Sam Claflin – best known for his roles in The Hunger Games and Daisy Jones & The Six – has shared an honest insight into his struggles with mental health, revealing that he often experiences feelings of body dysmorphia.
Sam Claflin feels “incredibly insecure” about his body
Speaking on Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast this week, Sam said he feels “incredibly insecure” about his appearance.
“It’s my face I don’t like. I don’t like me,” he revealed. “I have a form of body dysmorphia, I think.”
Reflecting on where his confidence struggles come from, Sam said he believes these began during his school years. “I think that may have stemmed from my being a teenager and hitting puberty late and not feeling like I was good-looking, or too short, or not strong enough,” he admitted.
Decades on, Sam still battles these feelings daily. “I really overthink everything, so I will skip meals,” he said. “And I work out doubly hard if I’ve had a bad meal the night before.”
“I try not to drink as much alcohol anymore,” he went on, adding that he also tries to get as much sleep as possible. “It’s a real struggle. It’s an everyday struggle.”
On a more positive note, Sam said he’s trying to move past these feelings. “I’m sort of in the process of working through that and being aware of it,” he continued. “It’s a challenge.”
“I’m not miserable by any means, I’m very happy, and especially now as I’ve kinda got older,” the actor went on. “People try to wind me up that I’m nearly 40. It’s a good thing. I feel healthier and happier now than I did in my 20s and my 30s. I feel like I know better who I am.”
If you’ve been affected by anything in this article, free support is available via the National Alliance for Eating Disorders helpline on 1-866-662-1235.
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