Kirsten Dunst 'Melancholia': Actress Depression Experiences Led to Award Winning Performance

Kirsten Dunst is promoting her new movie Melancholia, and says her own battle with depression helped her translate her troubled character.

When asked about dealing with depression Dunst who appears on the Ellen Show today says, “It’s not something I feel like totally comfortable talking about but yeah, it’s a very personal thing."

Dunst grabbed headlines back in 2008 after she checked herself into the Cirque Lodge rehab facility to deal with her depression.

The 29-year-old spoke about the unrealistic expectations and the pressure she faces as an actress saying, "It’s a lot to ask of a person. It’s not a normal thing."

She went on to say, "It’s also interesting as an actress you’re supposed to be sensitive and vulnerable and have this side to you. But then you're supposed to be super sociable and ‘on’ and like nice to everybody. That’s a weird dichotomy."

In a recent interview with Elle UK Dunst talked about getting into character, “I brought my own slant but I am very much portraying Lars’ experience of depression. We met before I did the movie and talked about how the light goes out of your eyes."

She refers to the film's director Lars Von Tier as his own personal battle with the disease is said to have comforted Dunst while on set.

Dunst gave credit to Von Tier while at the film's London Premiere telling The Telegraph, "Mostly the people around him, producers, costume designers are all female so it was a very nurturing set to be on. So I felt very free to be vulnerable in that environment."

Von Tier caused controversy after making careless remarks about Hitler at The Cannes Film festival.

Despite his comments, Melancholia received eight nominations and saw Dunst take home the award for Best Actress.