CHARLIE'S NOT A CREATURE..HE'S A MAN

STAR BRENDAN FRASER AND DIRECTOR DARREN ARONOFSKY CHAT TO RACHAEL DAVIS ABOUT THE WHALE, AN EMOTIONAL STUDY OF A MAN LIVING WITH OBESITY

WHEN Brendan Fraser took on the role of Charlie, a father and English teacher living with severe obesity in Darren Aronofsky's The Whale, he says he knew that he had a lot of work to do.

An unflinching character study of a man running out of time, The Whale adapted by Samuel D. Hunter from his play of the same name - follows Charlie through five days in his life as he deals with congestive heart failure and comes to terms with the fact that he doesn't have long left to make peace with his life.

Oscar nominee Brendan, 54, says he had to do extensive research to ensure that his portrayal of Charlie and his situation was not only accurate, but sensitive and honest.

"Everything I needed to know about Charlie is right there in Sam Hunter's play and adapted screenplay," says the star who made his name in family movies like The Mummy and George of the Jungle.

"I consulted with the Obesity Action Coalition, who are an advocacy group for people who live with obesity, and they were very helpful in many aspects of being sensitive in the character.

"They gave great notes on the authenticity of the make-up, and impressed upon us how important it was to get that right." Creating Charlie for The Whale required the use of extensive prosthetics, make-up and costuming, which Brendan had to learn to act in and embody without dehumanising the character.

"Charlie's not a creature or an animal, he's a man, and his body is north of 500 pounds, whatever it is, but he's a big man... his mobility is going to be influenced by that," says Brendan, who consulted with people living with obesity and eating disorders to help him understand Charlie.