After he played the lead role in one of the most famous franchises, Star Wars, the life of this former teenage actor turned into a “living hell.” He left Hollywood after facing difficult times, marked by legal problems and even periods of placement in a specialized institution.
This actor became famous for his role in the movie “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace”. Although he was initially proud of his work on the film, the release changed his life in an unexpected way. Over time, his point of view changed, and he began to “hate” the very film that once filled him with pride.
Selected from over 3,000 actors, the young actor landed the role of Anakin Skywalker, a racing prodigy and future Jedi, in the 1999 film Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace.
He was only ten years old at the time, and he expressed admiration for the film, calling it “a good movie for the whole family” and noting how rare it was to find a PG-rated film at that time.
Reflecting on how great it is to be a Jedi, he shared, “I have my own lightsaber,” although he admitted that the props were iron bars. The child star added that whenever he picked it up, someone would “come home with numb fingers” after a whole day of playing.
He also called the film “amazing” and said he liked it because “the film itself is interesting.” “And it’s good when he’s interesting. So I think that’s what’s really important,” he added.
Despite a promising start, this young actor’s stay in Hollywood was short-lived. After Star Wars, he retired from the film industry, leaving fans interested in his life out of sight.
Leaving Hollywood was only part of his struggle. Playing Anakin Skywalker brought unexpected difficulties to his school life, turning it into what he called “a living hell.”