You'll best know Alison Brie for her stellar acting career in comedies such as Netflix’s Glow, How To Be Single, The Five-Year Engagement and for wearing red carpet dresses designed by Jason Wu and Bella Freud.
But, the 37-year-old wants her fans to know that she has often struggled with mental health issues.
In a new interview with Women’s Health, the 37-year-old opened up about having lived with body dysmorphia since her childhood.
According to Mind, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an anxiety disorder related to body image, resulting in those with the condition seeing themselves differently to how others see them.
Common negative thoughts for BDD sufferers including thinking their body is out of proportion, too big or too small, disfigured and lacking symmetry. BDD offer results in compulsive behaviours such as avoiding mirrors and exercising excessively.
‘I go back to red carpet photos where I thought I looked so horrible, and there are some where I now think, God, I looked beautiful,’ she tells the publication.
‘And I’ll remember: An hour before that I was in tears; I thought I was so disgusting. I think it’s something I’ll probably be working through my whole life. And depression too.’
Discussing her issues with depression, which she notes ‘comes out of nowhere and really blindsides me’, Brie admitted that when she’s been in a ‘really serious depression’ she’ll drag herself to a yoga class.
‘Even if I don’t want to be around people – tears streaming down my face. But, Get in class, get out of your head, get blood flowing. It ends up helping eventually,’ she said.
According to the star, mental illness is something several of her family members have lived with. Her maternal grandmother suffered from schizophrenia and was homeless at various points during her life.
‘The rest of my family then dealt with the trickle-down effects of trauma,’ she said. ‘And that meant depression more than anything.’
Brie credits exercise and her husband, actor Dave Franco, for helping support her mental health.
‘I’m so lucky I’m married to a really wonderful, open person,’ she noted. ‘We have great lines of communication, and I can talk often about my feelings.’
The couple married in 2017 and have two tabby cats, Harry and Arturo, which Brie says are her children.
‘I don't really want to have kids,’ she told the Sunday Times last year. ‘It's great because I don't worry about when I should get pregnant - between seasons, while we're shooting the show - I don't think about it every day.’
Find more information and support about BDD and mental health issues at MIND on 0300 123 3393 or visit the charity's website here.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
In need of more inspiration, thoughtful journalism and at-home beauty tips? Subscribe to ELLE's print magazine now and pay just £6 for 6 issues. SUBSCRIBE HERE
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
