Whether it’s Anthony Hopkins’ empathetic portrayal of dementia in “The Father” or Kirsten Dunst’s depiction of existential depression in “Melancholia,” mental illness can make a powerful cinematic subject. And while plenty of shows and movies have been criticized for their reductive, inaccurate, or downright insulting representations of disability and mental illness (“Psycho” and “Shutter Island,” we’re looking at you), many performances—like the ones on this list—get this important subject right and prove how it’s done.
- Respectful and honest treatment: This involves listening to experts and those with lived experiences to ensure the depiction helps, rather than harms, the individuals and communities represented. Actors should try and avoid reductive moments such as the highly memeable “I am a surgeon” scene from ABC’s “The Good Doctor,” which demonstrates how lack of research can lead to unrealistic and potentially harmful portrayals.
- Avoiding harmful stereotypes: Depictions that rely on damaging stereotypes, such as on “Criminal Minds” and in M. Night Shyamalan’s “Split,” often make the misinformed case that people with mental illness are violent and dangerous—despite the fact that these individuals are more likely to be the victims of violence than the general population is. These types of “violent and dangerous” portrayals can “contribute to harmful stereotypes about mental illness,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
- Nuance and complexity: Good performances recognize that mental illnesses are complex and affect individuals differently, showing the full humanity of characters—not just their diagnosis. “When mental health experiences are depicted in nuanced and hopeful ways in storytelling, it promotes help-seeking, decreases social shame, and provides comfort to those who are struggling,” wrote Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, chief medical officer of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “It’s a win for all when stories provide sophisticated, helpful, safe content.”
- Promoting understanding and reducing stigma: Creativity and mental illness often go hand in hand, so it’s no surprise that film and TV are full of representations of something that affects 23.1% of adult viewers directly and significantly more indirectly. Strong performances can be powerful tools for education and destigmatization—and are ultimately far more engaging for doing so.
Actors and Mental Illness: Advice, Challenges, and Support Depression in film and TV
There’s no shortage of films and shows that tackle the difficult subject of depression, but there are certainly exceptional examples, such as:
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“Melancholia” (2011, dir. Lars Von Trier): In this sci-fi drama about the literal end of the world, Dunst captures the subtle, despondent numbness of experiencing life through major depressive disorder in her portrayal of melancholic bride Justine.
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“The Babadook” (2014, dir. Jennifer Kent): Essie Davis expertly depicts Amelia’s simultaneous love for and resentment of her son, Sam, as the monster inside deteriorates her mind and eventually gets her to surrender to the depths of her despair.
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“Aftersun” (2022, dir. Charlotte Wells): Wells’ semi-autobiographical debut is a heartbreaking exploration of a father struggling with depression while on vacation with his prepubescent daughter. Paul Mescal stuns as the father, Calum, in an Oscar-nominated performance that Leigh Singer called “a singular blend of brooding masculinity underpinned by aching vulnerability.”
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“Normal People” (2020): In this BBC romantic psychological drama miniseries, Mescal once again impressively demonstrates his ability to portray the raw emotions of mental illness. As Connell, Mescal encapsulates the physical manifestations of depression, “like how he is often completely drained of energy during his depressive spells, struggling to even make eye contact,” according to Kelly Martinez.
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“The Skeleton Twins” (2014, dir. Craig Johnson): Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig play Milo and Maggie, a pair of suicidal twins who are trying to help one another push through the harsh realities of depression. The comedians’ performances mirror a realistic aspect of suffering through this mental illness: Oftentimes, it’s the goofy (and dark) jokes about this vulnerability that feel so special, raw, and real.
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“Little Miss Sunshine” (2006, dirs. Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton): This comedy-drama sets its eye on depicting the sometimes funny, often tragic reality of living with depression. The performances, especially Alan Arkin as Edwin, Steve Carell as Frank, and Abigail Breslin as Olive, make this film a modern classic.
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“BoJack Horseman” (2014–2020): This animated TV show explores characters’ deep-seated traumas through a mixture of comedy and drama. As BoJack, Will Arnett easily vacillates between the character’s cynical nihilism and moments of raw vulnerability with ease.
Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in movies
Movies that represent Alzheimer’s and dementia with nuance and sensitivity include:
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“The Father” (2020, dir. Florian Zeller): Hopkins as the titular aging father stuns in this film, immersing the audience in his character’s dementia. The film mirrors the character’s mental state through its narrative structure, demonstrating the wild fluctuations in emotion that often come with this deteriorating condition.
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“Still Alice” (2014, dirs. Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland): In this devastating drama, Julianne Moore’s protagonist must deal with the debilitating reality of living with Alzheimer’s disease. Moore portrays Alzheimer’s with convincing honesty that Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers called “alive with ferocity and feeling and committed to truth.”
Schizophrenia and psychosis onscreen
These films challenge stereotypes about the seemingly more extreme manifestations of mental illness, such as schizophrenia and psychosis:
- “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975, dir. Miloš Forman): Chief (played with a quiet honesty by Will Sampson) and his many compatriots under Nurse Ratched’s care aren’t played as inherently irrational or even dangerous; instead, they are victims of a system that fails to adequately treat their needs.
- “A Beautiful Mind” (2001, dir. Ron Howard): Although it has been criticized for its overly broad portrayal of savant syndrome, fully fledged hallucinations, and “recovery” from chronic mental illness, the film’s good outweighs the not-so-good. Russell Crowe’s performance as John Nash Jr. highlights that anyone can suffer from a mental illness as potentially debilitating as schizophrenia and still live a good life. The film “takes you inside the mind of someone battling to separate reality from delusion,” wrote Dr. Xavier Amador, director of NAMI’s Center for Research, Education and Practice. “The positive impact of ‘A Beautiful Mind’ for people with severe and persistent brain disorders, and for society as a whole, will go far beyond what the filmmakers could ever have imagined.”