The star actor of Diary of a Wimpy Kid has opened up about the negative impact that the role had on his life.
Getting a huge role very early in your acting career can be both a blessing and a curse.
Of course, there's the blessing side, which is the large public success and security that comes with a big role.
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The problem, of course, is that you may well forever be attached to that role, like it or not, and breaking away from it can be hugely difficult.
Not only that, but being in the public eye to such a degree at a young age can have a big impact on your wellbeing.
Charlie Wright was cast as Rodrick in a film adaptation of the book series Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and has revealed exactly this in a video posted to TikTok.
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Wright auditioned for the role in 2016 shortly after filming Ingrid Goes West with Aubrey Plaza.
But while landing the role was initially a career boost, Wright revealed it had proven difficult for him.
The actor revealed that as a result of him playing Rodrick, the elder brother of Greg Heffley, the main character in the 2017 adaptation Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul.
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Rodrick frequently acts as an antagonist to Greg, playing tricks on him and not being nice to his younger brother.
Wright revealed that the casting for the movie was not publicly announced until after filming was complete.
He said: "Let's just say when the world found out I was playing Rodrick, they weren't very happy, but by then it was too late. The movie was finished."
After the movie was released, two further instalments which had been planned, were cancelled.
Wright described how he became a 'worldwide meme' in the fallout of the film.
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While the actor said he wasn't bothered by the meme, he also experienced racist abuse towards his Japanese heritage, as well as death threats.
He said: “I went through a depressive episode for almost 3 years and it kind of ruined my acting career. But I'm still here, I'm still alive, and to be hoenst I never really liked acting."
He added: “To have people saying they wished I was dead just for doing my job was kinda crazy… no one was really there to guide me through it or help me.”
Now, Wright said that he is throwing himself into his YouTube channel, something he had enjoyed.
Topics: Celebrity, Film and TV, Mental Health, Social Media, US News, TikTok