NEWS'Cobra Kai' Star Peyton List Claims She Needs More Time 'To Reflect' On Childhood Struggles Before Going Public With Mental Health Issues
Feb. 7 2022, Published 8:09 p.m. ET
Peyton List has started to open up about her experience as a child star in Hollywood — but she still isn't ready to talk about her personal struggles.
In an interview with Grazia Gazette, the Cobra Kai actress revealed she has dealt with mental health struggles during her time in the industry but that she needs more time before fully opening up to her fan base.
According to the outlet, she described herself as a "closed-off person," which is why she hasn't divulged much about her mental health to the public.
"I just haven't talked about any of it," she shared, although she did hint at potentially opening up sometime in the future.
"I think I will [ultimately] tell [the public] because I think that a lot of women have been helped by other," the former Disney Channel star explained.
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“I feel like older actors share things from their 20’s that are wild and insane, but they share it way later when they feel comfortable," she continued. "I almost feel like that is how I am too with my childhood. I need time in order to reflect and then tell everyone what was happening.”
She also referenced fellow Disney Channel alums Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato, who have both been outspoken about their mental health journeys. List told the outlet that she felt she could "relate" to the former child stars when they came out with their personal struggles because she too has her own story to tell.
While List is now known for her role as Tory Nichols on the hit show Cobra Kai, many recognize her from her time as a child actor on the Disney Channel show Jessie.
Like many of her predecessors — including Miley Cyrus and Zendaya — List has also been trying to break away from her Disney role, which isn't always easy.
"That was kind of a weird time, going into casting offices and reading for them and hoping that they don’t have some sort of pre-conceived idea of who I am. Sometimes I think it has helped me, because they expect something different than who I am," she candidly explained. "I think people are more open to it now, but I think a lot of girls that were on Disney before me have already shattered that, like Selena, Zendaya, and all of these girls who have been doing really well.”
