Andrew Garfield is also like a commoner when it comes to chronic illness.
The Amazing Spider-Man actor's journey with meningitis has emerged once again during the promotional press tour of his new film, Artificial.
Garfield once shared a terrific incident of contracting the disease and how the near-death experience happened shortly after he was born.
The 34-year-old American actor was diagnosed with polio and left paralysed by the illness, and when filming the movie, he couldn’t help but think about what his life would have been like if the illness had left him with disabilities.
In his recent interview, Garfield added, "Something I can share which is interesting, although it may be a bit tenuous to some people reading this, is that soon after I was born I contracted a strain of meningitis called coxsackie, which is almost a funny word but not a funny experience apparently."
"It could have killed me, or meant that I had severe mental or physical disabilities for the rest of my life. Some people might not agree, but I believe that our birth story, what happens in the womb, when we come out, the environment we come into, whatever complications at birth leave an imprint on the child. So I do believe that there is some innate knowledge of that experience in me somewhere. Some people may scoff at that," the Hacksaw Ridge actor noted.
What is meningitis?
For the unversed, meningitis is an inflammation of the protective membranes, known as meninges, that surround your brain and spinal cord.
The most common and usually less severe form, which often improves on its own with rest.
Less common but dangerous and potentially fatal within hours if untreated. Common bacteria include Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria meningitidis.
How many Hollywood actors/actresses faced meningitis?
Apart from Andrew Garfield, several renowned Hollywood actors and actresses passed away due to meningitis, including Daveigh Chase, Samuel Monroe Jr., Denise Dowse, Nadira, Brad Pitt, Donald Sutherland, Julie Bowen, and Tiffany Thornton.
