The release of on Plus marks the first – played by – to lead their own TV series.
The show follows a , a conduit for the Egyptian moon god , who has Dissociative Identity Disorder.
One of his other identities is Steven Grant, a mild-mannered man who works at a gift shop at a museum in .
Steven is unaware of Marc, until he begins to hear his voice in his head and communicate with him through his reflection in the mirror.
Ahead of the premiere, Oscar spoke out about his portrayal of the mental health condition, saying that it was ‘just about being honest to what Dissociative Identity Disorder is, and honest to what a lot of people have to deal with, which is really intense childhood trauma and how that manifests as an adult’.
‘I think for us it was about authenticity, more than even story communication,’ he added.
What is Dissociative Identity Disorder?
Dissociative Identity Disorder, shortened to DID, has also been known as multiple personality disorder in the past, explains , a charity that focuses on people affected by complex Dissociative Identity Disorders.
The organisation emphasises that Dissociative Identity Disorder is ‘the more up-to-date and accurate descriptor’ of the condition.
‘DID is the most complex of the dissociative disorders,’ the charity states, and involves five different types of dissociation: depersonalisation, derealisation, amnesia, identity confusion and identity alteration.
‘It involves all five of the types of dissociation outlined above, often also symptoms which fall into the conversion type of dissociation, and commonly a range of non-dissociative symptoms,’ it says.
‘Identity Alteration and Amnesia are usually severe, with Depersonalisation and Derealisation also being present at a moderate to severe level, episodes of Identity Confusion also occur.’
Mental health charity adds that if someone has Dissociative Identity Disorder, then they will ‘experience severe changes in your identity’.
‘Different aspects (states) of your identity may be in control of your behaviour and thoughts at different times. This can happen in various ways,’ the organisation says.
‘Each of your identity states may have different patterns of thinking and relating to the world. Your identity states may come across as different ages and genders.’
People who have Dissociative Identity Disorder may feel that they have ‘one “main” part’ of their identity which feels most like ‘them’, which is sometimes known as ‘a host identity’.
Mind states that for a person with DID, different parts of their identity ‘may have memories or experiences that conflict with each other’.
‘You might not have control over when different parts of your identity take over. You may experience amnesia, which means you don’t remember what happens when another part of your identity is in control,’ the organisation says.
According to First Person Plural, Dissociative Identity Disorders if a child has suffered repeated abuse or another form of trauma from a young age, ‘particularly when the trauma is extreme and continues over several months or, more commonly, years’.
Moon Knight is available to watch on Disney Plus with new episodes released on Wednesdays.
