Olivia Cooke mental health struggles have shaped her career and personal life. The actress has spoken openly about the challenges.
She revealed that her toughest period came at 22, when she suffered a mental breakdown after moving to the United States. Panic attacks struck her daily for three weeks, she said.
Afterwards, Olivia Cooke mental health challenges continued with OCD and intrusive thoughts for three years. She described it as a torturous experience.
The actress also spoke about body image pressures in the entertainment industry. Watching “endlessly shrinking bodies” intensified feelings of insecurity.
Olivia stars as Cherry in the Prime Video series The Girlfriend. The role demanded her raciest performance yet, including several intimate scenes.
She admitted feeling insecure during sex scenes, despite privacy on set. “It’s so hard not to feel exposed,” she said.
On one occasion, she skipped breakfast expecting a shoot early in the day, only to feel faint during filming.
To cope, Olivia deleted Instagram while filming Brides in Budapest. She described the experience as liberating.
“To avoid constant exposure to shrinking bodies felt like relief,” she said. She added it helped her reflect less critically on her own appearance.
Olivia drew inspiration from her sister Eleanor while preparing for Cherry. Eleanor’s charm, glamour, and temper helped Olivia understand the character.
“My sister reminded me of Cherry,” Olivia explained. “She’s glamorous, funny, and fiery, and that informed my performance.”
Olivia and Eleanor grew up in Oldham, Greater Manchester, raised by their mother Lindsy and father John Cooke. The parents divorced when Olivia was six.
Despite challenges, the sisters remain close. Olivia credited her supportive family for giving her confidence throughout her acting journey.
She began acting at eight at the Oldham Theatre Workshop and signed with an agent as a teenager in the United States.
Her early roles included several TV appearances and Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One. She gained wider recognition for House of the Dragon in 2022.
Olivia Cooke mental resilience continues to shape her career. She remains open about challenges, inspiring others facing mental health struggles in entertainment.
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