Irish actress Jessie Buckley has opened up about her teenage struggles with mental health, crediting her passion for music and theatre as key to her recovery. The 36-year-old, from Killarney, Co Kerry, has enjoyed a stellar awards season for her portrayal of Agnes Hathaway in the adaptation of Maggie O'Farrell's novel.
Speaking on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne, Buckley described acting as 'essential' and 'like water to me', adding that it helped her overcome an eating disorder and depression during her school years. She said: 'I didn't know how to be alive the way I wanted to be, and it was difficult.'
Reflecting on her move to London, Buckley admitted she was still struggling but found motivation in her craft: 'There were moments where I was like, if I don't get better here, this music, this being part of theatre – I'm not going to be able to do this any more, and I probably won't survive. And that was the thing that turned it in my head.'
The Oscar-nominated actress also recalled her time on the BBC talent show I'd Do Anything, which sought an actress to play Nancy in Oliver! She said she was criticised for her appearance and admitted: 'I don't like that part of it. I think that was a young woman who's trying to discover her body and herself.' However, she added: 'I'm so proud of that girl. I think she did great and I don't regret any of it.'
Buckley also paid tribute to her 'extraordinary' mother, Marina, sounding emotional as she chose her mother's rendition of O Holy Night as her first song. The full Desert Island Discs episode airs on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday at 10am.
