Marvel alum and bet for the future of the MCU Jonathan Majors faces accusations of domestic violence and several aggressive attitudes against other celebrities, something that his lawyers have justified with the argument that he does it naturally since it has been difficult for him to get rid of his last character.
While the case is being resolved, it should be noted that some actors and actresses commit 100 percent to their roles, completely changing their appearance, and personality, and even putting their own lives at risk. But is it a justification in cases like Mayers?
Among the celebrities who almost ‘lost their minds’ by giving themselves to their characters are Joaquin Phoenix, Natalie Portman, Linda Blair, and others. Their performances have been impeccable, which has earned them awards and recognition, not only from experts but also from their fans. But in their private lives, it has taken a toll.
Celebrities Who Couldn’t Let Go of Their Characters
Even though they tried, after their performances, their life, thoughts, and way of being were never the same…
Heath Ledger / The Dark Knight
One of the best-known cases is that of Heath Ledger, who was never the same after giving life to the Joker in Batman, The Dark Knight. The actor died on January 22, 2008, from an overdose of medication he was taking for depression, which he was diagnosed with after he participated in this film.
For his character, Ledger was kept in strict isolation for months, sleeping only two hours and eating very little. All this would have been coupled with insomnia that was triggered after his separation from Michelle Williams. Although his role in Batman has been linked to his death, the actor’s sister assured that “he was just having fun.”
Christian Bale / The Machinist
Christian Bale’s transformation for his role in The Machinist was amazing. The actor underwent a strict diet with which he lost several pounds in four months which made it difficult for him to sleep and concentrate. The actor reached a point where he analyzed the situation and said that with age he already felt that he was ‘boring’ and that if he continued exposing his body and mind he could die soon.
Linda Blair / The Exorcist
The Exorcist became everyone’s nightmare, but especially Linda Blair’s, who after the premiere received death threats for supposedly being possessed. At the age of 19, she was arrested for possession of hallucinogens and became addicted to other substances and alcohol.
Her role in this horror classic marked her life in a thousand ways, including her acting career, as she always dreamed of playing a princess, something she never achieved. “It was very strange when I was little, and people seemed to be really scared of me. Not a day goes by when someone doesn’t say something to me about it. My life is possessed by The Exorcist,” Linda said in an interview.
Evan Peters / Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
For Evan Peters, it was very complicated to recover after playing Jeffrey Dahmer, the infamous serial killer. He said that for his role he had to wrap himself in negativity and darkness, but once it was all over, he felt liberated.
“In doing the role, I wanted to give 120 percent throughout the whole process, so I brought a lot of darkness and negativity. It was just having that end goal in sight, knowing when we were going to end, and finally being able to breathe and let it go,” the actor said.
Adrien Brody / The Pianist
After playing The Pianist, Adrien Brody spent a whole year in depression. He became so committed to the role that he ended his relationship with his girlfriend, gave up his apartment and his car, and moved to Europe.
“I have experienced sadness, but I don’t know the despair that comes with hunger,” said the actor who starred in one of the films that have marked the lives of many people.
Joaquin Phoenix / Joker
Another actor who had a hard time getting rid of his character was Joaquin Phoenix, who underwent a strict diet to lose several pounds and go crazy to be able to play Joker as he should. He became one of the favorite films of many for his performance, but it was hard for him to recover his personality; even some people on the film crew said they saw him isolated, out of his mind.
Shelley Duvall / The Shining
Shelley was applauded for her role in The Shining; however, she had to risk her mental health to achieve it. After bringing her character to life, the actress lived several years sunk in watery anxiety due to the stress she was subjected to.
Thirty-six years after the release of the film directed by Stanley Kubrick, Shelley lived tormented by the delusions she suffered, very similar to those experienced by her character Wendy Torrance.
Natalie Portman / The Black Swan
Natalie Portman played one of the characters most loved by fans of movies that deal with mental health issues. Unfortunately, like the young woman she brought to life in The Black Swan, she felt lost.
The actress, not only had trouble recovering her personality but also had a physical transformation, in which she lost a lot of weight so that her character would convey a more realistic image.
Janet Leigh / Psycho
The bath scene in Psycho was shocking for us, but much more so for the actress behind it. Janet Leigh recounted that filming the scene with her clothes off made her feel helpless, and after years she still felt she could be killed while bathing.
“When I go into the shower, I make sure the doors are closed tightly, and I always take a bath facing the door,” she said during an interview for The New York Times.
This story was written in Spanish by Nayeli Párraga in Cultura Colectiva
