How Guy Pearce channelled post-divorce darkness, death and despair into his new music

AUSSIE singer-actor Guy Pearce has revealed how his marriage breakdown left him barely caring if he lived or died, drinking heavily and sobbing for hours at a time. But somehow he found his way back.

AUSSIE actor Guy Pearce has revealed the depths of despair into which he fell after the breakdown of his marriage that left him not much caring whether he lived or died.

The Emmy-winning actor split from his wife of 18 years, Melbourne psychologist Kate Mestitz in 2015 and said that things came to a head while filming in Berlin that same year, when he found himself drinking heavily, sobbing for hours at a time and wondering whether he would be better off dead.

GUY PEARCE: PLACENTA SMOOTHIE ANYONE?

GUY PEARCE ON MOTHER’S MEMORY

RICHARD ROXBURGH ON GUY PEARCE AND SIMON BAKER

“I had a little period in the middle of 2015 where I was staggering across a few busy streets in Berlin where I thought, if I get knocked down by a car, that will be an easy way out,” he said.

“I wasn’t wanting that but I think probably like Jeff Buckley when he went swimming in Wolf River that time, if a current takes me down then so be it.”

Guy Pearce’s split from wife of 18 years Kate Mestitz left him in the depths of despair. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Pearce, best known for acclaimed movies such as Memento, Prometheus and The King’s Speech, as well as the Melbourne-shot Jack Irish detective series, said he found salvation through his music.

Having admitted to smoking too much marijuana in the past, he quit drinking and channelled his grief into his most personal songs yet, which he will share with the world in July when he releases his second album, The Nomad.

The former Neighbours star said that writing the songs helped him discover his own identity again outside of his marriage and although the creative process was painful, helped him to come to terms with the divorce.

“I was literally sitting there for hours at night, drinking, playing chords over and over and crying and crying — it was really pathetic,” he said.

“I was broken, I was at a loss and I was really a mess. And I eventually thought ‘OK, there’s some material in here — why don’t I try to be mature and actually focus this and contain some of it so it’s listenable’.”

Guy Pearce and Carice van Houten with their new son Monte. Picture: Twitter/Guy Pearce

Pearce has found love again with Dutch Game Of Thrones actor Carice Van Houten, with whom he has a son, Monte, and the actor-singer will return to Australia to play songs from the new album at one show only at the Arts Centre on July 8.

He is also planning to direct his partner in his first feature film, Poor Boy, in Victoria later in year.

“I am glad now that I have managed to find control and get back on my feet and be responsible,” he said. “I stopped drinking a couple of years ago — and I have a little 20-month old boy and every moment I spend with him is just unbelievable.”

Geelong-raised Pearce said that although he splits his time between Amsterdam, Los Angeles and London depending on where the work is, Melbourne will always be his home and he’s trying to make sure his son is well versed in all things Australian.

Guy Peace will play songs from this deeply personal album The Nomad at a Melbourne show in July. Picture: David Gilliver

“We watched Geelong and Sydney together the other day, which sadly we lost,” he said.

“But he knows how to throw his fists in the air and say ‘Go Cats’ or put his thumbs up and say ‘good on yer’. So I am doing as much Ockerfying as I possibly can but it’s really about making sure his English is up to scratch as he is surrounded by everyone else speaking Dutch. I’m doing what I can to keep him being a little Aussie boy.”

Guy Pearce, Arts Centre Playhouse, July 8. Tickets on sale Monday.

If you or somebody you know needs help, contact Beyondblue here or on 1300 22 46 36 or Lifeline here or on 13 11 14.