Happy Place

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

Dec 9, 2024

Olly Alexander, musician and actor known for his work with Years & Years and his role in 'It's A Sin', opens up about the struggles of identity and mental health in the queer community. He shares how portraying a character in 'It’s A Sin' helped him confront personal challenges. The discussion delves into body image issues and the complexities of fame, emphasizing the need for self-acceptance. Olly highlights the significance of his upcoming album 'Polari', which connects to the rich history of queer cultural expression.

46:04

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Olly Alexander

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Quick takeaways

Olly Alexander emphasizes that grappling with one's identity, particularly in the queer community, often leads to significant mental health challenges exacerbated by societal shame.

The historical context and significance of Polari, the slang language, highlights the importance of cultural heritage and communication within marginalized communities, illustrating its influence on Olly's upcoming album.

The conversation illustrates the dual nature of fame, revealing that external success can coexist with internal struggles, particularly regarding self-worth and performance-related anxiety.

Deep dives

Exploring Identity and Mental Health

The discussion centers on the complexities of identity, particularly within the queer community, and its impact on mental health. Individuals have inherited feelings of shame that often arise from societal pressures and norms surrounding their sexual orientation. The guest, Olly Alexander, shares his personal struggles with mental health issues, highlighting how coming to terms with his identity played a significant role in his experiences of shame and acceptance. This conversation reflects a broader issue where many in the queer community face similar challenges, underlining the importance of recognizing and addressing these inherited struggles.

Intro

4min

Exploring Identity, Mental Health, and the Comfort of Cats

3min

Cats, Comedy, and Cultural Connections

4min

Navigating Queer Identity and Mental Health

19min

The Unanticipated Burden of Fame

2min

Navigating Success and Self-Worth

14min

Reflections on Vulnerability and Connection

3min

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.

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