Jake LloydDISCUSSES Mental Wellness, Reestablishing Links with Star Wars
The 1999 cinematic comeback of Star Wars with the film Phantom Menace introduced Jake Lloyd as the young Anakin Skywalker to audiences. Although Hayden Christensen later assumed the role, Lloyd eventually disappeared from the limelight. However, a significant turnaround occurred last March when Lloyd and his mother Lisa disclosed that he had spent nearly a year in rehab following a psychotic breakdown and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
Recently, Lloyd shared that he has embraced further treatment and medication, as well as therapy. In a recent conversation with Clayton Sandell, he acknowledged his schizophrenia diagnosis. For an extended period, Lloyd suffered from anosognosia, a neurological condition that led him to unconsciously disregard his symptoms. He reflected that hitting rock bottom allowed "good things" to occur, such as genuinely engaging in treatment, adhering to his medication, and accepting his diagnosis.
Originally, it was believed that the severe criticism Lloyd faced post-Phantom Menace's release, similar to the criticism Amed Best, the actor behind Jar Jar Binks, encountered, was the primary cause of Lloyd's breakdown. Lisa, however, disputed these allegations and revealed that schizophrenia ran in Lloyd's paternal family. For Lisa and the rest of Lloyd's family, his recovery is a "significant relief." She added, "He's getting so much better than he was."
Currently, Lloyd feels "fairly good" and expressed his gratitude for the fan support he received in the previous year. Public appearances are not yet possible, but Lloyd still cherishes his affection for Star Wars: he told Sandell that he had recently watched Ahsoka and invested time in Star Wars: The Old Republic and the original Force Unleashed, with plans to play the sequel. Although he has not watched any of the recent films, he mentioned looking forward to celebrating May the Fourth with his mother.
For more io9 news, enjoy our insight into the forthcoming releases of Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek; the future of the DC Universe on film and TV; and all the essential details regarding the future of Doctor Who.
You can read Sandell's full interview with Jake Lloyd here.
Jake Lloyd, the actor who played young Anakin Skywalker in 'Star Wars: The Phantom Menace', recently discussed his recovery from schizophrenia in an interview with Clayton Sandell. In the future, fans can look forward to reading more about upcoming 'Star Wars' and 'Marvel' movies on io9.
