Way to go, Lili Reinhart!
The Riverdale star is the subject of a long in-depth interview over at Variety today, and in it, she discusses quite a bit about going through anxiety-related struggles, finding a source of inspiration in her fans, and what’s next in her exciting young career.
Related: Lili Reinhart’s Twitter Hacked! Whoa!
A former Pier 1 Imports sales associate before booking her first major acting gig with The CW‘s Riverdale, Reinhart has long struggled with anxiety and self-image issues related to her body, even before fame.
But after landing her big break, the 21-year-old ironically found that the more she spoke up about these problems to her fans, the more they listened — and spoke right back to her.
She explains (below):
“When I started doing conventions to meet fans, I was able to meet people face-to-face and have them tell me, ‘I didn’t know how to talk to my parents about [mental health], and then I heard you speak about it and was motivated to get help.’ At first, people saying things like that didn’t really register. It was just like, ‘Oh, that’s a nice thing to say.’ But then it kind of stops you in your tracks to think that something you did has actually influenced someone’s life. That’s such a deep thought, and something that you really just have to stop and process. It’s really quite emotional, and incredible.
I still feel like I don’t deserve the fans who tell me I’ve changed their lives. That’s something that I still can’t wrap my mind around, because I feel like I don’t really see that something I’m doing is so important. But slowly and surely, I’ve realized that it is, because of how little awareness there is out there [about mental health]. I’ve always been aware of depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia, because it’s something I’ve lived with for a while. But being exposed to this industry and so many more people from all around the world, I’m really seeing how closed off people are from talking about it, so it’s been a process of learning that what I’m doing is actually helping.”
Amen!!
The rising star also comes full circle with it, noting that the last few years prior to fame, she really idolized Demi Lovato — a woman who recently, of course, has struggled with her own health issues, both physical and mental, as she battles addiction and overdose.
Related: Riverdale Star Dumps Her ‘Regular’ Boyfriend
Reinhart said (below):
“I definitely looked up to Demi Lovato. I remember her as being the first person [I heard] talk about depression and growing up with an eating disorder. I personally have not had an eating disorder, but her openness and honesty about her mental health was really cool to me. I was like, ‘Oh, that’s how I feel! She’s famous and beautiful and has money, and it’s strange to think that she could still feel that way too.’
It was just an awareness that [depression] can affect anyone of any gender, any race, any age, no matter how much money you make or how famous you are. It’s just something you were born with, and you can get past it. It doesn’t have to define you, or make you [feel] any less of a person.”
Powerful… and important to hear and remember.
Always refreshing to hear a celeb open up authentically and honestly… read Reinhart’s full interview about it all HERE.
[Image via WENN.]
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