Shia LaBeouf Gets Candid On Finding God While Preparing For His Role In 'Padre Pio'

Popular actor has Shia LaBeouf has aired the details about his return to religion.

The actor previously starred in the "Transformer" franchise and is credited with roles in "Charlie Countryman," Fury," American Honey," "Borg vs McEnroe," "Honey Boy," "The Peanut Butter Falcon," and "Pieces of a Woman."

Before starring in "Padre Pio," LaBeouf was dealing with accusations of abuse from his ex-girlfriend FKA Twigs and was going through a trying time in his life. The actor said in a recent interview that he came close to killing himself during that time but ultimately found God while researching his character in "Padre Pio" and residing in a monastery.

Read on to learn more.

Speaking on Bishop Robert Barron's YouTube series, "Word on Fire," LaBeouf, who has held conflicting religious views in the past, shared that he had retraced his steps back to the gospel after going through a very trying time in his life.

He revealed that the change came while he was researching his role in Abel Ferrara's "Padre Pio," where he plays the role of Saint Padre Pio, an Italian monk who gained rock star status among the Catholic faithful.

While doing his research, the "Transformer" star was battling some inner demons, which made him feel "like his life was on fire" and sapped him of the strength to continue acting. He also revealed he had considered committing suicide to escape the mess in his life.

"I had a gun on the table….I didn't want to be alive anymore. [I felt] shame – the kind of shame that you forget how to breathe ...I also [had] this deep desire to hold on."

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As he dug deeper into the research while living with a monastery of Franciscan Capuchin friars, a "switch" happened in his head, changing his initial notion of just getting ready for his role to an encounter with a higher being.

LeBeouf said he realized there was still hope for him despite how he had some people in the past due to his actions, seeming to reference the allegations of abuse against him in recent years. The actor was also charged with two misdemeanors last year — petty theft and battery — for an altercation with an unidentified person.

The "Indiana Jones" star described that he ultimately found peace through his prayers and studies in the monastery. Looking back on his spiritual journey, LeBeouf also joked that he felt "tricked" into his spiritual path but now realizes that God was using his ego to lure him.

During his stay at the monastery, LeBeouf became closer to God and gained a deeper understanding of Padre Pio's life and the reasons for the Catholic faithful's awe and respect for him. The more he learned, the more the character became personal to him.

The actor also disclosed that he declined Ferrara's request that he play Padre Pio with an Italian accent because "it would have taken [him] out of this thing that felt very personal." Additionally, he revealed that Pio was a Neapolitan speaker, so his accent wouldn't have matched Italian.

Born in 1887, Padre Pio gained critical acclaim for showing stigmata or crucifixion wounds similar to that of Jesus Christ. Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio in 1999, three decades after his death in 1968. In 2002, he was canonized, placing him among a very elite list of catholic saints to have attained similar status.

Before starring in "Padre Pio," LeBeouf was accused by his ex-girlfriend, FKA Twigs, of "relentless abuse" during their nine-month relationship. The singer-songwriter filed a suit in court where she alleged that the actor wanted to control all parts of their relationship, including setting daily quotas of affection for her to meet up with.

"I felt so controlled, and I felt so confused, and I felt so low, beneath myself, that the fear of leaving and knowing I had all this work to do to get back to just feeling OK, it was completely overwhelming," she continued," she said per E!News.

FKA Twigs revealed that she had to seek help when it became overwhelming for her. Although she has now gone far into her healing process, the singer said she was suing LaBeouf "to change the conversation and the stigma around domestic abuse."