Brendan Fraser, the actor who captivated audiences with his recent Oscar-winning performance in The Whale, is charting a fascinating new course in his career, one that intertwines personal heritage with complex cinematic roles. Meeting with journalists in Dublin, Fraser offered a quiet yet profound reflection on his journey, touching upon his surprising connection to Ireland and the nuanced emotional landscape of his latest project, Rental Family.
Echoes of the Famine: Fraser's Irish Roots
It’s almost inevitable for any Brendan visiting the Emerald Isle to be asked about their ancestral connection. For Fraser, born in Indiana, the link is deeply personal and rooted in historical hardship. He shared the moving story of his great-grandfather:
“Oh, absolutely. My great-grandad Patrick Devine’s family escaped the Great Famine,” Fraser recounted, his voice notably soft. “He came across the Atlantic in a rusty bucket in the 1830s – he was 11 years old – by himself. They settled in Pennsylvania. The family later became coal miners. His son became a candy wholesaler. He was a candy man. Ha ha!”
This lineage—a narrative of survival, migration, and reinvention—lends a quiet weight to Fraser’s presence. It’s a history that mirrors the resilience required in an industry as volatile as Hollywood.
Navigating Career Peaks and Troughs
Fraser’s career trajectory has been anything but linear. The 1990s brought massive commercial success with beloved hits like George of the Jungle and The Mummy franchise. However, the early 2000s saw a significant downturn, punctuated by professional difficulties and industry controversy.
Today, Fraser is experiencing a powerful resurgence. Following acclaimed roles in Steven Soderbergh’s No Sudden Move and Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, his Academy Award victory for The Whale cemented his return to critical prominence. This comeback narrative is one of quiet perseverance, something he seems to understand intimately.
The Precarious Life of the Working Actor in 'Rental Family'
Fraser’s latest venture, Rental Family, directed by Japanese filmmaker Hikari, dives directly into the theme of professional insecurity, albeit through a unique cultural lens. Fraser plays Phillip Vanderploeg, an American actor based in Tokyo who is struggling to find consistent work.
“He’s not getting the pick of the crop,” Fraser explains of Phillip’s predicament. “So many expats who moved to Japan are really kind of gigging it. You know – the job economy. Living pretty hand to mouth. And he’s a single guy in his middle life.”
Phillip takes on an unusual, emotionally charged job: posing as the estranged father to a young girl as part of Japan’s real-life industry of “rental families.” These services provide temporary familial stand-ins for citizens seeking to fill voids in their personal lives.
The Ethics of Ersatz Relationships
Fraser acknowledged learning about the scale of this business model, which has reportedly been active since the 1980s, noting there are hundreds of agencies operating in Japan.
“It raises a lot of questions. Who works for them? Who are the clients of that? Who are they at home? What do they really care about? Are they living a lie? Are they just getting a pass to bend the rules?” he mused, adopting a hushed tone.
In a moment of self-deprecating humor that connects his own experience to the character’s plight, Fraser laughed, stating, “Phillip is not a very good actor,” suggesting that Oscar redemption is not in his character’s immediate future.
Impostor Syndrome and Enduring Hope
Despite his recent accolades, Fraser admitted to sympathizing with the anxieties faced by his fictional counterpart during the lean times between major projects—the periods filled with commercial auditions and uncertainty.
“You do get a bit of impostor syndrome,” he agreed. “You have a sense of, ‘I’ve worked hard for this, but I hope I’m worthy of it and I hope that, going forward…’”
This quiet acknowledgment of vulnerability, juxtaposed against a history forged by transatlantic migration and career reinvention, defines the current chapter of Brendan Fraser’s artistry. Whether portraying a grieving father or an underemployed expat, Fraser continues to find the humanity in roles that explore the fragile, yet enduring, nature of human connection.
