Tom Holland Opens Up About the Mental Toll of Filming The Crowded Room

Tom Holland has spoken candidly about the intense challenges he faced while filming the psychological thriller The Crowded Room, describing it as the “hardest thing I’ve ever done.” The demanding role, combined with a tense on-set atmosphere and external pressures, significantly impacted his mental well-being and reinforced his commitment to sobriety.

A Demanding Role with Deep Psychological Roots

In The Crowded Room, which premiered on Apple TV+ in June 2023, Holland portrays Danny Sullivan, a character based on Billy Milligan—whose story involves dissociative identity disorder and a troubled past marked by serious accusations. The role required Holland to dive deep into complex mental health struggles, including physically and emotionally taxing scenes such as fight sequences, dance numbers, and intimate moments.

Despite his extensive experience as Spider-Man, Holland revealed that this project was uniquely challenging. Filming took place in New York City from March to September 2022, with locations like NBC Studios at 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Director Akiva Goldsman praised Holland’s dedication and three-dimensional visualization of scenes, while co-star Amanda Seyfried noted the intensity of Holland’s early filming schedule.

On-Set Tensions and Stress

Holland described the set environment as “not a very harmonious place,” marked by frequent arguments and “quite a lot of animosity”—though he clarified these tensions weren’t related to creative decisions. This difficult atmosphere added to the strain of portraying a character with complex psychological issues.

Nine months into filming, the stress culminated in a personal crisis. Holland recounted a “bit of a meltdown at home” and considered shaving his head to symbolically separate himself from his character. This experience was unlike anything he had previously encountered and highlighted the deep emotional immersion the role demanded.

Battling Social Media and Protecting Mental Health

Public scrutiny and the pressures of celebrity life intensified Holland’s struggles. He admitted that social media exacerbated his mental health challenges, leading him to delete his Instagram and Twitter accounts in August 2021 to find mental space. In an Instagram video, he shared how reading online comments could cause him to “spiral,” underscoring the harmful effects of constant digital exposure.

Holland emphasized the relentless nature of fame, stating, “It’s tough when every time you leave your front door, you are working. You’re on camera.” This lack of privacy and ongoing public evaluation added another layer to the psychological weight of his role.

Commitment to Sobriety and Self-Care

The pressures during filming strengthened Holland’s resolve to remain sober. Having quit drinking approximately a year and a half before interviews in 2023, he acknowledged that drinking would only worsen his ability to cope with the stresses he faced. “If I start drinking again now, with all this going on, it’s gonna get worse, right?” he reflected.

Following the completion of The Crowded Room, Holland announced a year-long hiatus from acting to focus on his mental health and “get back to reality.” His journey through this intense project prompted him to consult psychiatrists to better understand his character’s struggles—a process that proved enlightening for his own life.

Critical Reception and Legacy

Though the series received mixed reviews—holding a 34% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes—Holland’s performance was often singled out for praise. His willingness to tackle such a demanding role despite the personal cost has been widely recognized as a testament to his dedication and growth as an actor.

Tom Holland’s experience filming The Crowded Room shines a light on the mental health challenges actors can face when inhabiting psychologically complex roles, especially amid external pressures like public scrutiny and social media. His openness about these struggles and his commitment to well-being offer an important conversation about mental health in the entertainment industry and beyond.