Emma Thompson is taking the year off from acting to battle depression

Emma Thompson, who yesterday received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, is taking some time off from acting to recover from depression, something far too many people suffer silently from.

The talented actress and screenwriter has always been open about her struggle with depression, before saying at her darkest time (in her early 20s) she couldn’t even wash or change her clothes. Claiming that she is prone to depression and mental illness, she’s experienced bouts of it throughout her life, but had a particularly bad case postpartum depression after the birth of her daughter Gaia Romilly with second husband Greg Wise.

She told the Hollywood Reporter:

“I find the job I do emotionally very demanding. I suffer from occasional mild depression, which I think is a very common thing — it’s fantastically common in my country and probably in yours, too — and it’s a very much hidden thing people don’t talk about. I think it should be discussed.”