Shia LaBeouf rang in the New Year a bit differently to most people, prompting him to eye up a major career change.
The actor, 37, has stayed out of the spotlight since his ex, musician FKA Twigs, filed a lawsuit in 2020 accusing him of physical abuse during their relationship.
He has denied the allegations and a trial is set to take place this year, but the Transformers star had announced in 2021 that he was taking a break from acting before seeking help at an inpatient facility.
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LaBeouf later bagged the lead role in Padre Pio, a film focusing on the plight of the 20th century saint Padre Pio who was marked by stigmata and struggled with 'his own personal demons' before he 'ultimately emerges to become one of Catholicism's most venerated figures.'
The star told the Catholic News Agency that shooting the film in the monastery and town where Padre Pio lived in eastern Italy was 'enormous pressure', but said it 'only served the film'.
"There are scenes where we’re running Mass and these aren’t actors in the seats," LaBeouf said. "These are God-fearing people who love Pio and you feel it, and it only adds to the stakes.
"I have never, in the course of my entire career, been on a set where the film felt easier to make.
"I think we made a beautiful film as a result of following his teachings and really leaning into the pragmatic way in which he dealt with the world … It’s probably why I love Catholicism, because it’s so nuts and bolts," he said.
The Even Stevens star threw himself into the role of the Italian friar and began to intensely study the religion - which took him on his own 'spiritual journey' and culminated in his own spiritual awakening.
On New Years Eve, Friars in the US who helped him prepare to take on the role of Pio announced that LaBeouf had converted to Catholicism and said they were 'thrilled' that he had 'fully entered the Church this through the sacrament of confirmation'.
The Capuchin Friars of the Western America Province said that the actor has 'embarked on a profound spiritual journey that has led him to embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church.'
The statement added: "His decision to fully enter the Church is a testament to his sincere desire to grow in his relationship with God and live out the Gospel values.
"As Capuchin Franciscans, we believe in the transformative power of faith and the incredible impact it can have on one’s life. We are humbled and grateful to walk alongside Shia as he takes this important step in his spiritual journey."
The Bishop of Winona–Rochester in the US state of Minnesota, Robert Barron, led the service and helped guide Labeouf on his journey to God.
But that isn't all - the The Company You Keep protagonist has reportedly now set his sights on becoming a deacon, according to his confirmation sponsor and Capuchin friar Alexander Rodriguez.
He explained he had 'just spontaneously said, ‘I want to become a deacon’ – and he still feels that way.'
A deacon performs a lot of similar roles to a priest, but does not have to take a vow of celibacy and LaBeouf could stay married to his wife, actor Mia Goth.
He is set to get the wheels in motion for his major career change 'sometime in the future'.
The actor's mother is Jewish while his father is Catholic, so he was baptised as a child and later had a Bar Mitzvah when he turned 13 years old.
Topics: Shia LaBeouf, Celebrity, TV and Film
Olivia Burke