Andrew Garfield has candidly reflected on his mental health journey, admitting he was once “living and dying by external validation” early in his career. The 41-year-old actor, best known for his role in The Amazing Spider-Man films, shared his experiences in an interview with British GQ.
Garfield, who stars alongside Florence Pugh in the upcoming romance film We Live In Time, opened up about how the loss of his mother in 2019 and his struggles with self-worth have shaped his outlook on life and work.
Speaking about his emotional evolution, he said, “I feel quite passionate about this thing that’s just available to us that we’ve been somehow imprisoned from or cordoned off from. It’s like, oh, wait a minute, we’re allowed to feel all of this (grief). And actually, we can show up for each other and support each other as men.”
The actor emphasised the importance of maintaining an open connection with his emotions, stating he has worked over the years to “keep the channel open” between himself and his feelings.
‘This is unsustainable’
Looking back on his early career, Garfield admitted, “I was living and dying by external validation. When I’m getting nominated for an award, I feel great. When I lose that award, I feel like shit.”
He described this dependence as unsustainable, saying, “This is not how I want to live my life. I can’t be so dependent on things that are outside of my control.”
Garfield now prioritises finding a sense of inner worth that isn’t tied to others’ opinions or accolades. “I want to know there’s something eternal in me, that my worthiness is not dependent on whether or not you like me,” he explained.
Family reflection and epigenetics
Garfield also spoke about the deeper self-reflection he has undertaken with his brother, Ben, and their father, Richard. Exploring their shared family history, he noted parallels in their experiences.
“I think it has been a series of revelations for [my father] as well, in terms of his experiences as a child and his parents’ experiences,” Garfield said. “We go deeper and deeper and deeper into our epigenetics on his side, this Jewish survival gene.”
He added, “We’re people who’ve had to prove our worthiness as human beings over and over and over again. And to the point where we’ve been deemed so worthless in my ancestry.”
Garfield shared that his father has been a steady source of support, often calling before major events such as awards shows to remind him, “Win or lose, I love you and you’re enough.”
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Acclaimed career
Andrew Garfield’s illustrious career includes roles in critically acclaimed films like The Social Network (2010), Hacksaw Ridge (2016), and Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021), the latter earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Despite his success, Garfield’s remarks highlight his determination to detach his self-worth from his professional achievements.
As Garfield continues to focus on his emotional well-being, his openness about vulnerability and self-discovery serves as a reminder of the importance of mental health in both personal and professional spheres.
Through his journey, Garfield hopes to inspire others, particularly men, to embrace their emotions and seek support. “We’re allowed to feel,” he reiterated, underscoring the value of acknowledging and processing emotions rather than suppressing them.
With his latest film, We Live In Time, set to release soon, Garfield’s growth both on and off screen is a testament to his resilience and commitment to a more balanced life.
