Emily Deschanel Reveals Season 1 Panic Attacks on ‘Bones’ and Shame from Criticism

Emily Deschanel shared her struggles with emotional and professional challenges during the initial season of Fox’s Bones, including a significant instance where she was criticized for her unpreparedness.

On a recent podcast episode of Fail Better hosted by David Duchovny, who directed an episode of the crime drama, Deschanel discussed the difficulties she faced due to her childhood diagnosis of ADHD and dyslexia and their impact on her later career.

“The workload was beyond the usual for a TV series,” Deschanel explained. “We were pulling 14- to 16-hour days, and then I had to memorize lines late into the night. I used to say that I would go home and just sob in the bathtub every night because it was all just too much.”

She added, “I’d arrive on set, struggling to recall the lines I’d stayed up memorizing. With no sleep, I’d find myself forgetting lines that I had just reviewed the previous night.”

Deschanel described such moments as causing “tunnel vision,” making her feel “exposed” in front of crew members and colleagues who relied on her for the day’s shooting schedule.

“Looking back, I realize those were panic attacks,” she remembered.

A specific incident occurred when Deschanel was delayed by 30 minutes due to a traffic accident, leading to a stern conversation initiated by Hart Hanson, the series creator, at the behest of his higher-ups.

“Hart rarely knocked on my trailer door, but that day he did. He pulled me aside and relayed that the studio was worried about my punctuality and readiness,” she recounted, with a hint of emotion. “The feedback hit hard—I was already emotionally vulnerable, and it felt like a deep personal failure.”

Deschanel tearfully continued, “I was an emotional mess… It really took a toll on me. But, enduring that tough period toughened me up over time. I managed to never be late to set again.”

Following this incident, Bones was renewed for additional episodes, eventually concluding with a total of 246 episodes over 12 seasons, running from 2005 to 2017.

Deschanel noted that Hanson provided crucial “support” to help her cope with the demands of the show, which included arranging for someone to help her rehearse her lines and upgrading her trailer to match that of her co-star, David Boreanaz.

“Hart found ways to help me improve and manage my responsibilities, whether it was by giving me downtime or ensuring I wasn’t in every scene. He really looked out for us,” she concluded appreciatively.

Bones, loosely inspired by the life and writings of forensic anthropologist Kathy Reichs, who also produced the show, delved into FBI case files involving human remains and also explored the personal dynamics among the main characters. The series earned two Emmy nominations during its tenure.