Ryan Reynolds shares why having anxiety helped him as a father
Note: This article contains discussion of anxiety.
Ryan Reynolds has shared why his anxiety helped him as a father, saying it helps him to show “compassion.”
The Deadpool and Green Lantern star shares four children with his wife Blake Lively, with the pair welcoming their youngest child in February 2023.
Reynolds will soon be seen on the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine, and spoke candidly with co-star Hugh Jackman in an interview with PEOPLE about his approach to parenting, with the star sharing the clip on his Instagram account.
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“Oh mate, you’ve been pretty open with your anxiety struggles, which I really applaud you for,” noted Jackman, before he asked: “Do you find being a dad makes it better or worse?”
“I think it makes it better,” replied Reynolds. “Your focus is less on yourself and more on your kids. I know you know that too. Now I love that I have anxiety, because when I see my kids experiencing some of that, which is probably genetic, I know how to address it in a way that is compassionate.
“I know how to address it in a way that actually allows them to feel seen in that anxiety. And I know that I can’t just fix it. I can communicate all that stuff to them, so I’m always kind of grateful for it.”
Reynolds, who was recently seen in IF, also spoke about how his anxiety feeds into his career, explaining: “My job benefits greatly from that. People who have anxiety are constantly thinking into the future.
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“You’re constantly thinking: ‘What if this happens? What if that happens?’ You’re always telling yourself stories. So when we’re shooting movies, I’m also sitting in the audience as its harshest critic. Anxiety creates that ecosystem of awareness.”
Jackman, who is reprising his role as Wolverine in the upcoming MCU film, commended Reynolds for his openness, saying: “ “I really applaud you for it. It takes courage to talk about it. It’s helped a lot of people. A lot of people come up to me talking about you and say: ‘I can now tell my son or daughter. It’s helped me.”’
Deadpool and Deadpool 2 are streaming on Disney+. Deadpool & Wolverine opens in cinemas on July 26.
If you've been affected by the issues raised in this story, organisations who can offer support include the NHS, Samaritans on 116 123 or Mind on 0300 123 3393. Readers in the US are encouraged to visit mentalhealth.gov.
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