It would be safe to say that, since appearing as a fresh-faced teenager in Even Stevens, Shia LaBeouf has been in and out of controversy. The troubled actor, who has had made headlines for his off-screen antics more than his on-screen performances, has recently spent a spell in rehab and appears to be on the right path once more.
In an eye-opening interview with Esquire last year, LaBeouf gave us an insight into the psyche of one of the most flawed-but-talented actors of a generation. Whether it's his run-ins with the law, his complex relationship with Kanye West or a horrendous incident that happened in his childhood and shaped the way he saw the world, LaBeouf was an open book.
The actor spoke candidly about his verbal abuse of two police officers in Savannah, Georgia, saying: "What went on in Georgia was mortifying," the Transformers actor admitted. "White privilege and desperation and disaster. It came from a place of self-centered delusion. It was me trying to absolve myself of guilt for getting arrested. I f***ed up."
"I've got to look at my failures in the face for a while. I need to take ownership of my shit and clean up my side of the street a bit before I can go out there and work again, so I'm trying to stay creative and learn from my mistakes," he said.
While LaBeouf is now happy to admit his mistakes, he also opened up about an incident that occurred during his childhood that he believes has led to his erratic behaviour. The actor explains that he once heard his mother being sexually assaulted when he was just 10-years-old. "I froze," he said. "The man ran out, and my mom ran after him. Dave [a biker who lived next door] came running over. I remember he had a crossbow."
"When I got to rehab last year, they said I had PTSD. The first time I got arrested with a real charge, it stemmed from the same s**t.
"Some guy bumped into my mother's car with his car in a parking lot, and my head went right to 'You need to avenge your mother!' So I went after the dude with a knife [but didn't use it]... I've always thought somebody was coming in. My whole life."
However, despite the horrendous incidents that have dogged his past, Shia seems to have turned a corner and is back to doing what he does best: making movies.
The actor is currently working on a new biopic- called Honey Boy after his childhood nickname - in which he plays his own father. The plot follows a child star as he attempts to deal with his "law-breaking, alcohol-abusing" father, James Lort.
And, if the recent images of Shia on set are anything to go by, he still remains a staunch fan of method acting. The actor looks completely unrecognisable with a partially balding wig of thin blonde hair, full sideburns, circular glasses and grubby denim clothing. Understandably, Twitter was left SHOOK by the images:
Hopefully, this movie signals a change in the road for Shia. While he has had his troubles, he still remains a wonderfully gifted actor and it would be great to see him back on the big screen.
