Tom Holland opens up about his personal struggles and the impact of “The Crowded Room” on his mental health.
Tom Holland, the British actor widely known for his portrayal of Spider-Man, has revealed that his upcoming Apple TV+ crime thriller “The Crowded Room” led to a “bit of a meltdown” in his personal life. In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Holland disclosed that playing the role of Danny Sullivan in the show, who was arrested in 1979 due to his involvement in a shooting at Rockefeller Center, made him see himself in character but in his personal life.
“I remember having a bit of a meltdown at home and thinking, like, ‘I’m going to shave my head. I need to shave my head because I need to get rid of this character,’” Holland said. The show is based on the real-life crimes of Billy Milligan, who was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. Holland further described “The Crowded Room” as a story that provides insight into the power of the human mind and the ways in which we can deal with trauma.
Holland also revealed in the interview that he has been sober for one year and four months, which he credited partly to working on the series. “Learning about mental health and the power of it, and speaking to psychiatrists about Danny and Billy’s struggles, has been something that has been so informative to my own life,” he said. Holland hopes that viewers of the show will have more respect and sympathy for people going through mental health issues and that they will feel educated about the powers of mental health and the struggles, as well as our incredible abilities to survive.
Tom Holland says he hopes ‘THE CROWDED ROOM’ will make viewers “have more respect and sympathy for people who are going through mental health issues.”
“I hope that people will feel educated about the powers of mental health, the struggles, our incredible abilities to survive.” pic.twitter.com/7mNhG43pxr
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) May 9, 2023
“The Crowded Room” stars Holland alongside Amanda Seyfried, Sasha Lane, Will Chase, Lior Raz, Laila Robins, Christopher Abbott, and Henry Eikenberry. The series, which explores the story of Billy Milligan, a man with 24 personalities, will premiere on Apple TV+ on June 9.
Holland’s candid disclosure about his personal struggles and the impact of the show on his own mental health provides a glimpse into the challenges that actors face when playing complex roles. It also highlights the importance of mental health awareness and the need for support for individuals struggling with mental health issues. By sharing his story, Holland is encouraging people to recognize the triggers that stress them out and seek help when needed.