Superbad fame led Michael Cera in a crisis

In a recent interview with The Guardian, Michael Cera expressed feelings of being overwhelmed by the fame that led to him being uncomfortable in his own skin and paranoia.

Cera talked about his experience after receiving a lot of fame and attention for playing his character Evan in Superbad. “I didn’t know how to handle walking down the street. Fame makes you very uncomfortable in your own skin, and makes you paranoid and weird.”

He explained that with fame he was able to meet many types of people both good and bad. Particularly the “bad energies” gave him a difficult time. Drunk people would be a classic example,” he says. “You know, if people are drunk, and they recognize you, and they’re very enthusiastic, but it can be kind of toxic too. When you’re a kid, people also feel they can kind of grab you – they’re not that respectful of you or your physical space.”

The Canadian Actor felt that taking bigger roles led to more unwanted attention that didn’t suit him. That involved taking a step back from commercial projects. “There was a point where I wanted to stop taking jobs that would make me more famous.” During that time he rejected a hosting role on Saturday Night Live. “I was kind of having a bit of a crisis … I was really not enjoying the level of heat.” That stress he was dealing with reached a point of even considering leaving his acting career. “I really didn’t know if I was going to keep being an actor.”

Michael Cera in Greta Gerwig Barbie movie

Michael Cera features in the new Barbie movie, making this one of the biggest commercial films for him to take part in since Superbad. He will star as the Allan doll which was created in 1964 as Ken’s best friend but was discontinued the following year. The character is “somewhat of a marginalized figure” and as Cera expressed he felt “desperate to be a part of it”.

Barbie will be released in theatres on July 21st.

Published by HOLR Magazine.