Spider-Man’s Tom Holland Taking a Break from Acting
Tom Holland, the popular Spider-Man actor, has announced that he is taking a break from acting after experiencing a “tough time” making his upcoming TV series, The Crowded Room. Holland will star in the Apple TV+ series as Danny Cunningham, a man who is arrested after a 1979 shooting in New York City. The series will involve a series of deep interrogations to get to the truth of his involvement and his past. The series also includes appearances from Amanda Seyfried and Emily Rossum and is set to hit the streaming site on June 9, 2023.
The Start of a Year Off
The Crowded Room marks the start of a year off from acting for Marvel star Holland, who explained that it was a difficult time making the series. In a recent interview, Holland stated that “it was a tough time, for sure. We were exploring certain emotions that I have definitely never experienced before. And then on top of that, being a producer, dealing with the day-to-day problems that come with any film set, just added that extra level of pressure. I’m now taking a year off, and that is a result of how difficult this show was”.
Enjoyment Amidst Difficulties
Despite the emotional toll that this series has taken, Holland said that he enjoyed “the learning curve of becoming a producer” during his time on the series and that he is “excited” to see how people receive the show. “I’m no stranger to hard work. I’ve always lived by this idea that hard work is good work. And I really enjoyed it. But then again, the show did break me. There did come a time where sort of was like: ‘I need to have a break’,” he added.
A Personal Journey on Mental Health
It comes after the Uncharted star had revealed in a previous interview with Vanity Fair that he has been sober for almost a year and a half after “having a meltdown at home”. While working on The Crowded Room, Tom Holland learned more about mental health struggles, leading him to confront his own. He stated that “I was seeing myself in him, but in my personal life. I remember having a bit of a meltdown at home and thinking: ‘I’m going to shave my head. I need to shave my head because I need to get rid of this character’. And obviously, we were mid-shooting, so I decided not to. It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before.”
Advice for Those Affected
The mental health struggles brought to light in this story can be overwhelming for many individuals. We encourage those who have been affected by this topic to seek support from professionals, such as the NHS, Samaritans, or Mind. Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov for more information.
Final Thoughts
Tom Holland’s upcoming hiatus from acting comes after struggling with the complex emotions of his latest role, coupled with the challenges of becoming a producer. Despite the difficulties he faced, he found enjoyment in the experience. His personal connection to the emotional struggles shown on screen allowed him to confront his own mental health struggles. We hope that his story will inspire others to take their mental health seriously and seek support when needed.
<< photo by K. Mitch Hodge >>
