Brendan Fraser Comments on the Tough Years When His Body ‘Fell Apart’

During a recent Variety Actors on Actors conversation, Brendan Fraser opened up about a period in his career when his body began to break down from the physical demands of his work.

Speaking with Dwayne Johnson, Fraser reflected on the moment he realized he needed to perform for himself rather than push his body to the limit for others.

Fraser said that around 2007 to 2009, while filming a low-budget movie in Ontario, he was constantly injured but kept pushing through the stunts.

“There comes a point where you fall apart. And I guess around 2007 or ’08 or ’09… I was playing hurt but pretending that I wasn’t,” he said. The experience made him realize that he had to confront why he was putting himself through so much pain. “I’m getting too old for this. It’s starting to catch up with me. If I’m going to continue, I have to have a real reckoning with myself about why I am getting banged around and bruised,” Fraser explained.

He admitted that he had been performing under the belief that unless a role hurt physically, he wasn’t earning it. Fraser added that seeing vulnerability and effort in others helped him understand the balance between strength and exposure.

“Not allowing oneself to be vulnerable publicly — the stoicism seems harder than the loss,” he said, reflecting on what he learned from observing other performers.

Fraser has also shared that the physical challenges of his career led him to undergo multiple surgeries over seven years. These included a partial knee replacement, a laminectomy, and vocal-cord surgery, which helped him continue working despite years of intense stunts and action roles.

Fraser’s story highlights the toll that action films and demanding roles can take on actors. It also shows the importance of self-awareness and knowing when to prioritize personal health over the demands of work.

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