Stephen Graham has revealed his battle with ‘really bad’ depression once had him attempt suicide.
The Line Of Duty actor has candidly spoken about his mental health battle, with the 46-year-old explaining it once got so bad he attempted to take his own life.
He explained it was ‘good fortune’ that meant his attempt – which was when he was younger – failed and saved him from killing himself.
Stephen, who has starred in hits such as Boardwalk Empire and Gangs of New York and is in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman, shared in an interview with The Sunday Times: ‘In my early twenties, I suffered from really bad depression and tried to take my own life once. Thankfully, the rope snapped and I’m here today.
‘But I know the loneliness, isolation and feeling you can’t cope in the world.’
He was speaking about his role in The Virtues, which saw the teetotal actor portray an alchoholic.
Drawing upon what he’s seen in portraying the character of Joseph, he said: ‘I have friends who suffer too — I really wanted to capture as honestly as possible the decision to take that first drink. Just press the button and go.’
Speaking about his upbringing, the star, who grew up in Kirkby in England, also insisted he feels the voice of Britain’s working-class community is no longer heard on TV.
Stephen explained: ‘In the 1980s, television was truthful to the working-class voice.
‘When Scully was on, you also had Boys from the Blackstuff, Minder, GBH, even Grange Hill was proper gritty – never making fun of, and always being a part of, the working class. Now that voice has gone.’
Stephen has played a variety of roles – and nationalities – during his acting career, however he revealed that because his dyslexia is so severe, he relies on his wife, Hannah Walters, to read his scripts and help him decide which opportunities he should accept.
He said: ‘I’m dyslexic so I struggle. My missus actually reads the script and says whether or not I’m doing it. She’s made some good choices.
‘I have to read it and read it and read it, then make it look like it’s the first time I’m saying it.’
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