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Content note: This article refers to self-harm without describing methods. Six public figures have attributable accounts in the sources reviewed here; the available evidence does not support a verified list of 20. These disclosures describe what people said or what reporters documented at the time, not anyone’s current health.
Why this is a shorter list than the title suggests
A list of 20 would require reliable, specific sources for every person on it. The evidence available for this topic substantiates six examples. Extending the list with rumors, interpretations of scars, or mentions that lack a traceable first-person account would turn uncertainty into a claim about someone’s private life.
Self-harm histories should not be inferred from photographs, visible scars, suicide attempts, or separate disclosures about mental health. The examples below are included because a named source reported the person’s own account or described it in a specific interview or profile. They are not ranked, and none establishes a diagnosis, a universal explanation, or present-day status.
Six public accounts, with their context
Diana, Princess of Wales
In her 1995 BBC interview, Diana spoke about hurting herself and about shame and low self-worth. In the transcript hosted by PBS/FRONTLINE, she said, “Well, I just hurt my arms and my legs; and I work in environments now where I see women doing similar things and I’m able to understand completely where they’re coming from.” This is an account from that interview, not evidence about her health at any other time. Read the interview transcript at PBS/FRONTLINE.
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Willow Smith
SELF reported that Smith discussed a past experience of self-harm with Jada Pinkett Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris on Red Table Talk in 2018. The report supports saying that she discussed a past experience; it should not be expanded into claims about causes or her current wellbeing. Read SELF’s report.
Dame Kelly Holmes
ITV reported that Holmes discussed depression and self-harm during her athletics career. That period-specific account does not establish her current health. Read ITV’s interview page.
Lady Gaga
In an interview with ELLE, Gaga described a history of self-harm and reflected on seeking help. Her explanation is personal testimony, not clinical guidance or a rule that applies to everyone. Read the ELLE interview.
Shirley Manson
In a 2018 Guardian interview, Garbage singer Shirley Manson described herself as having been “a cutter” in her teenage years and discussed difficulty talking about feelings in her family. The statement belongs to that account and period. Read the Guardian interview.
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Christina Ricci
A 2017 Guardian profile reported periods of self-harm in Ricci’s past. It does not establish a cause or say anything about her current health. Read the Guardian profile.
How to read claims about other celebrities
Names can circulate in articles about celebrity self-harm without a sufficiently specific source for a definitive list. A Cornell-hosted academic paper and a Guardian overview mention other public figures in historical discussion, but those passing references are not enough on their own to establish each person’s account. They should not be treated as confirmation without checking the underlying reporting.
Fiona Apple’s 2006 Guardian interview illustrates why context matters: when asked whether she still self-harmed, she denied it and said her arm was itchy. That exchange is not evidence of current self-harm. Read the interview. The broader discussion of self-harm and media framing is available in the Guardian overview and a Cornell-hosted academic paper.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why careful coverage matters
These are personal disclosures, not templates for understanding someone else. The fact that a public figure shared an experience does not tell readers what caused it, how common it is, or what response is right for another person. Media researchers have raised concerns that depictions and disclosures may circulate ideas associated with self-injury; that concern is not proof that any particular interview causes harm.
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Responsible coverage avoids graphic descriptions and injury imagery, does not label self-harm as attention-seeking, and does not equate it with a suicide attempt. If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, contact a trusted person or a qualified health professional. For urgent danger, use emergency or crisis support services available where you live.
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