Most of Hollywood is a nasty infection of self-absorption, delusions of grandeur, and an unearned sense of superiority. These toxic traits usually merge into a person who believes it’s their job to define what is and isn’t moral for people they’ve never met. They preach to strangers under the fully embraced belief that they’ve somehow accumulated more wisdom and life experience from within the cultural bubble they live in, and that these yokels in middle America would benefit from what they have to say.

From the view of us “yokels,” however, we see a wildly ignorant and out-of-touch elitist jabbering on about virtues that are more trend than principle. There’s little that’s genuine about their speech, and the whole thing comes off as condescension.

As a result, the very people these celebrities are preaching to are finding better things to do. Movie theaters aren’t bringing in the numbers they used to and the award shows these celebs use as their soapboxes are becoming more famous for their flagging viewership than anything else.

(READ: Emmys Fail: ‘TVs Biggest Night’ Has Lowest Ratings In Award Show’s History)

But that’s not to say there aren’t signs of real life in Hollywood. Every now and again, an actor will come along who shows you that not every celebrity is ridiculous. Chris Pratt, Anthony Hopkins, and John Krasinski are solid examples of this, but it would appear that we can now add Brendan Fraser to the list.

The actor gave an acceptance speech at the Critic’s Choice Awards that steps away from the usual pompous nonsense — a speech that people can actually be inspired by. Moreover, it’s something that comes from someone who actually earned the emotional delivery with which he gave the speech due to what he’s been through.

Fraser’s recent leading role was in a film called “The Whale,” a flick about a 600 lb. man named “Charlie” (Fraser) trying to revive his relationship with his teenage daughter. For his performance, Fraser was given a six-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival.

The speech at the Critic’s Choice Awards included thanks to “The Whale” director Darren Aronofsky for finding Fraser when he “was in the wilderness.” He then addressed anyone and everyone who may be watching at that moment and gave them a message of hope.

“If you — like Charlie, who I played in this movie — in any way, struggle with obesity, or you just feel like you’re in a dark sea, I want you to know that if you, too, can have the strength to just get to your feet and go to the light, good things will happen,” said Fraser through tears.

If Hollywood celebrities made more speeches like this, and way fewer virtue signals on stage, they’d still have our respect. What a message from Brendan Fraser. pic.twitter.com/dvcFCnezjs

— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) January 16, 2023

Fraser’s journey to this moment was incredibly harrowing and dark. He was a very popular actor in the 1990s and early 2000s. He was on top of the world until things began to go south for him in many ways. He suffered major injuries, went through a very messy divorce, and his mother died around the same time. Then there was a scarring occurrence where, according to Fraser, he was sexually assaulted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk.

The actor says all of this, including what he claims is a blacklisting after the Berk incident, caused his career to decline rapidly. This had a horrible impact on his mental health.

This speech is Fraser acknowledging that despite being in this incredibly dark place, he clawed his way back and is defeating his demons through hard work and positive thinking.

It’s speeches like these that add a little more light to the lives of everyone who see them. There was no condescension or forcing of half-thought-out beliefs on those who know better in Fraser’s missive. It was simply an inspirational message of hope and triumph against odds that seem insurmountable. It’s something that people can actually use to give them a boost in confidence and determination.

If more speeches were just like this then our society would be a much better place.