Actor Tom Holland, famed for his roles as Spider-Man in the Marvel films and Nathan Drake in the Uncharted franchise, recently stated he has been sober for over a year.
Holland revealed to the public for the first time in an interview with Entertainment Weekly published on May 9 about his upcoming Apple TV+ series The Crowded Room that he has been sober for 16 months. He also talked about how his experience filming the series has improved his understanding of mental health.
As Holland puts it, “learning about mental health and the power of it, and speaking to psychiatrists about [the role], has been something that has been so informative to my own life,” especially with regards to recognizing triggers and causes of stress.
Akiva Goldsman adapted The Minds of Billy Milligan, a novel published in 1981, into a 10-part psychological thriller called The Crowded Room. Holland plays Danny Sullivan, who is arrested following a shooting in New York City in 1979. He then discusses the incident’s circumstances with an interrogator (Amanda Seyfried).
The Crowded Room, which Holland stars in and executive produces, will premiere on June 9. Holland told Entertainment Weekly that he had problems distancing himself from the role after nine months of filming because of the “mental aspect” of the project.
According to Holland, “I was seeing myself in him, but in my personal life.” “At home, I had a little breakdown and thought things like, ‘I’m going to shave my head. I’m going to have to shave my head if I ever want to get rid of this person. We were in the middle of a shoot, so I opted not to. It was completely different from anything else I’ve ever encountered.”
Although Holland has not previously spoken openly about his sobriety, he has previously discussed his mental health. He posted a video to Instagram in August 2022 explaining that he was taking a social media hiatus “for my mental health.”
Because “I find Instagram and Twitter to be overstimulating, to be overwhelming,” Holland stated in the video, “I have taken a break from social media for the sake of my mental health.” “After realizing that reading negative comments about myself online sent me into a downward spiral and was having a negative impact on my mental health, I deleted the app.”
Holland announced in December 2021 that he was “having a midlife crisis at 25,” leading some to speculate that he could take a break from acting. He has also hinted at a future career change, possibly to the carpentry trade, which he previously studied and found enjoyable.
“I don’t even know if I want to be an actor,” Holland said to Sky News. “I got into acting when I was 11 and haven’t done much else since, so I’d like to branch out.” Moreover, he stated to GQ, “I definitely don’t think I want to be an actor for the rest of my life.”
Holland has never been shy about talking about his struggles with mental health. His announcement of his social media hiatus included a plug for the nonprofit organization Stem4, which he supports through the Brothers Trust. For issues such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and addiction, Stem4 creates educational programs for mobile devices.
As Holland says in the film, “there is an awful stigma against mental health,” and “I know that asking for help and seeking help isn’t something that we should be ashamed of,” but it’s easier said than done.
More recently, Holland stated he hoped The Crowded Room will teach audiences about “the powers of mental health, the struggles, and our incredible abilities to survive,” leading to greater empathy and understanding for those with mental health issues.
On June 9th, the premiere of The Crowded Room will air on Apple TV+. The limited series, written and directed by Akiva Goldsman, features Tom Holland, Amanda Seyfried, Emmy Rossum, Sasha Lane, and Will Chase over the course of 10 episodes.
Looking forward to an entirely different Tom Holland on this new series. Are you excited to see this offering too? Let us know in the comments section. Thanks!
