British actor Andrew Garfield revealed he contracted meningitis when was born and it could have killed him or left him physically disabled.
Andrew Garfield contracted meningitis after he was born.
The 34-year-old actor is currently starring in Andy Serkis' directorial debut 'Breathe' as Robert Cavendish - who was diagnosed with polio and left paralysed by the illness - and when filming the movie he couldn't help but think what his life would have been like if the illness had left him with disabilities.
Speaking to The I Paper, Garfield said: ''Something I can share which is interesting, although it may be a bit tenuous to some people reading this, is that soon after I was born I contracted a strand of meningitis called coxsackie, which is almost a funny word but not a funny experience apparently. It could have killed me, or meant that I had severe mental or physical disabilities for the rest of my life. Some people might not agree, but I believe that our birth story, what happens in the womb, when we come out, the environment we come into, whatever complications at birth leave an imprint on the child. So I do believe that there is some innate knowledge of that experience in me somewhere. Some people may scoff at that.''
The film stars Garfield as Robin who, despite being given only three months to live after being paralysed from the neck down by polio at age 28, devoted his life to campaigning for disabled rights until he died at the age of 64.
'Breathe' also stars 'The Crown' actress Claire Foy as his wife Diana and it was produced by Robin's real life son Jonathan Cavendish, who runs The Imaginarium Studios production company with Serkis.
Garfield also revealed he thinks ''feelings are rather important'' and they can be dangerous is not spoken about.
He said: ''I think it's so easy for us to fall back into what conventional wisdom tells us, which is not to feel or not to express your feelings or not to be award of your feelings, they are just feelings. Well, no, I think feelings are rather important, and if they aren't expressed that's when dangerous stuff occurs.''
With the 61st Grammy Awards fast approaching, we have revised the long list of nominees once again and think we've made up our mind about who will be...
After a 21-year gap between albums and a full 19-year break as a band, Sleeper seem at last to be back in earnest.
Having announced her debut album 'When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?', Billie Eilish unveils a sinister video for her new single 'Bury a...
Imagine Dragons have now unveiled the official video for their single 'Bad Liar', following their recent animated lyric video.
Brit Award-nominated Tom Walker unveils the video for his newest single 'Just You and I' taken from his debut studio album 'What a Time To Be Alive'.
Stalker Miller have seen a will and determination come to fruition with the release of their debut album 'Homegrown By Joan'.
While this biopic has the standard sumptuous production values of a British period drama, it's...
Robin Cavendish seems to have everything. He is handsome, educated, extraordinarily intelligent and has a...
Based on an astounding true story, this battlefield drama mixes warm emotion with intense action...
Faith is a topic Martin Scorsese can't quite shake, courting controversy with complex films like...
Father Sebastião Rodrigues (Andrew Garfield) and Father Francisco Garrpe (Adam Driver) are Portuguese Jesuit priests...
In 1919 Desmond Doss was born, he lived a quiet life and always wanted to...
This harrowing morality play is timely and riveting, but never remotely subtle. The setting is...
Dennis Nash is a struggling single father whose life is turned upside down when he's...
As with the too-early franchise reboot in 2012, this sequel struggles to balance the demands...
Peter Parker is facing a period of deep confusion in every aspect of his life....