Oscar-winning actor Jared Leto is known for his method of acting, which often involves immersing himself in the role so deeply that he can’t separate himself from it even when he’s not on set. This was certainly the case when he was filming the 2002 thriller “Panic Room” with Kristen Stewart.
In a recent interview, Leto revealed that he had such a hard time sleeping during the filming of the movie that he eventually had to see a doctor. “I couldn’t sleep the first night,” he said. “I was so stressed out and anxious about the role. I felt like I was living in the movie.”
The reason for Leto’s anxiety was that he was playing a character who was being held hostage in a panic room with his daughter. The actor said that he felt so much empathy for the character that he couldn’t help but feel his own fear and dread.
“It was excruciating,” he said. “I would wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.”
Eventually, Leto’s doctor prescribed him sleeping pills, which helped him to get some much-needed rest. However, he said that he still felt the effects of the role for weeks after filming had wrapped.
“It took me a long time to come down from that,” he said. “But it was all worth it in the end. I think I gave a really great performance.”
