She has been hailed as one of the breakout stars thanks to her role in the biggest Marvel movie to hit screens yet.
But Letitia Wright, 24, is also gaining plenty of attention off screen for being candid about mental health issues and the stigma surrounding them.
The Guyanese-born British actress is positioning herself as an advocate by discussing her own battles with depression, and recently explained to Teen Vogue just why she has decided to share her story.
Opening up: Black Panther star Letitia Wright, 24, as opened up about her personal struggles with depression in a new interview
Speaking out: In an interview with Teen Vogue, the British actress discussed the need to talk about mental illness in the black community
Gearing up: Letitia will be reprising her role as Shuri in May’s Avengers: Infinity War
‘In the black community, it’s something that happens, but we don’t speak about it,’ she said.
‘We have to continue to talk about it and bring it straight to the forefront. And [that doesn’t only apply to] the black community but different races as well.’
Letitia is currently riding high on her appearance in the record-breaking Black Panther movie as Shuri, King T’Challa’s brilliant younger sister.
But just four years ago, the young actress took two years away from the business in order to prioritize her mental health, revealing that she found herself in a ‘repetitive cycle’ she couldn’t break out of.
In addition to her openness about depression, she is equally open about the thing she credits with getting her through the tough times: her faith.
Hitting the mark: Letitia (pictured with co-star Lupita Nyong’o) has been hailed as a breakout star in Black Panther
Big time: Letitia plays Shuri, the brilliant younger sister of the Black Panther, King T’Challa
In fact, Letitia is quick to encourage people who approach her for advice in battling depression to embrace spirituality.
‘I speak boldly about [depression] because I struggled with it and I tried to find different ways [to heal], and it just didn’t work,’ she explained.
‘I had to look deeper to find what could hold me, and I found that what held me together was my relationship with Jesus and my relationship with God.’
The results of her considered and faith-based method of healing are now on full display as she is not only due to return as Shuri in Avengers: Infinity War in May, but is also starring as Reb in Steven Spielberg’s Ready Player One, which hits theaters later this month.