Fresh Air Brendan Fraser Has Everything & Nothing To Prove
Nov 24, 2025
Brendan Fraser, an award-winning actor known for his roles in The Whale and Killers of the Flower Moon, shares insights on his life and career. He dives into Japan's rental family phenomenon portrayed in his new film, highlighting cultural isolation in Tokyo. Fraser recalls the challenges of filming with an all-Japanese crew and reflects on his personal journey, including struggles with confidence. He discusses the importance of collaboration with renowned directors like Scorsese and examines the impact of aging in Hollywood.
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Emotions Can Be Rented
- Rental Family spotlights a real Japanese service that sells emotional roles, not just actors for events.
- Brendan Fraser says the film reveals how surrogate relationships fill gaps where therapy is stigmatized.
Four Months Living The Role
- Brendan Fraser spent four months in Japan on an entirely Japanese crew to make Rental Family.
- He experienced how crowded yet solitary Tokyo can feel and used that to shape his character's loneliness.
A Missing Sister Shaped Him
- Fraser reveals he would have hired a sister if he could, remembering a baby sister who died at birth.
- He connects that loss to a lifelong desire for a sibling bond and informs his film character's longing.
