Cara Delevingne struggled to cope with the pressures of fame during her younger years.

The 34-year-old star has enjoyed success as a model, an actress, and as a singer - but Cara admits she tried to "numb" herself during her younger years.

The London-born star - who has struggled with substance abuse in the past - told ELLE: "I feel so much more excited and open about everything at this stage in my life.

"I numbed myself for a pretty long time and felt numb in general, even if I wasn't numbing myself to what I was doing. I didn't feel as grateful as I do now because it was just so intense, and I found that whirlwind of being recognised quite difficult. I'm just open to anything at this point."

Cara is poised to release her debut solo album Not Normal, and she's explained how Samara Weaving came to star in her Crazy, Baby music video.

Asked how the collaboration came about, Cara shared: "Sam and I met through Margot Robbie. I love those Australians.

"I was so grateful and lucky that she said yes in such a short amount of time. Also, just super weird because we've been friends for such a long time and you're like, oh my God, we have to kiss? But that song is inspired by my partner of four years, who I love and adore.

"She's written with me on two songs on the album and we now work together quite a lot, which I love. She's such a talented musician. She has skills that I do not and we balance each other out in such an amazing way in the studio and in life."

Cara also joked that she struggles to write love songs.

She said: "I also feel very funny and cliché about writing love songs -- maybe it's the English in me that I just want to write about darkness and depression -- but it's definitely more of the upbeat, poppier song of the album."