In 2000, Shia LeBeouf landed the leading role as Louis Stevens on the Disney Channel hit comedy Even Stevens. He was only 14 years old at the time, and now, he’s getting real about the pressures of being in the spotlight at such a young age. The actor admitted that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
For those who don’t know, the 33-year-old was arrested and ordered to complete court ordered rehab back in 2017. It was there Shia received his diagnosis and how the idea for his upcoming film, Honey Boy. Not only did he write the movie, but he also stars in the flick as a fictionalized version of his abusive father.
“It was the first time I was told I had PTSD. I had just thought I was an alcoholic. The stuff that’s in Honey Boy comes out of these exposure therapy sessions,” the former Disney star shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “I think context is really important. And I think what Honey Boy does is it contextualizes who I was publicly, and kind of plays on it. And I’m grateful it’s effective.”
Now, the Holes star is doing better than ever. He plans to start acting again, and he reunited with his father for the first time in seven years. Shia has even made peace with the hard times brought on by his success at a young age. He is hoping to continue his comeback in Hollywood — this time showcasing his acting.
“There was no acting going on for the huge front half of my career. This was all just my personality exhibited on a camera,” he continued. “It’s the ordinary kid in the extraordinary situation over and over and over again. And that’s actually what I was — I was an ordinary kid, for real, in an extraordinary situation, for real.”
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