Yahoo News Matt LeBlanc 'nearly had breakdown' after Joey failure
Playing Joey Tribbiani on Friends may have shot him to stardom, but Matt LeBlanc has revealed that the same part was a contributing factor which led him to come close to a nervous breakdown.
The popular character was given a spin-off – aptly named Joey – following the conclusion of the juggernaut sitcom.
It failed to come anywhere near the success of Friends, though, managing only two years before the axe came down.
Speaking to The Times, the actor explained that the failure of the spin-off and his feeling that the character Joey had been badly served by the writers, combined with problems in his personal life, meant that he was mentally in a difficult position for a while as he took six years off work.
"I was going through a divorce. I had a new baby. My daughter was diagnosed with health issues – she's okay now – and it was a rough time," he said.
"Work wasn't a priority. I realised the most important thing in life is your family, so I hit the reset button, focused on the things that were really important, and got through it."
On LeBlanc's return to work, he found critical and awards success with Episodes. He is also currently enjoying presenting Top Gear, after a rocky start.
The star recently shut down any suggestions that there will be a proper Friends reunion.
"I don't think anyone wants to see Joey at his colonoscopy! I think it's better for people to just leave it," LeBlanc said.
"I understand that people really want to see that reunion but that show was about a finite period in those characters' lives, between 20 and 30.
"To see what those characters are doing now, I think it's almost a case of that the book is better than the movie. Everyone's imagination of what they're doing now is better."
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