Jake Lloyd, remembered by fans as the young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, has opened up about his battle with schizophrenia and the journey that led him to step away from acting. Now in a better place following years of treatment, Lloyd's reflections shed light on both his struggles and the resilience that has helped him move forward.
After spending 18 months in an inpatient mental health facility in Southern California, Lloyd shared with Variety that he’s feeling "pretty good" these days. Though he remains under the care of another treatment center, he’s now able to come and go as he pleases, marking a significant step forward in his recovery. "[I’m feeling] pretty good, considering these 20 years of time that have come to an end," he said. "I can now accept taking on continued treatment, and therapy, and my meds. Everyone’s been very supportive."
For Lloyd, the journey has been anything but easy. He admits to hitting "rock bottom" at one point but sees it as a turning point in his life. "Good things" have come from his time in rehabilitation, he explained, emphasizing the importance of committing to treatment, taking medications, and embracing life with his diagnosis. "I don’t have the time for feeling volatile," Lloyd said, highlighting the stability his medication provides. "It is very much a cushion."
Lloyd’s struggles have often been misattributed to the backlash surrounding The Phantom Menace; Lloyd's performance was one of many things people harshly critiqued. When the movie came out, Lloyd was 10 years old, and younger when he filmed it. However, his mother Lisa dispelled these rumors, clarifying that his decision to step away from acting stemmed largely from his 2008 schizophrenia diagnosis.
"It would have happened anyway," she explained. "I believe that it was genetic. And his psychiatrist also agrees that Jake was going to become schizophrenic." She added that she shielded her son from much of the criticism surrounding the film when it came out. "He was just riding his bike outside, playing with his friends. He didn’t know. He didn’t care," she said. "Everybody makes such a big deal about that. And it’s rather annoying to me because Jake was a little kid when that came out, and he didn’t really feel all that stuff because I didn’t let him online."
As Lloyd continues his journey toward healing, his story serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding mental health and the need for compassion, particularly when it comes to those in the public eye. While his time in the Star Wars universe may be behind him, his focus now is on living authentically and embracing the support that surrounds him.
As a longtime fan of the prequels, including The Phantom Menace, my well wishes go to Jake and his recovery. He delivered what I feel to be an incredible performance as a young Anakin Skywalker, who also happens to be my favorite Star Wars character. To fans everywhere, he has cemented himself as young Anakin and has left a positive mark on the franchise.
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