Downton Abbey star Jessica Brown Findlay has admitted that she’s had an eating disorder since the age of 14.
The 27-year-old said she hoped talking about her own issues would help others and called for a “mature conversation” about depression.
The actress known as Lady Sybil to millions said, “I’m doing Hamlet and it explores a lot about mental health and I’ve had an eating disorder since I was 14.
“We can feed certain ideas of what beauty is and what success is. There has to come a time when those aren’t the rules any more.”
Eating Disorder: The actress admitted she’s had an eating disorder since age 14 | ITV STUDIOS
She told the Daily Telegraph, “Then we can have a mature conversation about what that is about – and about depression.
“I felt so alone for so long and I just hid. Then I started talking and held my head up and instead of saying sorry decided to tell myself I matter.
“It’s about learning to stand up and say, ‘this is me and that’s OK’. I’m not going to be a better actor if I’m a dress size smaller.”