With his work in comedies like Encino Man and family-friendly flick George of the Jungle, Brendan Fraser emerged as a breakout star in the late 1990s. However, it was his role as the American adventurer Rick O’Connell in the 1999 film The Mummy that introduced him to widespread commercial success. But soon, a series of unfortunate events frightened The Quiet American star and forced him to undergo a period of self-reflection.
Having sustained injuries during the shoot of his $1.4 billion franchise sequel, Fraser admitted that the incidents changed his approach to acting.
Brendan Fraser opens up on the scary times
Despite subsequent sequels, Brendan Fraser’s career took a downturn after The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor. Injuries sustained during the filming of the franchise altered his approach to his craft while leading him to a period of self-reflection.
While filming The Mummy series, Fraser was serving as his own stuntman. And this took a huge toll on his physical well-being. By the time he began the shoot for The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the Doom Patrol actor found himself relying on makeshift measures like tape, ice packs, and protective gear to keep going. Unfortunately, the accumulated injuries necessitated surgery, prompting a serious health scare that forced Fraser to ponder on the future of his career.
Discussing how the scary period affected him, Fraser told GQ in a 2022 interview,
“By the time I did the third The Mummy picture in China… I was put together with tape and ice. Screw-cap ice packs and downhill-mountain-biking pads, ’cause they’re small and light, and they can fit under your clothes. I was building an exoskeleton for myself daily.”
He further added,
“I had a few injuries that became another injury. It meant that I needed to start thinking about how to work smart instead of work hard. Around the time I made that movie, it was sort of a fundamental shift in my approach.”
Fortunately, Fraser made a triumphant comeback to the industry, showcasing his talent in recent projects like No Sudden Move and The Whale. Meanwhile, he has also secured some new and exciting roles.
Brendan Fraser’s decision to slow down
Had Fraser continued to risk his health with movies like The Mummy, there’s no doubt that it could have been detrimental to his health as well as his career. Hence, during his hiatus from acting in the 2000s, Fraser took time to recuperate and decided to slow down.
After coming back to the industry, he was seen in projects like DC’s Doom Patrol and the Golden Globe-nominated The Whale. His role in the projects encompassed less physical strain, allowing him to showcase his acting skills while prioritizing his health.
With a journey filled with both triumphs and setbacks, the beloved actor will be next seen in Martin Scorsese’s upcoming film, Killers of the Flower Moon, alongside Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Source: Showbiz Cheat Sheet
