Brendan Fraser wins Best Actor Oscar and completes The Brenaissance

Brendan Fraser has won the Best Actor award at the 2023 Oscars, completing The Brenaissance.

The 95th Academy Awards kicked off today (Sunday 12) at Hollywood's Dolby Theatre, where the star-studded event saw cinema's biggest names hit the red carpet to celebrate the year in film.

And it was quite the night for Fraser, who bagged one of the most coveted accolades for his role in The Whale, a film that marked his epic return to acting.

In an emotional speech, he shared his gratitude to the Academy, A24, director Darren Aronofsky and others involved in the film, thanking them for their 'whale-sized hearts'.

The star beat out competition from the other nominees including Austin Butler for Elvis, Colin Farrell for The Banshees of Inisherin, Paul Mescal for Aftersun, and Bill Nighy in Living.

The moment was a far cry from last year's win, which saw Will Smith give an emotional acceptance speech after earning his first-ever Best Actor Oscar after slapping Chris Rock.

All eyes were on the hosts tonight and whether or not they'd bring up the historic moment, which unfolded when the comedian made a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith, referring to her as G.I. Jane due to her shaved head.

Although Smith appeared to laugh it off, he then took to the stage and smacked the comedian before telling him to keep her name 'out of his f***ing mouth'.

REUTERS/Alamy Stock Photo

Despite the shocking outburst, the night carried on as normal, with Smith taking to the stage to accept his Academy Award for his role in King Richard.

"Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said," he told the audience. "I look like the crazy father just like they said about Richard Williams but love will make you do crazy things.

"Being able to love and care for my mother and my family, my wife... I’m taking up too much time.

"Thank you for this honour. Thank you for this moment. Thank you on behalf of Richard, Oracene, the entire Williams family."

Before leaving the stage, he joked, "Hopefully the Academy invites me back," which shows he had no idea what was coming next.

In the fallout from the slap, the 54-year-old star was banned from the Oscars for 10 years, a decision that was made shortly after Smith announced his resignation from the Academy.

The actor has apologised numerous times since then, something that Rock roasted in his recent Netflix special Selective Outrage.