Tuppence Middleton, known for her role in Downton Abbey, has shared a deeply personal experience about living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The actress revealed that her condition has impacted many aspects of her life, including her work.
She confessed that her fears became so intense that even performing kissing scenes with co-stars triggered anxiety.
OCD and Kissing Scenes: A Hidden Fear
While portraying Elizabeth Taylor opposite Johnny Flynn as Richard Burton on stage, Middleton found herself grappling with intense fears about catching norovirus.
The thought process behind her fear was that Flynn’s children might get sick, and he would catch it while caring for them.
Then, during their intimate scenes, she worried that he could unknowingly pass it on to her.
Middleton explained how this spiral of anxiety often took hold, especially during close physical moments like kissing.
“If you use tongues, there’s more chance for infection… that’s a high-risk area for someone with OCD,” she said in an interview.
Despite being open with Flynn, it didn’t ease her worries completely, and this anxiety affected her ability to perform.
A Daily Struggle: The Impact on Life and Career
In her memoir, Scorpions, Middleton describes how her OCD manifests in daily routines.
One of her compulsions is needing to open and close doors multiple times before leaving.
She also likened OCD to a “constant background noise” in her life, one that she has had to manage throughout her career.
It’s a struggle that has even impacted her decision to turn down certain scenes due to fear of contamination.
During a conversation with Bryony Gordon on her Life of Bryony podcast, Middleton explained how the nature of her job makes it even more challenging.
New roles bring new routines, new environments, and new people to interact with—all of which can trigger her checking behaviors.
Parenthood Brings New OCD Challenges
Middleton also revealed how becoming a parent introduced new aspects of her OCD to manage.
She spoke about how she would frequently check whether the stair gate for her child was properly shut—even though she knew it had been.
The compulsion would get so overwhelming that she would ask her partner to check it, despite being certain she had already done so herself.
OCD continues to be a daily challenge for Middleton, who says that while some people may overcome the condition, she feels it’s something she lives with on a fluctuating scale.
“Every job I take on comes with a new set of people, a new setting, and new routines I have to establish,” she added.
Living With OCD: A Constant Battle
Despite the difficulties, Middleton shared that she is learning to live with her condition, even though it remains a constant part of her life.
She acknowledged that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution to overcoming OCD, but it’s something she’s learned to manage with varying degrees of severity at different times.
As she continues to navigate her career and personal life, Middleton remains open about the ongoing challenges of living with OCD and the importance of understanding mental health struggles.
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