Finn Wolfhard has become a household name with his role of Mike Wheeler, in the superhit series Stranger Things. The actor has been associated with the top-rated show for eight years including four seasons. The fifth season of the series is highly awaited by millions of fans. The actor attained worldwide fame at a very young stage with the series, but it also affected his health.
Wolfhard revealed about suffering panic attacks over the past years. These attacks are due to the mental and emotional stress of the young actor, as the show has reached heights of popularity. However, he found assistance from his co-stars to handle the situation.
Finn Wolfhard opens up on dealing with panic attacks on Stranger Things sets
Finn Wolfhard has been an integral part of science fiction horror drama television series for more than eight years. He is widely appreciated for his acting and the nuances attached to his role. However, the extreme exposure to stardom and media has led to a severe impact on his health. He shared in an interview with GQ, about experiencing panic attacks since the show has gained popularity.
He discussed the effect of panic attacks on his life and how his co-stars help him out when he is stressed.
The actor shared with the publication about the moment, when he had a panic attack while filming a scene with co-stars Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin) and Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas). All of them stopped the shoot and surrounded their friend. The filming paused, and all three of them were given some time. Matarazzo and McLaughlin helped Wolfhard in calming down. They hugged him until the panic attack stopped.
The actor was deeply touched by their action and said their friendship would keep them bonded even after the series ends. He said,
“Gaten and Caleb, we’re for life. Bonded for life. They were like, ‘Dude, we’re the only people that know what it’s really like.’”
The star cast includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Dacre Montgomery, Sean Astin, Paul Reiser, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson and Brett Gelman.
Also read- Stranger Things Star Finn Wolfhard Is All Set To Direct His First Feature Film
Other Actors who helped Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard during panic attacks
Apart from his co-stars Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin, there were other people, who also helped the actor with the panic attack. They were much older than him and supported him by sharing their life experiences. The two actors were Jesse Eisenberg and Stranger Things co-star, Winona Ryder.
Winona Ryder was also a child in the 1990s like him, she understood the pressure attached to growing up in the public eye. Wolfhard genuinely appreciated her unique perspective of the star about the industry. Stranger Things actor recalled,
“She dated Dave Grohl and MCA from Beastie Boys and all these people. I could ask her what it was like knowing Kurt Cobain, and she tells me everything. It’s insane.”
Another buddy of Finn Wolfhard’s is actor-director Jesse Eisenberg. The Social Network star directed Wolfhard in When You Finish Saving the World. Wolfhard told GQ,
“I’ve always been what my mom calls a soft boy.”
Eisenberg shared that he is more aware of his emotions than his prior generations. He added,
“That said, I think he’s incredibly unusual.”
Wolfhard recalled he reached out to the actor early in 2023 when he was experiencing anxiousness. He wanted to know if Eisenberg experienced something similar. He shared,
“[Eisenberg] was like, ‘Have you met me? I’m the most nervous guy in the entire world.’”
Stranger Things Season 5 will air in 2024, but the dates are yet to be announced. All fours seasons are streaming on Netflix.
Source- GQ
