Jared Leto thinks harrowing movie is the reason he hasn't cried in 17 years
Topics: Film and TV, Jared Leto, Celebrity
Claire Reid
Featured Image Credit: Image Press Agency / Alamy / Lionsgate
Topics: Film and TV, Jared Leto, Celebrity
Jared Leto says he hasn’t cried in almost two decades and reckons it could be something to do with a highly emotional movie he made back in 2000.
The 51-year-old Hollywood star appeared on the Jo Whiley show on BBC Radio 2 on Wednesday (May 31) when he revealed that it had been ‘about 17 years’ since he had last shed a tear, which was for a very relatable reason.
Leto said: “I haven’t cried in about 17 years, the last time was because I stubbed my toe.”
Advert
Yep, that sure will bring a tear to your eye.
When asked why he wasn’t a crier these days, he replied: “I’m just like a lizard. I don’t think my tear ducts work properly.
“Maybe I shed them all in Requiem for a Dream or something? I cried so much during the making of that movie.”
For those who can’t quite remember, Leto played heroin addict Harry Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream, which also starred Ellen Burstyn, Christopher McDonald, Marlon Wayans and Jennifer Connelly.
The psychological drama, directed by Darren Aronofsky before he went on to make The Whale, was certainly a tear-jerker as we saw the brutal impact of four people battling drug addiction.
Talking about making the movie, Leto revealed that a heartbreaking real life-incident occurred during filming.
“A wild thing about that film is I remember I had a scene and I was supposed to be very emotional, and then literally when they shot my close-up I got a call,” he recalled to Whiley.
“One of my best friends had just been shot in the head and the emotion that came at that moment… when I recognised what a brutal loss this was.
“But I realised what a bad actor I was because it didn’t really touch anything that I’d done in this scene, and I believe I went back and asked for another take.
“I shared a little bit of that in the scene and that’s what’s in the movie when I’m talking on the phone. So in a way, you know, [my friend] lives in that scene.”
Leto is well-known for being a method actor and this movie was no exception - while he didn’t start shooting up heroin, he did drop 28 pounds (13kg) and spent time living on the streets of New York so he could speak to people in a similar situation to his character Harry.
Speaking to Vulture in 2020, Leto said: “I did whatever I thought I could do in order to bring more authenticity to the role, more honesty.
“So I spent time with a group of people in the East Village, many of whom are no longer alive — they lost their battles to addiction.
"They were very supportive and helpful and generous with their time and their experiences and there were nights that I spent basically homeless.”