Tom Holland Regrets Trying To Outdo David Fincher, Leonardo DiCaprio; Asked Himself “What am I doing?”
Taking on his most challenging role yet in The Crowded Room, Tom Holland found himself questioning if he had bitten off more than he could chew while trying to outdo past efforts from elite directors and actors. Holland revealed that part of what drew him to The Crowded Room was hearing that esteemed figures like James Cameron, David Fincher, and Leonardo DiCaprio had attempted and failed to adapt the factual story in the past.
Did Tom Holland Underestimate The Crowded Room’s Complexity?
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tom Holland opened up about his feelings towards the role he is doing:
“There’s something about that that made me really want to be the person to figure that out,” Holland said.
However, soon into filming the complex series requiring him to play multiple personalities, he asked himself
“What am I doing?”
“I was playing four people in the same scene. What am I doing?” Holland admitted, seeing why others had struggled with the meaty material.
While up for the challenge, the intensity required a mid-production break for Holland.
How Did Portraying Dissociative Identity Disorder Take a Toll?
In order to authentically depict his character Danny’s dissociative identity disorder, Holland had to tap into intense emotions scene after scene.
“It was a grueling show emotionally,” revealed creator Akiva Goldsman.
“He had the heaviest burden because he had to take it all in and embody this kind of pain, this kind of fracturing, and then live in it and live it on a television schedule and 130 days. It was a grueling show emotionally,” Goldsman stated.
Holland confirmed the schedule and subject matter overwhelmed him.
“I disguise nerves and stress with comedy, that’s what I do,” he said. “And then eventually you get to that point where you sort of hit a wall.”
Taking a week off to “reset”, Holland was careful not to push himself past the brink. He learned to recognize his limits during the demanding shoot.
Also Read: One of the Most Infamous Tom Holland Movie’s Sequel Script is Already Completed
What Did Tom Holland Learn From This Transformative Project?
While playing Danny Sullivan tested Holland’s capabilities, it also taught him invaluable lessons about the level of commitment required for such a complex character.
“I’ve never done anything like this before. I got so used to the Marvel machine and the safety blanket of Spider-Man, feeling like I was protected. So, doing something like this was incredibly scary, but because it was so scary, it was so fulfilling and so rewarding,” Holland reflected.
Stepping outside his comfort zone expanded Holland’s range and unlocked new confidence.
“Going forward, if there’s something that I feel like I can’t do, I want to do that one. Playing a sort of stupid English doofus is not what I want to do because that’s my life, right?” he quipped.
Through the grueling yet rewarding experience of becoming Danny Sullivan and his fractured inner world, Tom Holland gained greater knowledge of his craft and his own resilience. What once seemed impossible now feels within his grasp. While David Fincher and Leonardo DiCaprio couldn’t crack The Crowded Room, Holland dug deep enough to bring the complex character compellingly to screen.
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