Cara Delevingne Opens Up About Depression, Darker Side Of Modeling

A side of the model-turned-actress' life you don't see on social media.

Fun. Goofy. Gorgeous.

These are just a few words you might use to describe Cara Delevingne, the model-turned-actress who's loved for constantly poking fun at herself and the industry that is often accused of taking itself too seriously.

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A photo posted by Cara Delevingne (@caradelevingne) on

But Delevingne, who recently left modeling to pursue an acting career, has a much more complex story than just rubbing elbows with A-listers and being cheeky on social media. In a new interview with The Times, the 23-year-old opened up about the darker side of both her career and childhood.

Of her earlier modeling days, Delevingne explained she was pushing herself too hard. "I was working too much, I didn’t say no to anything, and that is obviously my own fault, but … people should have stopped me at some point," she said.

Being the child of an addict had its own difficult consequences, including a battle with depression in her teens. “I was hit with a massive wave of depression and anxiety and self-hatred, where the feelings were so painful that I would slam my head against a tree to try to knock myself out,” she said.

Now, after making the decision to switch careers and focus on the things that are important to her, Delevingne has a more hopeful tone. "I have regained respect for myself, in a weird way, and on a movie set is where I feel like I belong. If that makes any sense," she said.

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