Andrew Garfield Recalls Traumatic School Lunch Experiences, Compares Them to Waterboarding

Actor Andrew Garfield has recounted deeply unpleasant experiences with school lunches, stating that a teacher once made him sick by force-feeding him meals and that he would hide in the school toilets to avoid eating. Garfield, 43, shared these recollections during an appearance on the "Dish" podcast, hosted by Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett.

"School dinners have f****d everyone up to a certain degree I think," Garfield told the hosts. He elaborated on his aversion to corn off the cob, explaining that the experience is tied to a visceral memory of vomiting on a teacher who had forced him to eat. "I would hide in the toilet to not have to eat my primary school lunches. It was brutal," he said, likening the ordeal to "waterboarding but with like mashed potato and loose sweetcorn."

These anecdotes surfaced as Garfield has been gaining attention for his performance in the film "Artificial." The movie, directed by Luca Guadagnino, centers on the 2023 controversy surrounding OpenAI founder Sam Altman, including his firing and subsequent rehiring. Critics have praised Garfield's portrayal of Altman, with some deeming it an "unsettling" performance. The film has garnered positive reviews, with some critics calling it Guadagnino's best work in a decade and highlighting its commentary on Silicon Valley culture.

Garfield's performance in "Artificial" has positioned him as a contender for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. Production company Neon is campaigning for nominations for both Garfield and Mark Rylance in that category. Yura Borisov, who plays Ilya Sutskever in the film, is being considered for Leading Actor.

The actor revealed that he did not meet Sam Altman directly for the role, instead spending "two to three months" studying footage and listening to recordings of him. Garfield also noted that the ongoing news surrounding the potential dangers of artificial intelligence during production influenced his portrayal. He expressed a desire for the film to more strongly highlight the issues, stating, "We need to shine the light as bright as possible at the nooks and crannies of people we're giving all of our autonomy and power to."