As I reflect on Cara Delevingne‘s journey, it’s impossible not to be moved by her resilience and bravery. From the glamorous world of fashion to the intimate struggles with addiction, she has shown an unwavering commitment to honesty and self-care.
Cara Delevingne is primarily recognized as an actress and model, with notable appearances in productions such as “Carnival Row” and “Suicide Squad.” Additionally, her distinctive eyebrows have also garnered attention. Her journey started on the runway, strutting for various designers during fashion weeks spanning the globe. However, she subsequently shifted her focus towards securing roles in films, which led to projects within the DC universe and adaptations of books.
Delevingne’s career has reached extraordinary peaks, such as being titled Model of the Year twice at the British Fashion Awards, receiving three Teen Choice Awards, and performing in a West End production of “Cabaret” as Sally Bowles, a role once held by notable figures like Molly Ringwald, Judi Dench, and Brooke Shields. Her future appears even more promising as she takes on new roles, such as joining the cast of “American Horror Story: Delicate” as Ivy in 2023.
But her successful transition from modeling to acting, and everything in between, wasn’t without hardship. Both before and during her time in the spotlight, Cara Delevingne encountered tragedy in several ways. She’s had difficult working experiences, like filming in freezing temperatures for “Carnival Row,” but her setbacks are rooted in tough personal events and family histories. Here’s everything you need to know about the tragic true-life story of Cara Delevingne.
She was introduced to substances at a young age
From my perspective as a fan, Cara Delevingne found herself exposed to various alcoholic beverages and chemicals from a tender age. My most vivid recollection is her initial encounter with alcohol happening at a family wedding when she was only seven. As she shared in Vogue in 2023, “I awoke in my granny’s house in my room with a hangover, dressed as a bridesmaid.” Apparently, she had been circulating and collecting glasses of champagne. Fast forward to her teenage years, when she struggled with persistent insomnia. To cope, she was prescribed sleeping pills at the tender age of 10.
During her teenage years, she turned to various substances as a means to flee from her overwhelming thoughts. She put it this way: “That’s when I started drinking and going out, trying to find an escape.” She was grappling with profound questions about her purpose and identity: “What am I doing here? Who do I want to be?” In response, she experimented with marijuana and was also prescribed medications for depression. Despite the challenges, she acknowledges that these interventions helped her, particularly in alleviating feelings of loneliness. “The medication really… it literally saved my life,” Delevingne added.
She saw the nature of addiction as a child
During Cara Delevingne’s youth, her mother Pandora struggled with a resurgence of heroin addiction. This relapse significantly impacted the actress’s life. As she explained to Vogue in 2015, “A child’s upbringing is often molded by a parent’s addiction.” Essentially, she grew up faster because she took on caretaking responsibilities for her own parents.
Though it remains challenging for Delevingne to accept her mother’s circumstances, she has discovered outlets to express her emotions associated with it. She penned the novel “Mirror, Mirror,” a young adult story focusing on teenagers unraveling the mystery of a friend’s vanishing act. The protagonist’s mother grapples with alcoholism, mirroring Delevingne’s upbringing alongside her mother’s addiction struggles.
In contrast to her mother, the actress acknowledges that her substance use was distinct due to a blend of personal history and modeling career influences. She stated to Vogue, ” frankly, I can’t say I did anything out of the ordinary for someone my age.” However, she admitted, “I do carry the addictive gene, but instead of drugs, it manifests in an obsession with work. If I hadn’t been so busy working, I might have indulged more in substances back then.
She began experiencing depression as a teen
During Cara Delevingne’s teenage years, she encountered a fresh set of difficulties. At age 15, her life took an unexpected turn as she started battling anxiety and depression, which at times were so intense that she behaved out of character. “Suddenly, I was overwhelmed by a tremendous tide of depression, anxiety, and self-loathing,” the actress explained to Vogue in 2015. “The feelings were so excruciating that I would bang my head against a tree in an attempt to lose consciousness. I simply yearned to vanish and be whisked away by someone.
Delevingne shared with Porter magazine, as reported by The Guardian, that she had long felt different growing up, although she couldn’t quite identify what it was. She explained, “I always felt rather peculiar and distinct as a child, and this sensation was something I didn’t understand or know how to articulate.” She added, “It wasn’t like I was an extraterrestrial, but I certainly knew there was something unusual happening.
As a person grappling with these intense emotions, I turned to various medications and therapy sessions, yet I didn’t feel they were making much of a difference. In the words I shared with Vogue, “I was just as mental with or without drugs.” I also delved into diverse therapies, some grounded in music and art, but their effectiveness varied considerably.
Her dyspraxia made school difficult
Cara Delevingne excelled in artistic ventures, but academic challenges were more difficult for her. Her aunt Melinda Stevens noted to Vogue in 2023 that “She had a remarkable knack for anything she tried,” be it playing the guitar, piano, or other skills. At the age of 16, the actress enrolled in a liberal arts boarding school, providing her with ample opportunity to immerse herself in music and acting further.
Though Delevingne’s dyspraxia diagnosis made school challenging during her childhood, it was particularly difficult compared to her older sisters who excelled academically. Dyspraxia affects an individual’s motor coordination, making it tough to handle tasks like writing, which is a significant aspect of schoolwork. Consequently, this disorder made it more challenging for the actress to perform well on exams and other academic tasks. At that time, her dyspraxia negatively impacted her mental health and even led to self-harm. As Delevingne shared in Vogue in 2023, “This was the genesis of my mental health struggles and unintentional self-injury.
Delevingne dropped out of school
Due to a deterioration in Cara Delevingne’s mental health, her acting career led to an early departure from high school, unlike many actors who drop out of college. In 2015, she expressed this decision to Vogue, stating: “I believed that if I wanted to act, I had to complete my education; however, I found myself unable to rise in the morning.” Contrary to her initial thoughts, this choice didn’t hinder her acting career.
After a year filled with diverse casting experiences ranging from uneasy test photoshoots to swift rejections during face-to-face auditions, she eventually secured her first paid job and debut runway show. Delevingne once remarked, “Don’t always trust photographers during tests.” Instead, she garnered acting roles in an unconventional manner, such as how she landed the movie “Life in a Year” through her YouTube videos.
Her fortunes in the fashion world significantly improved when designer Christopher Bailey hired her for Burberry’s 2011 spring campaign at the age of 18, which marked a significant breakthrough for her. This opportunity led to numerous other bookings, and from that moment on, her career began its ascent. She soon gained recognition for her distinctive eyebrows and became a prominent figure in large-scale campaigns, nurturing a partnership with Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel and strutting the runway at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.
She spoke out about sexual harassment
Back in 2017, Cara Delevingne publicly disclosed experiences of sexual harassment she endured from film producer Harvey Weinstein, who later faced rape charges and conviction. In a now-removed Instagram post, the actress detailed two uncomfortable and inappropriate encounters with him.
In her initial acting job, Delevingne recounted receiving a call from Harvey Weinstein, who inquired whether she had been intimate with any of the women she was frequently seen with in the press. As she attempted to end the conversation, the producer warned her that she wouldn’t achieve the career she desired if she identified as gay or chose to be in a relationship with a woman, especially in a public setting.
In a subsequent account, the actress recounted another instance involving the producer that transpired later on. During a discussion regarding a project, she was advised by both him and his assistant to visit his hotel room while awaiting her transportation. Upon arrival, she was reassured to discover another female in the room, leading her to believe she was safe. However, the producer requested a kiss, which the actress countered by singing to diffuse the situation and ultimately departed the room despite Weinstein’s efforts to prevent her from leaving. In the caption, Delevingne admitted feeling remorseful after filming the movie, expressing that she felt undeserving of the role. She also shared her initial reluctance about disclosing these experiences.
COVID impacted her mental health
During the COVID-19 outbreak, Cara Delevingne’s mental health suffered due to isolation, reduced work opportunities, and a challenging breakup. When the lockdown started in March, the actress was living with her girlfriend, actress Ashley Bensen at the time. However, by the end of April, they had parted ways after almost two years together. What Delevingne described to Vogue in 2023 as a temporary arrangement turned out to be more challenging when she found herself quarantining alone and the film industry underwent permanent changes due to the pandemic.
2023 saw Cara Delevingne admitting to Vogue her profound solitude, stating, “I felt utterly isolated…” She elaborated that the absence of immersing herself in work during quarantine led her to intensely ponder on her distressing feelings. “I experienced a full-blown existential dilemma,” she confessed. “Every aspect of my self-worth, my connection, my validation – my very identity – was so deeply intertwined with my career. With that taken away, I felt utterly devoid of purpose.
During that period, Delevingne struggled with her self-esteem as she couldn’t work, which intensified the feeling of loneliness she experienced. She admitted, “Instead of making an effort to learn something fresh or try something novel, I found myself consumed by misery, indulgence, and socializing excessively.
The loss of her grandmother was devastating
As the ongoing global pandemic persisted, affecting Cara Delevingne’s mental well-being, life presented an unexpected twist. In 2022, the actress and model found herself in Tokyo, Japan, working on the series “Planet Sex”, when she received the sad news that her grandmother had passed away.
As she matured, Delevingne had a strong bond with her grandmother, frequently spending time at her house when her parents couldn’t care for her. The resumption of work in her industry following pandemic-induced lockdowns proved challenging for her, as she grappled with emotional turmoil. In an interview with Vogue in 2023, Delevingne shared her feelings: “I was putting all my energy into work, and every night after filming, I’d return home and weep alone.” Two weeks later, at the Met Ball, she admitted to feeling completely drained.
At the Met Gala, Cara Delevingne donned a red Dior Haute Couture suit and adorned herself with gold body paint. However, due to the emotional stress from her grandmother’s passing, her psoriasis broke out, leaving noticeable patches under the gold makeup. To cope with her sorrow, she attended parties following the event, which complicated her travel arrangements for the next day. “I ended up getting quite intoxicated afterwards,” she admitted. “The day after, I had to journey to my grandmother’s funeral. It was awful.
Summer 2022 was difficult
2022 marked a challenging summer for Cara Delevingne, as she grappled with the loss of her grandmother. To celebrate the end of her twenties and seek solace, she spent three weeks in Ibiza with friends, hosting an “Alice in Wonderland”-themed birthday party. The island retreat became a place of reflection for Delevingne, who found herself withdrawing from social interactions and spending more time in isolation. As she put it to Vogue in 2023, “I would often lock myself away in the tower of the house I was staying at, barely leaving my room.
Following her stay in Ibiza, Delevingne ventured to Burning Man in Nevada next. At that time, images of her were circulated which sparked concern among her supporters. The actress openly acknowledged that she was persisting with actions she perceived as self-harmful, such as drug abuse. In her own words, “I would take risks with my life because I didn’t value it. I would scale anything and leap from things…it felt wild.” She also confessed that she couldn’t recall specific details about the events or substances involved during that period.
In the end, it was her friends and family who stepped in to help her out. Delyne reached out to her longtime companions, and together they surrounded her. As she shared with Vogue, “I felt it was high time I started reaching out, and my old friends from when I was 13, they all came over and we ended up crying.” The actress continued, “‘They looked at me and said, ‘You deserve a chance to experience happiness.’
Her house burned down
In March 2024, Cara Delevingne was playing in the “Cabaret” West End production in London when she received devastating news: her home in Los Angeles had been destroyed by fire. One resident suffered from smoke inhalation, and one firefighter was hospitalized due to injuries sustained while battling the flames. Thankfully, Delevingne’s two cats were safely rescued and were unscathed.
In her Instagram posts, the actress publicly thanked the firefighters and emergency personnel who dealt with a fire scene. She shared multiple pictures of the street and first responders. The incident required over two hours for emergency services to put out the flames. After news of the fire spread in London, Delevingne and her family departed from the Playhouse Theatre, where she was performing “Cabaret.” According to TMZ, her father suggested that the potential cause could be an electrical issue or a powerline, given the windy conditions at the location.
In 2021, Architectural Digest showcased Delevingne’s residence. Notably, it included a bathroom dedicated to David Bowie, game areas, and even a ball pit. As her profession demands versatility in roles, she desired her home to embody various themes and atmospheres, explaining this to the magazine.
She continues to work on her sobriety
Cara Delevingne has shared her experiences with overcoming substance abuse. For the actress, acknowledging that after a challenging summer following her grandmother’s passing, she didn’t appear healthy was a crucial step in starting this new chapter. “It’s heartbreaking because I thought I was having fun, but at some point it was like, Okay, I don’t look good,” she said to Vogue in 2023. “Sometimes you need a wake-up call.
Not long after, the actress joined a 12-step recovery program. For Delevingne, maintaining sobriety means focusing on herself rather than trying to save everyone around her. Even though she enjoys helping others with their stress, especially through activities like games, it prevented her from confronting her own emotions and introspection. “In fact,” the actress confided, “by helping others, I found myself trapped within myself.
At the 2024 Met Gala, Delevingne openly discussed her ongoing recovery journey with Variety, aiming to motivate others on a similar path. “You’re not in this alone,” she asserted. “If I can succeed, so can anyone else. However, it’s crucial to speak up and be truthful about it, especially with yourself.
If you or anyone you know needs help with mental health, addiction issues, or may be the victim of sexual assault, contact the relevant resources below:
- The Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741, call the National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), or visit the National Institute of Mental Health website.
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
- The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network website or contact RAINN’s National Helpline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).
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2024-09-13 14:30