Why Lana Condor Felt 'Horrible' After TATBILB Came Out
To All the Boys I've Loved Before proved to be a smash hit for Netflix, spawning two sequels and catapulting its stars, Lana Condor and Noah Centineo, to superstardom. Despite the incredible success of the film, Condor struggled after its release. The actress recently opened up to Self about her mental health after the film came out in 2018.
To be clear, it wasn't the film itself that caused Condor to struggle, but rather the pressure that comes from being a movie star who also happens to be filming a TV show at the same time. "It changed much of my life very quickly," she explained. "And then I was shooting this television show [Deadly Class] that was really dark."
Condor soon found herself overwhelmed by her hectic schedule, which included not only shooting Deadly Class but also being thrust into the spotlight because of TATBILB. "I was just saying yes to everything because it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you want to capitalize on it, and you want to feel like you're fully embracing everything," she revealed. "But I've never felt more horrible mentally. I was so burned out... I would go home at night and I couldn't speak. I couldn't eat. I couldn't sleep. I would shake going to bed and shake waking up because it was just so much stimulation."
Lana Condor is doing much better now
Condor eventually realized that she needed to get help and confided in the people close to her. "So once I shared it and was vulnerable with my team, it was a huge change," she said. "They really have helped me navigate the industry now in a much more healthy way, where I feel like I can do what I love and also be the person that I want to be for myself."
This isn't the only time Condor has spoken about her mental health. Condor previously opened up about how she handles her anxiety in a 2019 video for the YouTube series Hi Anxiety. She also spoke to Elle Canada that year about her relationship with food. "I know what it's like to have an eating disorder and body dysmorphia — and also what it's like to be a friend to someone who has that," she said. "I think it's time to give people comfort. You have to eat. You have to stop thinking that a certain body shape is ideal, because it's not."
If you are struggling with an eating disorder, or know someone who is, help is available. Visit the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) website or contact NEDA's Live Helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also receive 24/7 Crisis Support via text (send NEDA to 741-741).