Brendan Fraser is greeted with a standing ovation as he walks into room after winning Oscar

The Brenaissance was completed tonight when Brendan Fraser won the Oscar for Best Actor at the 2023 Academy Awards.

And to top it all off, The Whale star received a standing ovation with cheers and claps as he walked backstage.

Proving he must be protected at all costs, he made a little joke while clutching his trophy, asking: "Is it going to be like this all the time?"

Fans were over the moon for the star, who took somewhat of break from acting before returning to the big screen for Darren Aronofsky's psychological drama, about a 600lb recluse who attempts to reconnect with his daughter.

Taking to Twitter, one wrote, "Aw man he looks so happy," while another said his win is 'so deserved'.

"Brendan Fraser will always be famous," commented a third, with a fourth adding, "Glad this king was finally given a crown."

A fifth chimed in to say he is the 'goat of cinema'.

Fraser mentioned the online support he's garnered since returning to acting, adding in his press conference: "I heard my name and I thought 'that can’t be right' but it was, so I guess I should get up there and say something quick…

"Thank you to all of my internet friends who’ve been so generous. I hope that I live up to this."

A24

Not only is he a fantastic actor, having starred in a range of 90s and 00s hits including The Mummy and George Of The Jungle, but he's also been frank and honest about the struggles he's faced in Hollywood.

After disappearing from the spotlight, he revealed in a 2018 interview that he felt like he'd been 'blacklisted' by the industry after he alleged he'd been sexually abused.

In a GQ profile, the 54-year-old actor claimed that the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) Philip Berk groped him at a 2003 luncheon thrown by Golden Globes organisers.

"I felt like a little kid," he said. "I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry."

During a recent Q&A at Megacon, one fan praised Fraser for his bravery in speaking out, a move that made him tear up with emotion.

Here's hoping tonight just shows him how much support he has from across the globe.

While accepting his accolade at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood tonight (March 13), Fraser, who was overjoyed at the news, kicked off by joking: "So this is what the multiverse looks like."

As he continued his emotional speech, he took the time to share gratitude to those involved in the creation of The Whale.

"My goodness, I thank the Academy for this honour and for our studio A24 for making such a bold film," he said.

"I'm grateful to [director] Darren Aronofsky for throwing me a creative lifeline and hauling me aboard the good ship The Whale.

"It was written by Samuel D. Hunter, who is our lighthouse.

"Gentlemen, you laid your whale-sized hearts bare so that we could see into your souls like no one else could do, and it is my honour to be named alongside you in this category."