Behind The Scenes
Behind all the glitz and glamor of Hollywood's top actors, there's a much darker side that audiences don't get to see. These artists have gone out of their way to deliver the best performances. Here are some impressive yet pitying instances.
Sophie Turner's Game Of Thrones Ordeal
When she was just 15, Sophie Turner had to deal with some really heavy stuff on Game of Thrones. These included things like psychological abuse and even sexual assault. In order to cope, she would literally sing and dance in between takes to keep her spirits up.
A Decade of Game of Thrones | Sophie Turner on Sansa Stark (HBO) by GameofThrones
Sophie Turner's Game Of Thrones Ordeal (Cont.)
Turner even mentioned that since the subject matter was so tough, she just started having fun during breaks so it wouldn't mess with her head too much. Because she was so young, she didn't fully grasp how deep those scenes were, which could cause future problems.
A Decade of Game of Thrones | Sophie Turner on Sansa Stark (HBO) by GameofThrones
Natalie Portman's Black Swan Breakdown
To prepare for her role as Nina Sayers, Natalie Portman underwent extreme ballet training, dancing for up to eight hours daily. The pressure to perform well not only physically but also emotionally contributed to her character's descent into madness.
BLACK SWAN Movie Clip - Nightmare Dance (2010) Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis by JoBlo Movie Clips
Natalie Portman's Black Swan Breakdown (Cont.)
The actress lost an incredible 20 pounds from her already thin frame to fit the Ballerina character. She acknowledged that the physical toll it took on her body made her feel as though death was near. Portman even thought she needed rehab after the filming.
Black Swan (2010) - Dance of the White Swan Scene (5/5) | Movieclips by Movieclips
Alex Wolff's Hereditary Horror
In Hereditary, Wolff played Peter Graham, a teenager who's dealing with the horrifying aftermath of family tragedies and supernatural events. Apparently, the film's disturbing themes and emotional weight required Wolff to maintain a "raw and volatile state" throughout.
Hereditary Official Trailer #1 (2018) Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne Horror Movie HD by Zero Media
Alex Wolff's Hereditary Horror (Cont.)
Wolff later admitted that this was psychologically taxing and that the emotional intensity of his performance stayed on long after filming had concluded. He practiced what he called "emotional masochism," where he had to confront his negative feelings purposefully.
Hereditary Official Trailer #1 (2018) Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne Horror Movie HD by Zero Media
Adrien Brody's The Pianist Transformation
Władysław Szpilman is a Jewish pianist who struggles to survive during the Holocaust. Adrien Brody, who played this character, allegedly lost about 30 pounds, which brought his weight down to around 130 pounds. He claimed that "there is an emptiness that comes with starving".
The BEST scene in 'The Pianist' by Max Hillier
Adrien Brody's The Pianist Transformation (Cont.)
He even sold his car and moved out of his apartment to better understand the loneliness experienced by his character. After completing The Pianist, Brody faced despair and feelings of sadness for the situations he had depicted. He mentioned that the role was "all-consuming".
The BEST scene in 'The Pianist' by Max Hillier
Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Journey
Phoenix's approach to the role was to distance himself from past portrayals of the Joker, such as those by Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger. To support this, he said, "I didn't refer to any past iterations... I wanted the freedom to create something that wasn't identifiable".
JOKER - Final Trailer - Now Playing In Theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures
Joaquin Phoenix's Joker Journey (Cont.)
It was a dramatic physical transformation, with Phoenix losing around 50 pounds. To gain this, he followed a strict diet that included eating only an apple a day at times. The actor also researched about people facing such unfortunate mental health conditions and has continuously advocated for the marginalized.
JOKER - Final Trailer - Now Playing In Theaters by Warner Bros. Pictures
Kate Winslet's The Reader Impact
Can you imagine the effects of playing a character with a dark past—especially one who was a former Nazi camp guard? Winslet has been there. After wrapping up in July, she felt like a car crash victim. Physically unharmed but mentally shattered.
Kate Winslet's The Reader Impact (Cont.)
Winslet reportedly did an in-depth study on the time period and the psychological effects of being a former Nazi camp guard. She wanted to accurately portray the character of Hanna Schmitz, who was linked with the tragic legacy of the Holocaust.
Dakota Johnson's Suspiria Struggle
In interviews, Johnson has explained that she is a "porous person," meaning she tends to absorb the emotions of those around her. Now, this sensitivity surely made it challenging for her to detach from the disturbing themes of films like Suspiria.
SUSPIRIA Improvise Movie Clip Trailer (2018) Dakota Johnson, Tilda Swinton Movie HD by ONE Media
Dakota Johnson's Suspiria Struggle (Cont.)
The filming took place in an abandoned mountaintop hotel with an eerie ambiance. Johnson recalled that the conditions were quite harsh, with cold temperatures and a sense of isolation. She initially said that it made her consider therapy but later called it "exhilarating".
Suspiria – Clip: Susie's First Dance | Amazon Studios by Prime Movies
Michael B. Jordan's Black Panther Battle
Michael Jordan's methodical acting approach backfired when filming ended, as he struggled to reconnect with everyday life. Jordan himself explained, "I was by myself, isolating myself," as he aimed to understand the depth of Killmonger's emotions.
BLACK PANTHER Clip - Just Feelin' It (2018) Michael B. Jordan by JoBlo Superheroes
Michael B. Jordan's Black Panther Battle (Cont.)
The Black Panther star also mentioned that during the filming process, he "shut out love" and intentionally distanced himself from any affection and support. He wanted to stick around in this "lonely place" to really understand what the character was feeling.
Anne Hathaway's Les Misérables Trauma
For Les Misérables, Anne Hathaway's transformation into Fantine demanded crazy physical and emotional sacrifice. It is said that she shaved her head and lost a whopping 25 pounds while following a diet of eating two dried oatmeal paste squares a day.
Les Misérables (2012) - I Dreamed A Dream Scene (1/10) | Movieclips by Movieclips
Anne Hathaway's Les Misérables Trauma (Cont.)
Hathaway described the experience as one that left her feeling disconnected from reality. In an interview with Vogue, she stated, "I was in such a state of deprivation that when I got home, I couldn't react to the chaos of the world without being overwhelmed".
At the End of the Day (Anne Hathaway) | Les Misérables (2012) | TUNE by TUNE - Musical Moments
Janet Leigh's Psycho Aftermath
In the film Psycho, Janet Leigh's character, Marion Crane, meets a shocking end in the shower at the hands of Norman Bates. Some years later, she revealed that the harsh intensity of filming this scene had actually led her to develop a fear of showers.
Janet Leigh's Psycho Aftermath (Cont.)
Basically, she stopped taking showers and only took baths, making sure the bathroom door was kept open. After the film's release, Leigh also received many threats from stalkers who claimed that she would meet the fate of her character. This added to her personal trauma.
The Shower - Psycho (5/12) Movie CLIP (1960) HD by Movieclips
LaKeith Stanfield's Black Messiah Burden
Stanfield faced the daunting task of playing a character who was a traitor to the Black Panther Party. It required him to understand the complex emotions associated with playing someone responsible for betraying a revolutionary leader, Fred Hampton.
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Trailer 2 by Warner Bros. Pictures
LaKeith Stanfield's Black Messiah Burden (Cont.)
The poisoning scene with Daniel Kaluuya particularly affected him. His mind couldn't differentiate between acting and reality. It was deeply troubling to him, as it felt as though he was truly poisoning Chairman Fred Hampton. The role sadly triggered panic attacks.
JUDAS AND THE BLACK MESSIAH – Trailer 2 by Warner Bros. Pictures
Bob Hoskins' Roger Rabbit Reality Blur
Bob Hoskins had a pretty wild experience filming "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" that kind of messed with his head. He had to get himself to imagine cartoon characters like they were real, and this obviously took a toll on his mental health.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Trailer (HD) (1988) by Tue Nguyen
Bob Hoskins' Roger Rabbit Reality Blur (Cont.)
He even admitted, "In the end, it screwed up my brain." Things got so weird that he started seeing cartoon weasels popping out of walls while he was just talking to people. Doctors essentially recommended he take a break from acting for a few months.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit - Trailer (HD) (1988) by Tue Nguyen
Christina Applegate's Dead To Me Experience
The Netflix series, which deals heavily with grief and murder, had such a huge impact that the celebrity was forced to seek professional help. "It tapped into some stuff that I had to face. It was cathartic... Did I start therapy after the show? Yes, absolutely," Applegate stated.
Dead to Me | Season 1 Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix by Netflix
