Brendan Fraser talks manhandling Dominic West on "The Affair"

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When Brendan Fraser made his first appearance on Showtimes The Affair, he was noticeably a changed man from his ripped Hollywood heyday in the 1990s. Burly and thick-necked, he cut an imposing figure Fraser stands at six-foot-three as Fishkill prison guard John Gunther, a blue-collar menace who befriends convicted felon Noah Solloway (Dominic West).

In Episode 3, he tells a confused Noah that they come from the same Pennsylvania town and even went to the same high school. He offers to keep an eye out for him. Shortly thereafter, Gunther produces a typewriter for Noah to write with, and typing paper. He orders a copy of his novel, Descent, and asks for an autograph. But just as Noah is settling into his routine, Gunther parks himself desk-side and rips a picture of his wife, Alison (Ruth Wilson), from the wall.

What you got here is an inmate violation, he says. You cant hang a poster on the wall. Noahs protests prompt Gunther to push his head down on the desk, twisting his elbow against his back.

Their relationship is jailor and prisoner, Fraser, 48, tells The Post. Gunthers among the legion of disenchanted, feeling marginalized, so-called white working class, those men who feel they didnt get a fair shake. Everything that he wanted to be handsome, with the wife and the kids Noah has.

As menacing prison guard John gunther, fraser befriends and threatens noah solloway (dominic West).Phil Caruso/SHOWTIME

Manhandling the shorter, slighter West was something the actors worked out. I have had 20 years [experience] of throwing myself around movie sets and trying not to get injured and not hurting my co-stars, says Fraser, who hints that Gunther will exercise his muscle again. You aint seen nothing yet.

In one of his most physical roles, Fraser, who lives in Westchester County, played swashbuckling American adventurer Rick OConnell in The Mummy franchise. Of the first film, released in 1999, he says, We didnt know if we were making a comedy, a drama, a horror movie or a straight-ahead action picture. We understood that there were going to be some special effects posted in. The first installment earned $416 million at the box office and spawned two sequels, which also starred Fraser. Gosh, it had legs, he says.

Renowned as he was for popcorn movies like The Mummy and Encino Man, Fraser scored in dramatic roles, such as Gods and Monsters (1998) and The Quiet American (2002). He co-starred in one of the most controversial Oscar winners, 2004s Crash, which made jaws hit the floor when it beat Brokeback Mountain for Best Picture.

Im a member of the [motion picture] academy and I see everything. Im always surprised by the outcome no matter what, he says. I was happy to be a part of [Crash] and having seen Brokeback, theres always something contentious about one over the other.

I was astonished the year [Gods and Monsters co-star] Ian McKellen did not take home an Oscar [in 1999]. Theres always an upset somewhere.

One thing that does not upset the actor, who is divorced from Afton Smith, his wife of nine years, is that Tom Cruise is starring in the Mummy reboot slated for release next year.

Toms going to be great in it, Fraser says. He has incredible worldwide appeal.

The Affair 10 p.m. Sunday on Showtime

Source: http://nypost.com/2016/12/19/brendan-fraser-talks-manhandling-dominic-west-on-the-affair/