Olly Alexander: “I couldn’t accept my identity” Queer joy and mental distress co-exist

There should be no shame in being who you are. Musician and actor Olly Alexander has felt first hand how grappling with your identity can lead to poor mental health.   In this chat with Fearne, Olly explains why he feels there’s such a high level of mental distress in the queer community, and how acting in It’s A Sin helped him unpack his own lived experience.   Both Fearne and Olly share their experiences of poor body image, wondering if bulimia felt like a helpful tool to regain control in an intimidating world. How can you go from disliking your body to recognising the brilliant things it can do for you?   Plus, how to let yourself off the hook when you’ve messed up at work or in a social situation, and what to do when you don’t feel you’ve ‘achieved’ enough to be of value...   Olly’s solo album, Polari, is out in February.   CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about suicide, self-harm, and bulimia, so take care while listening. ********************* Chapters: 00:00 - 02:30 - Opening Thoughts and Gymnastics Memories 02:31 - 07:00 - Cats: The True Rulers of the House 07:01 - 13:20 - Mental Health Struggles: Self-Harm and Anxiety 13:21 - 18:00 - Bullying, Eating Disorders, and Coping Mechanisms 18:01 - 23:00 - Coming Out and Understanding Identity 23:01 - 30:40 - The Impact of Inside Out and Emotional Growth 30:41 - 36:30 - The Power of It’s a Sin and LGBTQ+ History 36:31 - 41:00 - Polari and Creative Freedom ********************* ABOUT HAPPY PLACE Fearne's HAPPY PLACE is a place to celebrate honesty, authenticity and community. Fearne delves into life, love, loss and everything in-between by chatting to inspiring individuals who have made a change in their own lives or help other people to find different ways of seeing life as she reveals what happiness means to them. Happy Place is a space that is safe for all where difference is celebrated and the extraordinary is discovered. A place to focus on the positives and to help you find the joy every day - big or small. Still haven't subscribed to Fearne Cotton's Happy Place on Youtube? ► https://bit.ly/371zqza ABOUT FEARNE COTTON Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter, mother, broadcaster, writer and founder of Happy Place, a place where Fearne holds difficult but important conversations to encourage self-care and self-appreciation, creating a positive impact on the world, giving everyone a voice and actively listening. CONNECT WITH FEARNE COTTON Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fearnecotton Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fearnecotton/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/fearnecotton #OllyAlexander #MentalHealthAwareness #ItsASin #LGBTQ+#Polari