The Heartbreaking Scene That Made Jesse Eisenberg Cry

Jesse Eisenberg recently opened up about the emotional struggle he experienced while filming the 2015 drama The End of the Tour. In a video for GQ, the actor shared that he was "glad" when the movie wrapped up, as it had a significant impact on his mental health. Directed by James Ponsoldt, the film features Eisenberg as a fictional version of writer David Lipsky, who reflects on his time interviewing David Foster Wallace (played by Jason Segel) after Wallace's death.

Eisenberg explained that his character, Lipsky, was a deeply envious person, and the role was emotionally challenging for him. He described how playing someone who was interviewing a writer he envied made him feel uncomfortable and personally affected. Although Eisenberg wasn't seeking sympathy, he admitted that the role hit him on a very personal level.

He couldn’t fully understand why he reacted so strongly to the material, but he speculated it might have been related to something happening in his own career at the time. The intense emotions even led to him crying uncontrollably during scenes, which prompted the director to ask him to stop. Despite trying to control it, Eisenberg couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, even in ways he couldn’t explain, not even to a therapist—whom he wasn't seeing at the time.

The actor also noted that the tight budget and schedule of the film contributed to the strain. With long hours and little room for breaks, he and Segel were constantly immersed in their characters, which felt unhealthy for Eisenberg. Although it was an incredibly creatively inspiring experience, he was relieved when the film was finally completed.

Despite the emotional toll, Eisenberg expressed that The End of the Tour remains one of his favorite films. He highlighted the strong connections he made with James Ponsoldt and Jason Segel, calling their collaboration one of the highlights of his life. He emphasized that they truly felt like they were working as a team throughout the process.