Scientology has been under a media microscope over the past few months with reports of kidnapping and bullying. However, one actress that seems to be standing by her beliefs is "Orange Is the New Black" star Laura Prepon.
During an interview with Celebrity, the controversial religion's magazine, The 35-year-old actress credits the religion to helping her handle the pressures of showbiz without suffering a nervous or emotional breakdown.
"When I first got into Scientology, I did Personal Values and Integrity and then Overcoming Ups and Downs in Life. These courses touched on the observations I was aware of when I was younger," Prepon explained, according to Us Weekly. "It was right there in black and white. It was amazing, and I felt that finally something was speaking my language. It totally connected with me. Pretty soon after that I got onto the Purification Rundown, and I started moving up the Bridge."
The actress has been a Scientologist since 1999, Us Weekly reported.
Prepon, who claimed that she was converted by unnamed producer, said the process of "auditing" allowed her to give the often-emotional performances needed for her character on "OITNB," where she plays the former drug smuggler Alex Vause.
Scientology believes that a MEST (short for matter, energy, space and time) universe keeps a "thetan" (a spiritual being attached to a body that may be an outer space alien) trapped, and the purpose of the church's rituals is so a person can separate the two through a process called "auditing,"
"The auditing has stripped away all of this charge, false ideas, decisions and mis-emotions that were affecting me," Prepon explained. "I spotted this decision I made a long time ago that was affecting me to this day. It was a huge realization...When you really cognate that you are a thetan and you have a mind and body, and that the MEST universe does not control you - it puts things into perspective. It takes the weight off you and things become very easy."
She continued: "Things don't bother me that had before. I remember I was doing a show with an amazing actor, and we were waiting to hear the fate of our show. He turned to me one day and asked, 'How are you always so relaxed? Nothing seems to bother you. I want to know what you are doing...' I take that as such a compliment and testament to the auditing I have done."
The interview concludes with the actress calling Scientology, "magic."
