Andrew Garfield and mother Lynn Garfield.Photo: Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic
Andrew Garfieldbelieves grief is not something you need to overcome.
“So I hope this grief stays with me because it’s all the unexpressed love that I didn’t get to tell her,” the Oscar nominee continued. “And I told her every day. We all told her every day, she was the best of us.”
Soon after losing his mother, Garfield began production on his new filmTick, Tick…Boom!,out now onNetflix.
In the musical, also starringVanessa Hudgens, Garfield playsJonathan Larson— creator of the iconic Broadway showRent— who died unexpectedly at the age of 35 on the night ofRent’sfirst off-Broadway preview in 1996.
On Monday night, Garfield drew some parallels between his mother Lynn and Larson, saying, “they were warriors for art.”
“Both John and my mother were artists,” he explained. “And they were warriors for art. They knew the power of art, and they knew the power of leaving the world in a slightly more beautiful state than when they found it.”
He also spoke of Larson and his legacy, which is explored in the new film.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“He was taken far too soon,” theSocial Networkstar said. “And this film…it’s to do with that ticking clock that we all have. That we all know somewhere deep down that life is sacred, life is short and we better just be here as much as possible with each other, holding on to each other.”
“I got to sing Jonathan Larson’s unfinished song while simultaneously singing for my mother and her unfinished song,” Garfield added. “I’m indebted to John and I’m indebted to [Tick, Tick…Boom!director]Lin-Manuel Miranda. I’m indebted to everyone who has brought me to this place so that I can honor the most beautiful person that I have ever experienced in my life through my art and use it as a way to heal, use it as a way to sew up the wounds. Cause that’s what we do, right? That’s what we do.”
In September, the actor opened up toVarietyabout his mom — whom he described to the outlet as “the purest angel” — and losing her to cancer. Garfield had only recently learned of her diagnosis prior to going to North Carolina to shoot his filmThe Eyes of Tammy Fayeand was hesitant to leave, he said, but did so at her encouragement.
RELATED VIDEO: Tobey Maguire, Andrew Garfield and Tom Holland on Playing Spider-Man: It’s “An Extension of My Childhood Dreams”
“She said, ‘I would struggle with you not doing it on account of me.’ I told her, ‘OK, but promise me when it’s time to come home you’ll let me know,'” Garfield recalled.
“The good news about me and her is that we left nothing unsaid,” Garfield reflected. “We had all the quality time we could possibly have while she was here. And those last two weeks I got to be with her were probably the most profound two weeks of my life.”
He continued, “To be with her and my dad and my brother, all of her friends, my nephews. It was full of grace in the midst of the terrible tragedy.”
source: people.com
