Star Wars’ return to theaters in 1999 with Phantom Menace launched audiences to Jake Lloyd, who performed the younger Anakin Skywalker. Whereas Hayden Christensen would play the character in later appearnaces, Lloyd finally pale from the general public eye. That modified when last March, he and his mom Lisa revealed he’d been in rehab for practically a 12 months after struggling a psychotic break and was diagoned with paranoid schizophrenia.
Since then, Lloyd has “accepted taking up continued therapy, and remedy, and my meds,” he stated in a current interview with Clayton Sandell. Having just lately accomplished his 18-month rehab stint, the actor stated he’s been in a position to acknowledge his schizophrenia analysis. For years, Lloyd had anosognosia, a neurological situation that made him unknowingly deny his signs. Hitting such a low level has allowed “good issues” to occur, he continued, resembling “truthfully collaborating in therapy, my meds, and residing with my analysis.”
Previous to final 12 months, the final assumption was the cruel criticism Lloyd acquired after Phantom’s launch contributed to his breakdown, just like how backlash in opposition to Jar Jar Binks again then practically drove Ahmed Best to suicide. On the time, his mom refuted these claims, and revealed her son’s paternal facet had a historical past of schizophrenia. For her and the remainder of his household, Lloyd’s enchancment is a “large reduction. He’s getting so significantly better than he was,” added Lisa Lloyd. “We’re all simply thrilled that he’s doing in addition to he’s, and that he’s working actually arduous at it.”
Total, Lloyd says he’s feeling “fairly good” these days, and stated he was drastically appreciative of the fan help he’s acquired over the previous 12 months. Public appearances are at present off the desk, nevertheless it feels like he nonetheless holds affection for Star Wars: he informed Sandell he’s just lately watched Ahsoka and put time into Star Wars: The Previous Republic and the unique Power Unleashed, and is trying to play the sequel. And whereas he hasn’t watched any of the current films, he stated he’s “holding out for Might the Fourth with my mother.”
Sandell’s full story with Jake Lloyd will be learn here.
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