Jake Gyllenhaal has given the world another reminder not to judge a book by its cover after opening up about his secret disability, which he reckons has improved his acting abilities.
As the millions of people suffering from hidden disabilities across the world will know all too well, their peers might not be able to pick up on their daily struggles, but it doesn't make them any less valid.
Gyllenhaal previously admitted that his little-publicised affliction had made him an 'easy target' for bullies as a child, but in hindsight, he believes it has also made him a much better actor.
Advert
The Hollywood hunk, 43, explained that being legally blind has actually proved to be something of a superpower in terms of his career, as he believes it has ended up making his performances that bit more memorable.
The Nightcrawler star has 20/1250 vision and was born with a lazy eye that naturally resolved.
Since he was around six-years-old, Gyllenhaal has been wearing intensive corrective lenses to aid his visual impairment, but is still registered as legally blind.
As you can imagine, his eye issues can make life a lot more problematic than usual - but overall, the Los Angeles-born actor believes it has been 'advantageous' in the entertainment world.
Although most people would consider this a massive inconvenience, he views it as more of a help than a hindrance.
Speaking about his vision struggles with The Hollywood Reporter, Gyllenhaal said: "I’ve never known anything else. When I can’t see in the morning, before I put on my glasses, it’s a place where I can be with myself."
While starring alongside Forest Whitaker and Beau Knapp in boxing blockbuster Southpaw in 2015, the actor said he removed his contacts for a poignant scene so that he could 'listen more closely'.
*Queue Gyllenhaal fans rushing back to rewatch the moment when a police officer informs his character Billy 'The Great' Hope that his wife has died to see how he fares without his trusty lenses.*
The Road House star previously discussed his disability with The Telegraph in 2017, recalling how he was teased at school while wearing bottle-deep spectacles.
He said: "I was an easy target. And I was always a sensitive kid," while admitting that he would get into scuffles in the playground with kids who made fun of him.
According to the Royal National Institute for Blind People, to be certified as severely sight impaired, AKA blind, your sight must fall within one of three categories while wearing any glasses or contact lenses that you may need.
If you have visual acuity of less than 3 / 60 with a full visual field, visual acuity between 3 / 60 and 6 / 60 with a severe reduction of field of vision, such as tunnel vision, or visual acuity of 6 / 60 or above but with a very reduced field of vision, especially if a lot of sight is missing in the lower part of the field, you might be just like Gyllenhaal.
Topics: Jake Gyllenhaal, Celebrity, Health, TV and Film
Olivia Burke