working relationship with Brendan, which includes announcing Golden Globe nominees, attending the ceremony and participating in press conferences.

"This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident."

Fraser explained in an interview to GQ how this meant he wouldn’t attend a future Golden Globes ceremony.

“I have more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” he said.

Fraser added: “It’s because of the history that I have with them. And my mother didn’t raise a hypocrite. You can call me a lot of things, but not that.”