“It’s very hard for me”: James Spader’s Mental Disorder Explains Why He’s So Damn Good in The Blacklist

SUMMARY

• The Blacklist wouldn't have been so revered without James Spader's brilliant performance as Raymond "Red" Reddington.
• Spader admitted that his obsessive compulsive disorder made him fixated on attention to detail helping his performance.
• Spader's co-star William Shatner revealed how his OCD posed a problem for him while working on Boston Legal.

Actor James Spader gained critical acclaim for his role as Raymond “Red” Reddington in the NBC crime-drama series The Blacklist. In the series, Spader played an eccentric former criminal turned FBI informant. The character’s idiosyncracies and eccentricities are a part of his charm and make the series appealing as a whole.

James Spader played Raymond “Red” Reddington in The Blacklist (Credit: NBC).

During an interview, Spader talked about how he crafted the character of Red. He revealed that the mental disorder that affected his personality was tied to his portrayal of the eccentric criminal. As a result, it is no surprise that the character is so irreverent and memorable. Here is how James Spader’s disorder helped him in his role in The Blackist.

James Spader used his OCD to play Red in The Blacklist

The Blacklist ran for ten seasons with James Spader playing Raymond “Red” Reddington throughout its entirety. Spader played an eccentric character who is equal parts dangerous and mysterious. During an interview with Rolling Stone, Spader revealed how prepared to portray the complex role.

The Blacklist star James Spader deals with OCD in real life (Credit: NBC).

Spader admitted that he has very strong obsessive-compulsive issues. As a result, he relied upon a routine to keep himself going and remained very particular about certain things. He said:

It’s very hard for me, you know? It makes you very addictive in behavior, because routine and ritual become entrenched.

Spader added that his OCD made his personal difficult but was of immense help during his professional work, especially when playing characters like Red.

The actor revealed that his OCD makes him obsessive and fixated on details, which is one similarity he shares with his character. Moreover, the intense oddball energy Spader channelizes for the role and his alleged eidetic memory likely also stems from this disorder.

James Spader’s OCD led to one habit the actor found hard to forego on Boston Legal

While Spader showcased his acting prowess with The Blacklist, the actor became a household name with his stint on Boston Legal. In the spin-off series, Spader played lawyer Alan Shore and won multiple Emmys for his performance.

James Spader’s OCD became an issue on Boston Legal (Credit: ABC).

However, Spader’s co-star in the series William Shatner revealed that Spader’s OCD led to one disgusting habit the actor simply could not quit while working on the acclaimed drama. Shatner stated that Spader couldn’t watch people eating on set.

Our craft-service table was located near the stage entrance, so he had to avoid walking by and watching people licking their fingers or spreading butter on a bagel.

Shatner made the above statement about Spader’s problem with watching people eat on set and admitted to poking fun at his co-star for the same.

Ultimately, it is clear that Spader’s obsessive-compulsive issues are a phenomenal asset that bolsters his acting performances. However, the disorder also leads to some issues in the actor’s personal life and balances things out hopefully in a good way.

The Blacklist is streaming on Netflix.

Written by Pratik Handore

Articles Published: 1115

Pratik is a writer at FandomWire, with a content writing experience of five years. Although he has a Bachelors in Hospitality, his fascination with all things pop culture led him to writing articles on a variety of topics ranging from latest streaming releases to unheard movie trivia. When not writing, you can find him reading manga, or watching classic TV shows.