Justin Baldoni reveals the loneliness of directing 'It Ends With Us'

In a recent episode of the podcast 'How to Fail with Elizabeth Day,' Justin Baldoni opened up about his experience directing and starring in 'It Ends With Us.' The project proved particularly challenging for Baldoni as he was not only tasked with directing the film but also playing a character who experiences complex emotions, including jealousy and anger. This dual role led to significant emotional strain, particularly after a pivotal scene where his character, Ryle, discovers something that provokes a deep emotional reaction. Baldoni expressed that he had a 'near breakdown' following this scene, feeling overwhelmed by the intense emotions involved in his character's portrayal. Baldoni further shared that his feelings were compounded by his own past experiences with emotional abuse, offering insights into how his personal history might have influenced his performance. He disclosed that he had been emotionally abused by a former girlfriend during his college years, which added layers of pain to his role as Kincaid, the abusive character in the film. Additionally, the actor noted he dealt with a traumatic past involving sexual trauma in that relationship, making it difficult to separate his personal feelings from those of the character he was embodying. During the filming, Baldoni faced a unique situation where he had to uphold the responsibilities of both a director and an actor. He recounted how exhausting it was to manage the pressures from the crew while also being the focal point as an actor. He described moments of being shaken, indicating the extent of the emotional toll the project took on him. The role had become so immersive that Baldoni mentioned he continued to have vivid dreams relating to his character even long after filming had concluded. It took him several months to mentally detach from Kincaid. The public’s reception of 'It Ends With Us' also played a significant role in Baldoni's experience. He mentioned how discussing the film’s themes, particularly its exploration of domestic violence, was complicated by the attitudes displayed during promotional events. Co-star Blake Lively had come under scrutiny for her dismissive comments about the film's serious subject matter during the press tour. Baldoni's remarks highlight the emotional complexity involved in projects that tackle sensitive issues like domestic abuse, suggesting a need for deeper, more thoughtful conversations around such narratives in cinema, as well as the emotional support needed by those involved in portraying them.