Jesse Eisenberg reveals how acting helped him overcome depression

Jesse Eisenberg recently opened up about how acting helped him find purpose during a time of deep unhappiness in his life.

In an interview with CBS News, the Social Network star discussed his role as David in A Real Pain, a character who struggled with constant sadness as a child. Reflecting on his own childhood, Jesse described himself as an unhappy kid, explaining, “Now I have stopped crying in public because of antidepressants and breathing techniques,” he shared at 41.

He recalled, however, that as a child, he didn’t have those coping tools. "I was a sad kid until I really found performing in theatre," Jesse said.

When asked how acting helped him manage his sadness, he explained, “It gave me something else to do. I was miserable in school. I couldn’t go there.” Acting, he noted, provided assurance that there were other possibilities for him in the world beyond traditional schooling.

Another aspect of acting that helped was the opportunity to spend time with adults. “Somehow being with adults made me feel like there were possibilities in life, like I could be like them,” Jesse reflected.

The Now You See Me actor also discussed his experiences in community theatre, where he observed that people were paid for their performances. “They came to community theatre to enjoy life outside of their jobs,” he explained. “They found an outlet and a place where they felt accepted, and I felt that too."