I was raised in New York in a lower middle-class household and was instilled with a strong sense of responsibility by my mother to succeed. My mother originated from a small town in Scotland and emphasized the importance of education as a means to improve one’s circumstances. I dedicated myself to excelling academically and also had a talent for sports, which led me to become head boy. Though some may view this as sucking up, it was not my intention.
Had I successfully joined my school’s choir, my life could have taken a different path. After third grade, I attended Grace Church school, a church school in New York. My friends assured me that everyone gets in and they even pay you and give you big checks like the ones they give out at golf tournaments. I auditioned but was not selected. This was a pivotal moment for me. I decided to let go of my passion for choir and music and pursue acting instead.
John, the son of JFK, was in my class during our first year of high school. Our school organized a trip to the White House, possibly during Gerald Ford’s presidency. During the tour, the guide mentioned that we had a distinguished guest with us, the son of a previous president, but my classmates and I were unaware and nonchalantly responded, “What are you talking about?” We made sure to protect him.
As the middle child, I learned how to be a peacemaker. I enjoy bringing people together, which is a valuable quality for a person, but not always suitable for an actor. I have always been at ease with observation, which has helped in my writing later on, but as an actor, it is important to tap into the reactive and spontaneous parts of the mind.
Being the lead in The X-Files wasn’t like being a regular celebrity. It was a worldwide acknowledgment, and it was unusual. It felt significant and unlike anything before. I enjoyed certain aspects of it, but then I realized how crazy it was. Everywhere I went, the atmosphere shifted.
Celebrity status ebbs and flows. Eventually, it becomes simpler to reemerge. However, when the attention is not as strong, a sense of loss creeps in. A part of you may wonder, “Have I made a mistake? Have I failed? Am I no longer as captivating?”
It is not the case that our daughter, West, pursuing a career as an actor is fulfilling any of her parents’ aspirations. We did not push her to become an actor; it was never our intention for her to follow in the family’s footsteps. Acting is solely her own passion.
Divorce has no silver lining, except for the fact that one can overcome it. Once you move beyond it, you can maintain a friendly relationship and co-parent to the best of your abilities, but there’s no denying the difficulty of the process for all parties involved.
I continue to participate in therapy intermittently, but eventually I reached a point where I felt adequately knowledgeable about certain things. I realized that knowledge or understanding alone did not guarantee happiness. There was something else that was lacking.
I am concerned about the opinions of certain individuals and my children. Our relationship is challenging. The dynamic between a parent and child is not logical and is not solely dependent on my character. It is influenced by various intangible factors.
I will never claim to be a perfect person. I acknowledge that I am constantly growing and learning as I navigate through life.
On November 8 and 10, David Duchovny will perform at the Cadogan Hall (cadoganhall.com).
Source: theguardian.com
