Hollywood actor Jesse Eisenberg has revealed he will donate a kidney to a stranger in six weeks’ time.
The 42-year-old made the revelation during an appearance on US chat show Today on Thursday night, after helping the show set up its blood drive.
“I’m actually donating my kidney in six weeks. I really am,” he told viewers.
“I don’t know why. I got bitten by the blood donation bug and I love it. I’m doing an altruistic donation [in] mid-December. I’m so excited to do it.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, living-kidney donation is the most common type of living-donor transplant. Those willing can donate one of their two kidneys, with the remaining kidney able to perform necessary functions.
The match itself is based on medical need and blood type compatibility.
Sometimes the donor may choose to remain anonymous, but if both agree they may meet if the centre allows it.
READ MORE: Sydney Sweeney sizzles on the red carpet in chainmail ‘naked’ dress
READ MORE: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air child star dies aged 42
READ MORE: How Lily Allen made a career out of controversy
“It’s essentially risk-free and so needed,” Eisenberg continued. “I think people will realise that it’s a no-brainer, if you have the time and the inclination.”
The Now You See Me actor went on to say how he’d been intrigued with the procedure around a decade ago and had wanted to do it ever since.
“Let’s say person X needs a kidney in Kansas City, [and] their child or whoever was going to donate to them is, for whatever set of reasons, not a match, but somehow I am,” Eisenberg explained to the outlet.
“That person can still get my kidney and hopefully that child of that person still donates their kidney, right? It goes to a bank where that person can find a match recipient, but it only works if there is basically an altruistic donor.”
Eisenberg and his wife, Anna Strout, welcomed their only child, Banner, in 2017.
The couple have been together since 2015 and tied the knot two months after welcoming their son.
For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.
In the same interview, Eisenberg was also asked about his decision not to participate in the upcoming sequel to perhaps the film he’s best known for, The Social Network.
Eisenberg played Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in the movie, and received an Oscar nomination for his role.
However, despite confirmation the sequel The Social Reckoning is in the works, it’s been widely reported that Eisenberg won’t be playing the social media guru again. The Social Reckoning was in the works.
“There’s been some reporting that you passed on the sequel. Why?” host Craig Melvin asked.
“You know, I was in Paris. And I had some tools and I figured there was a way to make a little more of a statement at the Louvre,” he joked, referencing the recent jewellery heist.
He then hinted he’d outgrown the role, adding: “It’s a really wonderful movie.
“I’m friends with Aaron Sorkin who wrote and is directing this movie and all of the reasons that I am not in it are completely unrelated to how brilliant it will be.”
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.