American actor Michael B. Jordan revealed that he went to therapy after one of the most important roles of his career.
In an interview with “CBS Sunday Morning,” the 38-year-old actor reflected on his role as Erik Killmonger in the 2018 film “Black Panther.”
Killmonger is the villain in the film, a Black Ops mercenary and cousin of T’Challa, a character played by the late Chadwick Boseman. The character attempts to conquer Wakanda, but is ultimately defeated and dies.
Jordan revealed that after filming, he found it difficult to emotionally distance himself from the role.
“It stuck in my mind for a while. You know, I went to therapy and talked about it. I found a way to relax, I think at that point I was still learning that I needed to relax from the character,” he said.
He added that the therapy, although motivated by that specific role, also brought other benefits.
“It evolved into a broader conversation and self-discovery,” he said.
He emphasized that he considers therapy necessary today, and recommended it especially to men.
“I think it’s good for them to go and talk. It’s something I’m not ashamed of at all and I’m very proud of. It’s definitely helped me try to be a good communicator and a well-rounded person, inside and out,” the actor added.
By the way, this isn’t the first time the actor has linked therapy to his work. His “Creed” co-star, Tessa Thompson, revealed that they went to couples therapy together to prepare for “Creed III.” Jordan plays Adonis Creed, while Thompson portrays his wife Bianca.
“The dividing line between characters and ourselves sometimes becomes blurred because so much of what we explore personally we transfer to the characters in general,” Thompson once said. /Telegraph/