Fraser Wins Best Actor Award
The 94th Academy Awards saw Brendan Fraser win the Best Actor award for his performance in The Whale, leaving Austin Butler to come up short for his portrayal of Elvis in Baz Luhrmann’s biopic Elvis. It was a tense moment for Butler and those around him, but fortunately for him, he had a good friend right there beside him.
Bassett and Butler’s Friendship
Angela Bassett, who had been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, wrote about her friendship with Butler in a new article published by TIME. She recalled sitting next to Butler at the Oscars and holding his hand as Fraser was revealed to be the winner.
“No Less a Winner”
Although Butler didn’t take home the award, Bassett wanted to remind him that he was still a winner. “Although his name wasn’t called, Austin is no less a winner,” Bassett wrote. “The time had come for Austin to say goodbye to Elvis as he began to embrace an infinite universe of possibilities as an actor. I can’t wait to see what he brings us next.”
Butler’s Other Award Wins
Butler did pick up some other big award wins, even if he didn’t get Best Actor at the Oscars. He previously won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor, overcoming Brendan Fraser at that particular event. His other award wins include getting a BAFTA Award for his work as a Leading Actor.
Bassett’s Oscar Snub
While Butler was gracious in defeat, many viewers felt that Bassett was snubbed that night when she wasn’t named as Best Supporting Actress. That award went to Jamie Lee Curtis for Everything Everywhere All at Once. Some would argue that Bassett’s snub was among the worst in Oscars history.
Bassett’s Appreciation for Butler’s Work
“I watched Elvis with a deep appreciation for all the work I knew Austin put into his performance,” Bassett also said of Butler’s work in the film. “A lot goes into an actor’s finding their way into an icon, not pretending to be them but offering a perspective on the artist as we perform slices of their story.
You walk away from that set forever changed. Your hope is that when people see the film, they don’t see you—they see an artist’s journey through a different lens. Austin accomplished this with a brilliantly nuanced performance.”
