Barry Jenkins, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker, opened up about his struggles with self-worth in a recent interview on NPR’s “Wild Card with Rachel Martin.” Despite his success, including winning the Best Picture Oscar for “Moonlight” and directing the Disney film “Mufasa: The Lion King,” Jenkins still feels the need to prove his worth.
In the interview, Jenkins referenced a quote from the book “If Beale Street Could Talk” by James Baldwin, stating, “The children had been told that they weren’t worth shit and everything around them proved it.” This quote resonates with Jenkins and fuels his drive to disprove it, constantly striving to show that he is worth more.
Jenkins attributed his self-doubt to his upbringing and the stark contrast with his current success as a filmmaker. He described feeling like he always has to prove himself and reaffirm his value, leading to a sense of inadequacy whenever he steps onto a set or enters a conversation.
Despite these struggles with self-doubt, Jenkins acknowledged that it also drives him to work harder and strive for excellence. He aims to be unshakably confident in his abilities and values, even though the inner voice of doubt may always be present.
“Mufasa: The Lion King” is currently showing in theaters, offering audiences a chance to immerse themselves in Jenkins’ storytelling prowess.
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