I’m A Celebrity star Shona McGarty has opened up about her five-year battle with depression and anxiety.

The actress shot to fame as Whitney Dean on BBC’s EastEnders back in 2008 before leaving in 2024. Currently, she is roughing it up in the Aussie jungle for the new series of I’m A Celebrity – that returns today (November 29).

However, behind the scenes, Shona struggles with anxiety and depression, with the soap star revealing she is helped by taking medication and attending therapy.

The I’m A Celebrity star has candidly opened up (Credit: ITV)

I’m A Celebrity’s Shona McGarty on ‘horrible’ depression battle

Shona was just a teen when she was catapulted to stardom thanks to her role on BBC’s EastEnders. But according to Shona, growing up on TV was “hard” because “your life changes”.

The soap star also admitted that trying to hide her emotions and feelings as a youngster ‘took a toll on her’.

In a candid interview from earlier this month, Shona lifted the lid on her “horrible” battle with depression. She told The Sun: “It’s been horrible. It’s been quite hard sometimes, and I’m sure a lot of people can relate.”

She now takes medication (Credit: ITV)

Shona’s depression ‘has been pretty bad’

Shona then noted that since she entered the industry as a youngster, she was “taught” to “just say, ‘fine’ and you fake it till you make it, kind of thing”.

However, the TV star added: “But that can take its toll on you, and I think it did. I’ve had a little bit of therapy, I take anxiety and depression medication, which has really helped me. Growing up on the telly, it is hard because your life changes.”

I don’t want to let the anxiety win.

Meanwhile talking to MailOnline, Shona also explained: “My anxiety and my depression has been pretty bad over the last, I’d say, at least four or five years. That has stopped me from doing a lot of things I’ve always wanted to do, and I’ve come to a point in my life where I don’t want to let the anxiety win.”