'American Crime Story' Cast Cuba Gooding Jr. Says OJ Simpson Role Mentally Broke Him
Cuba Gooding, Jr.'s role in the new anthology series "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson" broke him mentally, the lead actor revealed.
When "American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson" premiered this week in the United States, the series was met with record ratings and great reviews. Cuba Gooding, Jr. should be overjoyed with the viewers' response, but the effort he poured into his role left a bad effect on his body, according to the Independent.
In an interview with Esquire, Gooding said portraying O.J. Simpson in "American Crime Story" affected his voice and his mental state as well. He was so immersed in his role that it took him a month to snap out of it, the report relays.
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"It took me a month to get out of the mindset of O.J. It's funny what we have to do as actors to understand something," Gooding told Esquire. "Our body goes along with it. Once you put yourself in it, your body believes it."
Gooding said his voice became so hoarse that he had to seek medical help for it. However, the doctor said there was nothing wrong with his vocal chords, so the actor thought it may have been the effect of all his internalization for his role in the show.
Meanwhile, Gooding's mother thinks the series will give Simpson redemption when he gets to see it. Gooding, however, said he just tries not to think about it.
The new anthology series tells the story of what was seen as the most publicized criminal trial in the country's history. The 10-episode series features the murder trial of Simpson, an ex-football star who was accused of killing his ex-wife and her friend in 1994, the report details.
"American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson" premiered in the United States on Feb. 2 on FX. It is scheduled to air in the United Kingdom on Feb. 15 on BBC2.
