Michael Peña credits Scientology with turning him into a better actor

New York Daily News/October 7, 2016

By Nicki Gostin

Critics may paint Scientology as more about preying than praying, but actor Michael Peña remains a true believer.

The “Fury” actor credits the oft-maligned religion for making him a better actor and curing him of a troubling drinking problem.

Peña told the Guardian that he first joined the church in 2000 entering the detox program Purification Rundown over concern about how much he was drinking.

“For me, it isn’t a religion like a belief,” he explained. “It’s practical things you do.”

The 40-year-old married father of one also credits another Scientology program called StudyTech with making him a better reader which in turn helped his acting ability.

“(It) made me a better actor because I felt like it helped my understanding of scripts.”

The controversial religion has been in the news of late. Alex Gibney's HBO documentary "Going Clear" accused the church of coercing acolytes into servitude and splitting families. Actress Leah Remini published a memoir recently that detailed her 36-year involvement with Scientology which included millions of dollars in donations and her eventual permanent split from them.

Actor Jason Lee recently announced that he has left the church.

Peña is aware of the negative press surrounding the church but added that he refuses to read any of it describing it as “misinformed.”