Cara Delevingne is reflecting on the difficult side of fame as she enters a new chapter of her career.
The British model, actress and musician says she spent years trying to “numb” herself while struggling with the intensity of being recognized and living much of her adult life in the public eye. Now 34, Delevingne says she feels more grateful, open and excited about what comes next.
Her comments arrive as she prepares to release Not Normal, her debut solo album, on September 25. The 12-track record draws from her experiences with fame, sobriety, relationships and self-acceptance, marking another major creative shift for an artist who has already built successful careers across modeling, film and television.
For actors and creatives navigating their own careers, her story also highlights an often-overlooked reality of the entertainment business: professional success does not necessarily make the pressures surrounding that success easier to manage.
Cara Delevingne Reflects on “Numbing” Herself During Fame
Delevingne became internationally famous at a young age, rising through the fashion industry before moving into acting and other creative work.
Looking back, she says the experience was more difficult than it appeared from the outside.
Speaking with ELLE, she explained that she spent a significant period feeling emotionally numb and found the “whirlwind” of being constantly recognized particularly challenging. Today, she says she approaches life with a greater sense of gratitude and openness.
That perspective reflects a significant change from the period she publicly discussed several years earlier.
In a candid 2023 Vogue interview, Delevingne revealed that she had entered treatment and committed to sobriety after realizing she needed to make major changes in her life. Rather than describing the process as something that simply ends, she said she prefers to think of it as ongoing “healing.”
Cara Delevingne Is Entering a New Chapter With Not Normal
Music is now becoming a major part of that next chapter.
Her debut album Not Normal is scheduled for release on September 25, 2026, through Warner Music. The project contains 12 tracks and explores experiences from different periods of her life, including material she began developing years ago.
Delevingne told ELLE that the album has given her another way to express herself after years of working in industries where other people often controlled the final creative product.
That distinction is significant.
As a model, she interprets a designer’s vision. As an actress, she performs a character created within someone else’s story. Music offers her the opportunity to communicate directly through her own words and experiences.
Cara Delevingne Says Music Helped Her Stay Grounded
The album is closely connected to Delevingne’s personal growth.
Recent reporting on the project says creating Not Normal became part of the process that helped her remain focused on sobriety and build a healthier relationship with herself.
That continues a journey she began discussing publicly in 2023.
At the time, she explained that treatment gave her the community and support she needed. She also spoke about learning to sit with difficult emotions rather than continually trying to escape them.
Years later, those experiences appear to be feeding directly into her creative work.
“Crazy, Baby” Was Inspired by Her Long-Term Partner
One of the album’s more personal songs is “Crazy, Baby.”
Delevingne says the track was inspired by her partner of four years, British musician Minke, whose real name is Leah Mason.
Their relationship has also become creatively collaborative. According to Delevingne, Minke has writing credits on two songs from the album, and the pair increasingly work together in the studio.
Delevingne said their different musical abilities complement each other both creatively and personally.
The song also pushes her into territory she jokingly admits does not always come naturally: writing upbeat love songs.
She told ELLE that she tends to gravitate toward darker subjects, making “Crazy, Baby” one of the album’s more upbeat pop moments.
Samara Weaving Stars in the “Crazy, Baby” Music Video
The music video adds another recognizable Hollywood name to Delevingne’s new era.
Ready or Not actress Samara Weaving appears alongside her in the “Crazy, Baby” video.
The two met through Margot Robbie, and Delevingne said she was grateful that Weaving agreed to participate with relatively little notice.
Their longtime friendship also created an amusing complication when the video required them to kiss. Delevingne recalled the surreal feeling of suddenly having to perform a romantic moment with someone she had known socially for years.
The collaboration illustrates another way her career worlds are beginning to overlap: fashion, acting, music and celebrity relationships are all feeding into the visual identity surrounding the album.
From Modeling to Hollywood and Music
Delevingne’s move into music is the latest reinvention in an unusually varied entertainment career.
She became one of the most recognizable models of the early 2010s, working with major fashion houses before increasingly pursuing acting.
Her screen credits include:
- Paper Towns
- Suicide Squad
- Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
- Carnival Row
- Only Murders in the Building
- American Horror Story
She later added theater to that résumé.
In 2024, Delevingne made her West End stage debut as Sally Bowles in Cabaret at London’s Kit Kat Club, performing opposite Luke Treadaway as the Emcee.
The role was particularly notable because it combined acting, singing and live performance — skills that now connect naturally with her move toward recording music.
6 Things to Know About Cara Delevingne’s New Era
Delevingne’s latest interview connects several important developments in her personal and professional life:
- She has a different relationship with fame. After struggling with the intensity of public recognition, she says she now feels more grateful and open about life.
- Sobriety remains an important part of her story. She publicly revealed in 2023 that she had sought treatment and committed to a 12-step program.
- Her debut album is called Not Normal. The 12-track record is scheduled for September 25.
- Her experiences influence the music. The album explores fame, relationships, sobriety and self-acceptance.
- Her partner Minke contributed to the record. Delevingne says they worked together on two songs.
- Samara Weaving stars in the “Crazy, Baby” video. The actresses became friends after meeting through Margot Robbie.
Together, these developments show Delevingne moving into a phase where her different creative interests are becoming increasingly connected.
Her Sobriety Journey Became Public in 2023
Delevingne first spoke extensively about her decision to seek treatment in a 2023 Vogue cover story.
After an intense period of travel and work, photographs of her at Van Nuys Airport in September 2022 generated public concern. Delevingne later said seeing those images became an important reality check.
She subsequently entered treatment and committed to a 12-step program.
Rather than framing sobriety as a quick transformation, Delevingne has consistently described it as ongoing work. She told Vogue that she preferred the word “healing” to “recovery” because the process continues rather than reaching a simple endpoint.
Her new comments suggest that perspective continues to influence how she approaches both her personal life and career.
Stay Updated on Casting News With Project Casting
Whether you’re following Hollywood’s biggest filmmakers or looking for your next acting opportunity, Project Casting keeps you connected with the entertainment industry.
Explore the latest casting calls and jobs, stay informed with entertainment news, and if you have any questions, visit or email.
FAQs
What Did Cara Delevingne Say About Feeling Numb?
Cara Delevingne said she spent a long period numbing herself and struggled with the intensity of being recognized during her younger years. She now says she feels more grateful, excited and open about her life.
When Is Not Normal Being Released?
Not Normal, Delevingne’s debut solo album, is scheduled for release on September 25, 2026, through Warner Music. The record contains 12 tracks and draws heavily from her personal experiences.
Who Is in Cara Delevingne’s “Crazy, Baby” Music Video?
Actress Samara Weaving stars with Delevingne in the “Crazy, Baby” music video. The two became friends after meeting through Margot Robbie, and the song itself was inspired by Delevingne’s partner, musician Minke.
