Happy love and friendship month, Spotlighters! We just received the February issue of one of our favorite magazines ever – Ocean Drive magazin. Let me tell you, this month Ocean Drive is celebrating its 25th anniversary with breakout star Lili Reinhart on the cover.
The magazine features the Riverdale star in an exclusive interview accompanied by a jaw-dropping photo shoot by photographer James White.
In the interview, Lili opens up about playing the complex character Betty Cooper, her battle with depression and anxiety, and her feelings on being a young actress in the midst of Hollywood’s #MeToo movement.
The cover star also discusses her relationship with rumored boyfriend and Riverdale co-star Cole Sprouse and how opening up about mental health issues has helped young fans…
Before you get your hands and eyes on your February glossy magazine, here is our sneak peek… check it out!
On the advice from rumored boyfriend and Riverdale co-star Cole Sprouse about her recent rise to fame.
“He really brings us down to earth if we’re feeling like something we’ve said is being taken out of context. He’s always the one to be like, ‘Just ignore it. It will blow over.’ It’s a nice, calming energy he has, because you know that he’s been through it.”
On her thoughts on the #MeToo movement in Hollywood
“It’s disgusting that there are so many women and men who have stories about being sexually harassed in their workplace. I think that the men and women who are harassing—Harvey Weinstein, Louis C.K., Kevin Spacey—are getting exactly what they deserve, and they brought it upon themselves. By all means, strip these people of their careers because they don’t deserve it. It’s justice at its finest.”
On publicly sharing her battle with depression
“I remember being in middle and high school and hearing Demi Lovato speak up about her mental illness, and that was comforting. But I wanted more people to stand up. I needed more people to relate to. I was like, all these people can’t be so happy, can they? It was kind of like this unrealistic picture that was painted in front of me of all these happy, happy people, successful people, beautiful people. And even now I’m on this wonderful show. I have money in my bank account. I have my own apartment. I have friends. I still go through and experience depression. You don’t have to be ashamed of it. You don’t need to ever justify the way you feel.”
On how her fans have reacted to her open fight against depression
“I did a signing [at a] convention in Philadelphia and a couple of girls came up to me and told me with tears in their eyes: ‘You really helped me.’ One girl told me she had tried to commit suicide and reading what I had to say about mental health helped her get out of the hospital. I had no idea that the words I’m putting out there in the world were connecting with these young, beautiful people. I felt so honored and also so unworthy of their love.”
On playing the complex character of Betty Cooper on the hit TV drama, Riverdale
“Betty is the girl next door but there’s a dark side—a side riddled with anxiety and a dark alter ego. Yet she’s optimistic, even when she is going through the hardest things. There’s always a light inside her that can’t go out, and that’s beautiful.”
On her path to rediscovering her dreams
“Back home, I saw a therapist for six months, which helped me immensely. I came to the realization: What the hell else am I going to do? And that’s what it came down to. I don’t want to do anything else. So if I have to try.
You can read the full interview at Oceandrive.com
Images by James White
CourtesyofOcean Drive Magazine.
