Over the course of his remarkable career, which lasted more than 50 years, Al Pacino gave some of the most recognizable performances in the Godfather trilogy.
Still, the actor has battled mental health issues throughout his Hollywood career and learned that fame does not come without a price. Pacino’s performance as Michael Corleone in The Godfather in 1972 marked a turning point in his career and brought him awards from the Golden Globes and the Oscar.
However, it was also extremely stressful, which made Pacino’s mental state worse.
Even though Pacino had been acting before, the release of The Godfather had a significant impact on his life. With paparazzi and photographers following him everywhere, the actor struggled to maintain a sense of normalcy or privacy, feeling overwhelmed by the attention.
Due to the intense public scrutiny he faced around the world, this made things even harder for him and ultimately caused him to collapse. Pacino continued to work hard in spite of this setback, making appearances in critically acclaimed films like Scarface (1983) and Scent of a Woman (1992), which also earned him additional accolades.
Renowned actor and director Lee Strasberg at the time advised the financially strapped young Pacino to adjust to his new environment as simply as possible. Pacino acknowledged that this was not an easy task, though, as he had experienced a trauma that required intensive counseling five days a week for twenty-five years.
His portrayal of Michael Corleone in The Godfather II helped him understand the desperation of the character and what it would be like to be an old actor in The Humbling who falls in love with a much younger person.
Pacino understood that in order to portray these characters in an effective manner. Rather, he had to use his counseling experiences in addition to simple adaptation.
Given his own tragic descent into despair as he grew older, the actor was drawn to the role because of this.
He became mentally disoriented and almost hopeless as his connection to his career began to erode and he made it his mission to make up for it in any way he could. The character’s acting subsequently reflected this.
The actor was initially drawn to the concept of an emotionally charged journey, but he soon realized how much of this story arc he could relate to, and how it would affect his own situation.
The actor’s acting revealed that he was having difficulty processing the meaning of the project as it developed for him.
He would occasionally go crazy, looking for any way to continue pursuing his goals and staying committed to the development of this character’s struggle.
Recently, the actor expressed gratitude for not having to deal with the challenges that many of his peers face. Notwithstanding his admission of past struggles, he views himself as “lucky” and “blessed.”. He said, “I may have depression, but I’m not aware of it,” according to a quote from the Venice Film Festival. “.
For those who experience it, depression can be excruciatingly painful; it can linger for extended periods of time and result in excruciating pain. The actor responded, “I’m aware of it since I’ve had symptoms similar to this in the past, but not to this extent,” when asked about his mental health. “I feel very fortunate to have been treated so well,” the speaker said. “.
Following the sudden death of Robin Williams in 2014, actors and entertainers began talking about mental health and how even seemingly successful people can suffer from depression.
The World Health Organization estimates that 280 million adults globally—or more than 5 percent of adults—have suffered from depression at some point.
This mental illness can show up as a number of symptoms, such as persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness, losing interest in interests and hobbies, difficulty sleeping, and difficulty focusing.
Famous actor Al Pacino was able to lessen his workload in the 1980s by appearing in fewer films, even with his enormous financial success.
In response to a question concerning his reasons for quitting acting, he said, “It was good for me,” adding that although the money from motion pictures had been very beneficial to him, it eventually ran out.
Most people who suffer from depression do not receive treatment, despite it being a common mental health issue.
Almost everyone is expected to go through a period of mild depression at some point in their lives. If it takes over and becomes difficult to perform even basic tasks, though, it might indicate something more serious.
Depression can result from many different things, such as stress, trauma, or traumatic events. Numerous studies have also found a connection between depression and physical health, suggesting that certain illnesses, like cardiovascular disease, may be associated with depressive symptoms.
Once a patient has been diagnosed with depression, a level of severity will be determined; mild to severe cases make it very difficult to go about daily activities.
Never hesitate to seek quick medical attention if you have concerns about the mental health of yourself or another person.
Your odds of having a healthier, happier life with fewer symptoms and more effective coping mechanisms increase the earlier you start treatment for depression.
