As one of our favourite models and actresses, we like to stay abreast of all things Cara Delevingne. But we had no idea that walking the runways of brands like Chanel, Burberry and Fendi had caused her to feel 'hollow' and develop the non-contagious skin disorder psoriasis. So now we totally get why she's parking her runway career and focusing on making films like 'Paper Towns', which hits screens this week. 

In an interview with The Times Magazine, Cara came clean about her choice to leave fashion behind and pursue her new career as a leading lady (she has five films out this year and 'Paper Towns' is her first starring role).

Here are our six key learnings from the story…

1. She felt like an idiot on fashion shoots

‘I think everyone has a bit of narcissism about them. But, yeah, even when I was doing a shoot, every ten pictures or so I would have to do something stupid to make me feel less like an idiot. For me, it was always about playing a part.’

2. Her psoriasis got so bad she started to hate her body and people would only touch her with gloves. 

'It wasn’t just one show. It was every single show. People would put on gloves and not want to touch me because they thought it was, like, leprosy or something.'

'It wasn’t a good time. I was, like, fight and flight for months. Just constantly on edge. It is a mental thing as well because if you hate yourself and your body and the way you look, it just gets worse and worse.

3. Feminism helped her to stand up for herself on shoots when she was asked to adopt sexually provocative poses.

‘I am a bit of a feminist and it makes me feel sick. It’s horrible and it’s disgusting. [We’re talking about] young girls. You start when you are really young and you do, you get subjected to … not great stuff. As time went on, I got to say no to things I couldn’t say no to before. But, especially when I was younger, you feel like if you don’t go along with what people say, then you will fail, you won’t get a job… people shouldn’t feel that.'

4. She does not tolerate bullies; they cause her to 'flip out'. Atta girl!

‘I am very good at standing up for myself now, and for other people. If there is injustice I will flip out. If someone is crossing a line, they will know about it and so will everyone else. I’m not about brushing things under the carpet.'

5. She sees modeling as the perfect training to her acting career.

‘I am a lot harder than I was and I feel like all of that modeling, life, rejection, everything was preparation for this, and now that I am doing this I am the happiest person in the whole world. 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.’

6. Her friends, including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Rita Ora and model Suki Waterhouse, keep it real.

‘Those guys! If I hadn’t met them I would be the loneliest sod in the world. It’s so great being able to talk to someone who understands.' Meanwhile, her London pals make sure she doesn’t get ideas above her station: 'They tell me if I have changed or knock me off my horse a bit, if I am on one at all'.

Words: Jazmin Kopotsha