Actor and comedian Russell Brand has been on a journey of self-discovery for many years now and the path he’s apparently being led down will surprise the masses. Brand recently conducted an interview with Fox News where he revealed the status of his spirituality and it’s a testimony to the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel to save the souls of the most unlikely individuals.
According to a piece published by FaithIt:
English Actor and Comedian, Russell Brand, is certainly unique. From making an appearance on Big Brother or playing a character on “Forgetting Sarah Marshall,” to his talk show or other media performances, the 47-year-old actor has quite the resume.
Aside from acting, Russell Brand has spent a fair amount of time, effort, and money on activism around the world. From speaking out against the negative effects of pornography to his support of the Hoping Foundation, it’s clear when he speaks about a cause, he is passionate and genuinely cares.
And one such passion is Russell Brand’s spirituality. Recently, the actor spoke about this with Tucker Carlson on Fox News. In the interview, he opened up about how working in Hollywood impacted him negatively, and how he’s learned to advocate for his own wellness.
“The fact was, I just didn’t have enough self-discipline to resist the allure of stardom,” Brand went on to tell Carlson in the interview, which originally aired in the beginning of March 2023. “I fell face-first into the glitter, and I’m only just pulling myself out now.”
Brand then went on to reveal that his pursuit of spirituality is what has helped him to thrive as a person and grow as an individual.
“I’ve been blessed with a very practical spirituality,” Brand stated during his conversation with Carlson. “Like many desperate people, I need spirituality. I need God, or I cannot cope in this world. I need to believe in the best in people.”
"*" indicates required fields
Brand stated in the interview that all of the glitz and glamor of Hollywood left him feeling empty and unfulfilled. After all, the vast majority of what exists in Hollywood is all make-believe. Not just the movies, but friendships are often established strictly for networking purposes to further one’s career. Money doesn’t fill the hole in a person’s soul either.
“As much as I might enjoy the feeling of privilege and luxury…I remember what reality is. I remember that my wellness is contingent upon spiritual connection, upon certain values and principles,” Brand commented in his chat with Tucker Carlson.
Brand recognizes that while Hollywood offers many cheap thrills, these aren’t what makes a person thrive. He said, “The fact was, I just didn’t have enough self-discipline to resist the allure of stardom, and I fell face-first into the glitter, and I’m only just pulling myself out now.”
Russell Brand’s spirituality is what he says helped pull him out of a life he didn’t actually want.
“I never felt like I’m in alignment with my beliefs and principles in the way that I do right now,” the actor explained in the segment.
What does “spirituality” look like for Brand?
According to Brand, now his values “involve sacrifice and self-scrutiny about my own conduct and behavior, which is often…often falls short…and I continue to work on improving myself.”
“I believe in truth and freedom and the ability to express yourself,” he explains more thoroughly. In terms of the lack of alignment he mentioned, “When I hear rhetoric divorced from compassion, it makes me feel uneasy.”
“My worldview is formed by spiritual principals rather than political principals,” Brand explained. “My values are derived from quite simple ideas around kindness, community, acceptance, gratitude, and that I’m making no claim to practice these principals perfectly, but at least I know what I’m aspiring to.”
When it comes to the topic of politics, which seems to be front and center in our lives in our current culture, Brand said that’s never been his main motivation. In fact, he had a few thoughts to share when it comes to the divisiveness between political and moral ideas.
“I think it’s increasingly necessary that we find new ways of framing the conversation and looking into our hearts when we’re speaking. Are we being kind? Are we being loving?” Brand posited.
He then added, “Are we being the best that we can be? On whose behalf are we speaking? And what is my intention, moment to moment? Am I doing this for self-glorification?”
During the interview Brand got personal by discussing his former history with addiction, stating, “Because what I have been taught and shown is that it is impossible for a person like me to not drink and use drugs unless I have sufficient ongoing support from people that understand what it’s like to feel that drugs or alcohol, or, you know, certain behaviors are necessary in order to feel OK.”
And God’s purpose for his life is a motivating force for him. He explained, “The idea that there might be a purpose for you; that there might be something that you can become…I found this idea very engaging and very comforting.”
Brand acknowledged that God’s purpose is for all people, too, not just himself or the leaders of the world—for you, too! How are you living out that purpose?
My advice for Brand would be to start deeply investigating the truth claims made by historic Christianity. Study the Bible. Read the gospels over and over. Listen to sermons. Look into the beliefs of the early church which featured some of the greatest philosophical minds to walk the earth. We’re talking St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas among many others.
Meet with pastors from local churches and discuss the faith.
I believe all people should take this journey. Meanwhile, those of us already in Christ need to be praying daily for Brand and others like him in the world who are clearly hearing the voice of the Lord calling out to them.