Michael B. Jordan admits the role of Killmonger in Black Panther took a toll on his mental health. While speaking to Oprah during the taping of "SuperSoul Conversations" TV specials, Jordan explained why he needed to unpack a lot after shooting the film due to isolating himself in preparation for the role.
"I went to therapy, I started talking to people, starting unpacking a little bit,” he said.
“I spent a lot of time alone,” he said. “I figured Erik, his childhood growing up was pretty lonely. He didn’t have a lot of people he could talk to about this place called Wakanda that didn’t exist.”
Jordan explained how the role of Killmonger required him to bring out the “pain and rage and all those emotions” that Killmonger represents "from being black and brown here in America." Taking on the role ultimately bled into his personal life. "When it was all over, I think just being in that kind of mind state … it caught up with me," he said.
Adding, "It was a little tough for me at first... Readjusting to people caring about me, getting that love that I shut out... shut out love, I didn't want love. I wanted to be in this lonely place as long as I could."
He admitted that seeking therapy helped him out a lot even though mental health treatment is often frowned up among men.
“Your mind is so powerful. Your mind will get your body past a threshold that it would have given up on way before,” Jordan said. “Honestly, therapy, just talking to somebody just helped me out a lot. As a man, you get a lot of slack for it. … I don’t really subscribe to that. Everyone needs to unpack and talk.”
