Ryan Phillippe Reveals His Depression

Ryan Phillippe has played many tortured characters in his career, but it turns out that he can be one himself.
In a revealing interview for Elle posted last Friday, the 40-year-old opens up about his history of depression.
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The Secrets And Lies star admits:

“You know, depression has been a huge obstacle for me ever since I was a child. As you get older I think it decreases some, but I’m just innately kind of a sad person. I’m empathetic, and I take on the feelings of others and transpose myself into the position of others.”

However, the hunk acknowledges that his internal sadness contributes to his unique sense of humor:

“I’m way funnier than people know me to be. And it’s a dark humor, like a gallows humor. I think that’s where, if you do carry any of that sadness or depression, your humor does tend to be a little darker than most people. And the greatest comedians do├óΓé¼ΓÇ¥trust me. I know so many of them. And they’re depressed and they’re dark and they have this incredible gift of humor to offer others and also, probably, therapeutically themselves.”

We applaud Ryan for opening up about such a personal issue, and we hope it encourages others to share their stories!
[Image via Kathryn Friedman/Elle.com.]