Jake Lloyd, who starred because the rebellious, podracing soon-to-be-padawan Anakin Skywalker in “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace,” has opened up about his wrestle with schizophrenia that, partially, induced him to step away from performing shortly after the “Star Wars” prequel launched in 1999.
After a current 18-month stint in a Southern California inpatient psychological well being facility, Lloyd stated he’s feeling “fairly good”. He’s nonetheless receiving care from a unique therapy middle, however can come and go from there as he pleases.
“[I’m feeling] fairly good, contemplating these 20 years of time which have come to an finish,” Lloyd stated. “I can now settle for taking up continued therapy, and remedy, and my meds. Everybody’s been very supportive.”
Lloyd emphasised that “good issues” have come from his time in rehabilitation. Though he at one level hit “all-time low,” he feels it was a essential step to “actually participate in therapy, actually take your meds, and actually dwell along with your prognosis.
“I don’t have the time for feeling risky,” the kid actor stated of taking his medicine. “It is extremely a lot a cushion.”
In March of final yr, Lloyd’s mom, Lisa, dispelled rumors that the poor reception of “The Phantom Menace” was the explanation her son stop performing. She as a substitute pointed to his 2008 schizophrenia prognosis as a part of the trigger.
“It will have occurred anyway,” Lisa stated. “I imagine that it was genetic. And his psychiatrist additionally agrees that Jake was going to change into schizophrenic.”
“I protected him from the [‘The Phantom Menace’] backlash,” she continued. “He was simply using his bike outdoors, enjoying along with his associates. He didn’t know. He didn’t care. All people makes such an enormous deal about that. And it’s moderately annoying to me as a result of Jake was a bit child when that got here out, and he didn’t actually really feel all that stuff as a result of I didn’t let him on-line.”