Table of Contents
Mastering any craft and achieving success, including acting, demands time, talent, charisma, and unwavering dedication. While some actors may owe their breakthroughs to nepotism, looks, industry connections, or formal training, no acting career can thrive without unwavering professionalism and commitment, whether in the production or pre-production stages.
Certain roles necessitate extensive preparation, leading actors to undergo rigorous training in areas like combat, alter their diet and exercise routines to attain the desired physique, or even learn a new language. In biographical roles, they must meticulously study the individual’s mannerisms, speech patterns, and overall demeanor. When portraying exceptionally violent or malevolent characters, they may need to delve into their own darker aspects. In cases involving terminal illnesses within the plot, they often seek inspiration from real patients. In essence, these actors invest their all in their roles both before and during filming, and it’s only natural that some of the most sensitive among them may be deeply affected for a period, which can extend to the next project or even have a lasting impact.
Here are ten movie stars who became so deeply entrenched in specific characters that it either shook their mental well-being, had repercussions on their physical health, or led to a profound transformation in their perspectives and way of life.
Sponsered English Shortfilm Playlist
10 Times an Actor Was Deeply Affected by a Movie Role
Kate Winslet as Hanna Schmitz in The Reader (2008)
In the romantic drama “The Reader,” Kate Winslet took on the role of Hanna Schmitz, a former SS guard who couldn’t read and was facing trial for her involvement in a devastating church fire that resulted in the deaths of 300 Jewish women and children. Hanna’s complex character had a habit of having some of the captives read to her in the concentration camp, and she also asked Michael, a 15-year-old boy with whom she had a brief summer romance, to read passages from his school books.
While this role earned Winslet prestigious awards like an Oscar and a BAFTA for Best Actress, she openly admitted that it was challenging for her to fully grasp the character and create a connection between an SS guard and the audience without inadvertently eliciting sympathy. In her own words, Winslet explained, “It’s not easy for anyone to allow themselves to feel empathy in such a situation, and that includes myself. It takes me a considerable amount of time to move on from portraying any character. With Hanna, I had to go through a process of rediscovering who I am. I was left feeling emotionally drained, empty, and deeply melancholic.”
Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Swann in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)
In the international fantasy and adventure blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl,” Johnny Depp takes on the role of the bumbling yet captivating Captain Jack Sparrow, while Keira Knightley portrays Elizabeth Swann, a privileged and spirited young woman with a strong desire for adventure.
The impact of the role on Knightley was profound. At the tender age of 17, she found herself thrust into worldwide stardom, and the sudden and intense attention from the media, fans, and the entertainment industry proved to be overwhelming for her, especially since she had always considered herself to be an introvert. Following her success in “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Knightley went on to star in films like “Bend It Like Beckham” and “Love Actually,” which only heightened the level of scrutiny and ultimately contributed to her being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Isabelle Adjani as Anna in Possession (1981)
The film “Possession,” directed by Andrzej Żuławski and featuring Sam Neill as Mark and Isabelle Adjani as Anna, explores a troubled marriage that leads to an affair and a miscarriage, resulting in the birth of a mysterious tentacled creature. The nature of this creature remains a subject of debate, whether it symbolizes Anna’s mental state, Mark’s retaliation, or a genuine supernatural element in the narrative.
In portraying her role, Isabelle Adjani experienced a challenging and emotionally taxing process. Żuławski intentionally used manipulative and verbally abusive tactics on set, similar to how Alfred Hitchcock made Joan Fontaine uncomfortable during the filming of “Rebecca,” all in an effort to elicit raw and intense emotions from Adjani. While she complied at the time, she later revealed to the press that this treatment left her feeling deeply wounded, both emotionally and physically. She asserted that she would never allow a director to treat her in such a manner again. Playing the character of Anna, who was distressed, suicidal, and dealing with psychosis, took a significant toll on Adjani. Her most distressing and bloodiest scenes in the film reportedly contributed to her suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and even led her to attempt suicide.
Anne Hathaway as Fantine in Les Misérables (2012)
In her portrayal of Fantine in the film adaptation of Victor Hugo’s renowned novel “Les Misérables,” Anne Hathaway’s dedication to the role earned her the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Her commitment to appearing sick and depleted was evident, as she took extreme measures to achieve the desired look. Hathaway achieved significant weight loss in just two weeks by restricting herself to a diet of dried oatmeal paste. According to her own admission to People magazine, her limited knowledge of nutrition led her to push her body to the limit, resulting in both physical and mental strain. This challenging experience left her feeling extremely anxious and lost for a period, and it took a considerable amount of time to fully recover from the ordeal.
James Cromwell as Arthur Hoggett in Babe (1995)
After James Cromwell provided the voice for the character of farmer Arthur Hoggett in the animated dramedy Babe, his experience on the film had a profound impact on his personal life. At the time of his involvement in the movie, he had already adopted a vegetarian lifestyle. However, once the filming was completed, he made a significant decision to transition to a strict vegan way of living. Moreover, he demonstrated his commitment to animal welfare by taking action to rescue an abused piglet, which he subsequently relocated to the Indraloka Animal Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. Interestingly, he named this piglet “Babe,” a nod to the film. This transformation in his lifestyle and his involvement in animal rescue efforts reflects his dedication to animal rights activism, particularly in the context of advocating against laboratory testing.
List your film and start screening your short film with showtime. Make revenue from your ticket sales. Click here to know more.
Adrien Brody as Władysław Szpilman in The Pianist (2002)
Adrien Brody’s commitment to his role in Roman Polanski’s “The Pianist,” which was based on the Holocaust memoir of Władysław Szpilman, was profound. Just as Anne Hathaway dedicated herself to her part, Brody took method acting to an extreme. He went to great lengths to physically transform himself, deliberately becoming emaciated to effectively convey the profound suffering and persecution endured during one of history’s darkest periods. His dedication was so intense that he went as far as selling most of his possessions and ending his relationship with his girlfriend to maintain the appropriate mindset for the role. This level of commitment resulted in a remarkably convincing performance that left a lasting impact on him long after filming had concluded.
Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991)
Val Kilmer, known for his roles in “Top Gun” and “Willow,” took on the iconic role of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s biographical drama “The Doors.” In his dedication to the character, Kilmer spent six months immersing himself in the band’s music, mastering Morrison’s distinctive behavior, and even interacting with their producer. However, this commitment took a toll on his mental well-being, as he found it challenging to detach himself from Morrison’s persona, ultimately necessitating intensive therapy sessions.
Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise in It (2017)
After Will Poulter stepped down from the project, Bill Skarsgård was chosen to play Pennywise, the eerie and child-killing clown with otherworldly abilities, in the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel “It.”
The Impact on Him The movie was a huge success, and Skarsgård received considerable acclaim for his creepy performance. However, he revealed that the role had a significant toll on him, both emotionally and physically. To ensure the child actors’ reactions to Pennywise were genuine, director Andy Muschetti kept their off-screen interactions with Skarsgård to a minimum, leaving him feeling quite isolated. Constantly perfecting the character’s menacing smile took a toll on his facial muscles and even led to the clown haunting his nightmares for several nights.
Janet Leigh as Marion Crane in Psycho (1960)
Janet Leigh, who portrayed Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock’s influential horror masterpiece, “Psycho,” was profoundly impacted by her role. In a 1984 interview with Women’s World, she revealed that for years after the movie’s release, she couldn’t bring herself to take a shower; instead, she opted for baths and made sure to secure her doors and windows. This aversion was partly due to the infamous shower scene in the film, where her character is brutally stabbed to death. Additionally, receiving threatening letters from disturbed fans further contributed to her anxiety and fear.
Shelley Duvall as Wendy Torrance in The Shining (1980)
Shelley Duvall’s portrayal of Wendy Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s adaptation of Stephen King’s “The Shining” took a toll on her well-being. She endured the physical strain of gripping a bat for extended periods, coped with Kubrick’s demanding and harsh critique, and depicted a frightened wife fleeing from her homicidal, deranged husband. These challenges had detrimental effects on Duvall, leading to issues such as dehydration, hair loss, anxiety attacks, and injuries to her hands, causing her to break down in tears during breaks between filming.
Note:
*Shortfundly is hiring for multiple roles in Chennai. Start referring your known connections to these openings*. Check it out – https://lnkd.in/erZm6rzh
About Shortfundly
Shortfundly is an OTT marketplace platform available to share the best short films and web series through global multi-platform network. Their editorial platform enables global audience to easily discover, watch, and share unique contents anywhere on their desktop, connected TV and mobile devices.
If you are planning to release and earn on an OTT platform, learn how to distribute your short film via Shortfundly.
For publishing an advertorial article about your digital news/product launch/ short film/web series/album song on our website, drop an email at [email protected]
Hey Cinephiles! We welcome guest blogging on our platform. Do share your article with us.
Check out our Shortfundly YouTube channel for other interesting podcasts & interviews with filmmakers.
To watch unlimited premium short films & web series, Download the Shortfundly mobile application now available on Google Play Store and Apple App store.
