A Dedicated Role?

Actor Jamie Foxx, who recently portrayed Nathaniel Ayers in the new film “The Soloist,” was very invested in his role. The movie is based on the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a musical genius who suffered from schizophrenia at a young age and became homeless in Los Angeles. Apparently Foxx was so invested in his character that he suffered from psychological distress during the shooting. In college Foxx was submitted to the hospital for eleven months due to a psychotic episode caused by a “bad trip.” Foxx’s connection to Ayers was so strong during filming that he suffered panic attacks and fits of paranoia.
Becoming so connected with a character that you start taking on symptoms of their mental illness is the sign of a good actor. Or at least an invested one. Needless to say Jamie Foxx is eccentric, and in this case it is not a bad thing. I look forward to seeing the film that taught Foxx so much about not only himself but also the culture of homelessness. The exposure to street life provided Foxx with a whole new perspective. Foxx learned that the people “actually had a life...were laughing and smiling and enjoying their lives.” What Foxx thought prior to this, I don’t know—but it is a good realization. Foxx experienced a stark social contrast between himself and the person he was pretending to be. Because he was already trying to place himself in Ayer’s shoes it was easier for Foxx to relate to them. His blatant disconnect with the homeless population was reduced by the circumstance. His views on an entire population of people changed just by being exposed to them. While Foxx no doubt felt the natural contrast in the comparison, his efforts to assimilate allowed for less bias and very tangible introspection.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/23/foxx.the.soloist/index.html