Glenn Close candidly opens up on living with depression, ‘For me, it’s part of being a human being’

Glenn Close is a force in Hollywood, known for barrier-breaking, bold and brilliantly acted performances.

From the infamous bunny boiler scene in Fatal Attraction to her camp Cruella DeVille in 101 Dalmatians, she is a bonafide legend.

But it’s recounting her real life stories that have got people praising the star lately, as she continues her work as an advocate for mental health.

In a past interview with People, Glenn revealed that depression is something which has lived around her “like a mist” – dating back to childhood.

"On my mom's side, there was a lot of depression," the Damages actress shared. "I did know that her half brother had committed suicide and that her own mother was depressed."

She then unflinchingly revealed her own diagnosis with depression, following "a series of tests".

While the Dangerous Liaisons star "would not label [herself] as a depressed person" she did add that she “[thinks] what I've lived with, probably a good portion of my life, is a low-grade depression.”

Describing depression as a "mist or veil" that falls over her, Glenn said she's "gotten so used to living with it".

"It's not something you think of much," she added. "I take a daily dose of anti- depressants, not a huge dose, and it helps.”

“For me, it’s part of being a human being. It’s part of the human condition.”

Glenn’s history with mental health dates back to helping her sister and nephew, who both suffer from a schizo-affective disorder.

"Most families are dealing with some aspect of mental health," Glenn shared in an interview back in 2021. "When my sister Jess came to me and said, 'I need help because I can't stop thinking of killing myself,' it was like a bolt out of nowhere."

She added, “When you look back, I saw evidence of Jessie's mental distress when she was very young. She would rub her fingers... when she was anxious, until it was raw, sometimes bleeding. And now, that would be a major red flag."

As a way to support her family – and other families going through similar - she started Bring Change to Mind, a charity that creates campaigns, curates storytelling movements, and develops youth programmes to encourage conversation around mental health – banishing the stigma and encouraging a better attitude towards seeking both help and knowledge.

Along with Glenn, people are becoming more open about their mental health status. Pop superstar Lizzo recently shared that fame hasn’t helped her battle with depression and First Lady Michelle Obama has shared simple tools she relies on for battles with low moods.