Belinda Palmada
Wentworth Miller was once one of the most recognisable faces on TV.
As the star of the hit drama Prison Break, the actor captivated millions playing Michael Scofield, the engineer who covered his torso in fake tattoos to break his brother out of death row.
Behind his Hollywood peak, Miller built a $US4m ($A6m) net worth while quietly selling off $US2.8m ($A4.25m) in LA real estate holdings.
The 54-year-old actor’s fortune allowed him to walk away from mainstream Hollywood.
Stepping out of the spotlight, Miller reshaped his life around mental health advocacy, neurodiversity, and creative projects.
Decision to step back
Miller’s transformation began publicly in August 2013, when he came out as gay in an open letter on the GLAAD website.
He declined an invitation to the Saint Petersburg International Film Festival in protest over Russia’s anti-LGBTQ+ propaganda laws.
“I am deeply troubled by the current attitude toward and treatment of gay men and women by the Russian government,” he said.
“The situation is in no way acceptable, and I cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly”.
Later that year, speaking at a Human Rights Campaign dinner, the star admitted he spent years terrified that revealing his sexuality would destroy his career.
He revealed he had struggled with depression and anxiety since childhood and first attempted suicide as a teenager.
His personal stand took a definitive turn in November 2020, when Miller announced he no longer wants “to play straight characters.”
The decision effectively shut the door on any future seasons of Prison Break.
“I’m out. Of PB. Officially,” Miller shared on social media.
“Not because of static on social media. I just don’t want to play straight characters. Their stories have been told.”
Addressing fans hoping for another revival, he added: “If you were a fan of the show, hoping for additional seasons … I understand this is disappointing. I’m sorry”.
Diagnosis at 48
In July 2021, Miller revealed he had been diagnosed with autism at 48.
Calling the adult diagnosis “a shock but not a surprise”, the Princeton graduate said he was re-examining five decades of lived experience through a new lens.
“Being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I’ve achieved,” Miller shared.
He also thanked those who “consciously or unconsciously gave me that extra bit of grace and space over the years” to move through the world comfortably.
Coping in the public eye
The intense pressures of fame broke into the open in 2016 when a cruel meme mocking his weight gain circulated online.
Rather than ignoring the online bullying, Miller addressed the 2010 photograph directly.
He explained that at the time the picture was taken, he was semi-retired, deeply suicidal, and turning to food for comfort.
His honesty resonated around the world, leading mental health charity Active Minds to name him an ambassador later that year.
While he no longer chases Hollywood blockbusters, Miller hasn’t completely abandoned screenwriting or acting.
Following Prison Break, he scored guest roles on Law & Order: SVU and House, and played soldier Chris Redfield in the $US300.2m ($A445m) box-office hit Resident Evil: Afterlife.
He also earned a cult following as Leonard Snart (Captain Cold) in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow, reuniting on screen with his Prison Break co-star Dominic Purcell.
Behind the camera, Miller wrote the acclaimed 2013 psychological thriller Stoker under a pseudonym.
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Don’t go it alone. Please reach out for help.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 or kidshelpline.com.au
Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au
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