Why did Michael Cera want to quit acting after 'Superbad' and 'Juno'? Actor opens up about his struggle with fame
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Michael Cera, who played the nerdy Evan in 'Superbad' and the awkward Paulie Bleeker in 'Juno', has revealed that he almost quit acting after the movies made him famous. In a candid interview with The Guardian, Cera shared his experience of dealing with fame and its negative effects.
Cera was only 19 years old when 'Superbad' and 'Juno' were released in 2007. He said that fame made him uncomfortable, paranoid, and weird and that he had to deal with drunk people who would grab him and invade his personal space. "Fame makes you very uncomfortable in your own skin, and makes you paranoid and weird."
Why did Michael Cera want to quit acting?
“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,” he said before adding “I didn’t know how to respectfully establish my own boundaries.” He recalled a night at a bar where he felt like everyone was staring at him. “It was like a burning feeling the whole time. Just like everybody was so aware of me.” He wanted to stop taking roles that would make him more famous Cera admitted that he wanted to stop taking roles that would make him more famous and that he even considered quitting acting.
“There was a point where I wanted to stop taking jobs that would make me more famous,” he continued. “I was kind of having a bit of a crisis. I really didn’t know if I was going to keep being an actor," he added.
'I think I’ve gotten better'
He explained that his goal was not to become more famous but to be a working actor who could enjoy his life and his world. “I think I wanted to be a working actor who can enjoy my day-to-day life, and the world that I’ve created for myself,” he said. Cera has since continued to act in various films and TV shows, such as 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World', 'Arrested Development', 'Molly’s Game', and 'BoJack Horseman'.
He has also explored other creative fields, such as writing, directing, producing, and music. He said that he is happy with his current situation and that he has learned to deal with fame better. “I think I’ve gotten better at it over time,” he said before adding, “I think I’ve gotten more comfortable with myself.”
'I like to try different things'
Cera also talked about his upcoming role as Allan in the new 'Barbie' film directed by Greta Gerwig and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. He said that he was excited to be a part of the film and that he loved the script. “It’s such a fun movie, and I think it’s going to be really surprising for people,” he said. Cera also mentioned his other recent role in the new Black Mirror series, where he played a version of himself in a multiverse scenario.
“It was a really weird experience,” he said. “I had to play different versions of myself in different realities,” Cera further added that he enjoys taking on diverse and challenging roles and that he is always looking for new opportunities to grow as an actor. “I like to try different things and see what happens,” he said before adding “I don’t want to limit myself or get bored.”