It's not all glitz and glamour in Hollywood baby! (part 1)
Whether we realise it or not, films affect us deeply… They make us laugh, they make us cry, they make us think about life, and therefore the actors who play our favourite characters impact us greatly and we want to be like them.
Content warning - this blog discusses mental health and suicide. Please be mindful if this is a difficult topic for you and don't hesitate to reach out if you need support.
From quoting a line or dressing like them, and purchasing merchandise, we want to be like them. They can also help us with our own mental health issues, “celebrities have such a huge reach that why they show us the problems that they’re having, that’s what can help us the most,” according to bipolar disorder expert Julie Fast. Even though some of us can be envious of their fame and fortune and truly believe they have everything and nothing to complain about, that is unfortunately not the truth and it’s not all glitz and glamour in Hollywood. Throughout the years, the film industry has lost many phenomenal and irreplaceable beings and characters to mental health issues. This goes to show that they are still human, just like us. There are those who have passed away and those that have been strong enough to reveal their experiences to their families and the public, fighting the battle head on. I will not only give tribute to some of the amazing actors we’ve lost and ones that still struggle but strive, but also demonstrate an example on how easy it is for people with mental health issues to hide it and for others to miss it completely. As a result of that, I will be writing this in two parts since there is quite a few people to talk about.
Our beloved Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the highest-paid actors in the world and has been afflicted by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for most of his adult life. OCD is a disorder in which people possess reoccurring and unwelcome thoughts, ideas and sensations, which makes them compelled to do things repetitively. This can ultimately affect a person’s daily activities and social life. In 2014, DiCaprio he admitted that he fights urges to walk through door multiple times and step on every chewing gum stain on the pathways. He recollected on times when he was a child, “stepping on cracks on the way to school and having to walk back a block and step on that same crack,” and be as that may, he didn’t let that take over his life. This talented actor has become a great example of someone with a mental health issue who has not let OCD hold him back from his dreams, and an inspiration to those who want to do the same but feel that because of their mental illness, they are not worthy to achieve their goals in life. With the right treatment and support from family, friends and other networks, anything is possible! Following words from the man himself, “If you can do what you do best and be happy, you’re further along in life than most people.” As well as DiCaprio, our childhood (and probably still) favourite wizard, the boy who lived, Harry Potter, or also known as Daniel Radcliffe, also struggled with OCD growing up. Sharing that it took him at least five minutes to turn off a light and would have to repeat every sentence he said under his breath. That being so, Radcliffe encourages people to seek professional help, and that this illness is nothing to be ashamed about.
Game of Thrones actress Sophie Turner (now Jonas) who portrayed Sansa Stark began the show at 15 years old and felt a massive amount of pressure after being thrown into the spotlight and the show becoming so popular. Feeling as though she was required to meet viewers expectations according to the character from the books, written by George R.R. Martin, and the harsh and stereotypical beliefs society has on women in Hollywood today, her mental health had turned emotionally and mentally. During a chat with Dr. Phil, Turner discussed topics like isolation, struggling to get out of bed, feeling alone as she realised that while she worked on the show, all her friends were at university. She also confirmed how ten positive comments are completely forgotten as soon as you read one that’s negative. This affected her work and performance deeply, saying, “I couldn’t be true to the character because I was so worried about Sophie,” and would ask wardrobe to tighten her corset before going on set. Turner also explained how she shared this struggle with her co-star Maisie Williams who played her younger sister, Arya Stark, whom she says although they are great friends and she loves her, their relationship at the time was very destructive because of the reinforced negative behaviours they shared, not getting out of bed, not socialising with others, etc. However, their friendship is also what allowed them to fight through. Other well-known actors that have battled depression and anxiety include, Lilli Reinhart (Riverdale), Zendaya (Spider-Man: Far From Home and Euphoria), Dwayne Johnson (Jumanji), Gina Rodriguez (Jane the Virgin), Emma Stone (La La Land and Easy A), Kristen Bell (Frozen and The Good Place), and Jim Carrey (Dumb and Dumber and How the Grinch Stole Christmas), and many more.
All of these incredibly talented actors have been through a lot, just like many of us! Yet they continue to perservere despite it all to achieve their goals, revealing their personal lives to millions of people around the world, and by doing so, even though I couldn't even imagine how hard that would be, they do their best to influence others to keep going and speak out.
Watch out for part 2!