She grew up in a small Ohio town with big dreams of becoming a performer. But anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and eating disorders nearly stopped her before her career even began.
Today, Lili Reinhart is an A-list actress with more than 34 million social media followers — and she’s using her platform to advocate for mental health awareness, autoimmune disease education, and women’s health advocacy.
From Small-Town Dreams to Prime-Time Fame
Born in Cleveland and raised in Bay Village, Ohio, Reinhart discovered her love for singing, dancing, and acting at just 10 years old. Determined to succeed in the entertainment industry, she regularly traveled eight hours to New York City for open casting calls.
“I just felt like this young girl with a big dream that was nearly impossible,” she told Self in a past interview.
Her breakout moment came when she landed the role of Betty Cooper on Riverdale, the hit TV drama inspired by Archie Comics. The show premiered in 2017 and ran for seven seasons, turning Reinhart into a global star.
But her success didn’t come easily.
Panic Attacks, Depression, and Early Struggles
Reinhart has been open about experiencing her first panic attack in eighth grade. School often triggered overwhelming anxiety, and she later sought therapy, psychiatric care, and antidepressant treatment.
When she moved to Los Angeles at 18 to pursue acting full-time, her mental health worsened. Living in shared housing without a support system intensified her depression and anxiety, eventually forcing her to return home.
After regrouping and focusing on treatment, she gave Hollywood another shot — and within a month, she booked Riverdale.
Even after achieving fame, however, her health challenges continued.
A Worsening Medical Mystery
While filming later seasons of Riverdale, Reinhart contracted COVID-19 multiple times. The lingering fatigue became severe, with doctors noting she was sleeping up to 13 hours on weekends and still feeling exhausted — symptoms often associated with long COVID and chronic fatigue.
She underwent extensive blood work to rule out autoimmune disorders. Around the same time, she developed digestive issues and unexplained weight changes. Tests for Celiac disease and Crohn’s disease came back negative.
She also experienced hair loss and was diagnosed with alopecia, believed to be autoimmune-related.
Reinhart has spoken candidly about feeling dismissed during some medical visits, highlighting broader concerns about women’s health and delayed diagnoses.
Diagnosis: Interstitial Cystitis (IC)
In July 2024, while working in Germany, Reinhart developed symptoms similar to a urinary tract infection (UTI). However, repeated tests showed no infection.
After returning to Los Angeles, she consulted a urogynaecology specialist and was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC), a chronic bladder condition that causes inflammation, pelvic pain, and urinary discomfort.
According to the CDC, IC affects roughly 1% of people in the United States, primarily women. The condition is often misdiagnosed as recurrent UTIs, and there is currently no cure. Treatment typically focuses on symptom management. Reinhart now receives weekly bladder instillations to manage flare-ups.
Her openness about the diagnosis has contributed to increased awareness of chronic bladder disorders and invisible illnesses.
Personal Loss and Advocacy
Reinhart has said she felt more compelled to speak publicly about her health struggles after her grandmother’s cancer diagnosis was delayed in 2024. Her grandmother passed away in early 2025, reinforcing Reinhart’s belief in advocating for persistent symptoms to be taken seriously.
“She knew something was wrong and kept insisting on tests,” Reinhart shared in an interview.
The experience strengthened her commitment to women’s health awareness and medical self-advocacy.
Beyond Acting: Author and Entrepreneur
Outside of television, Reinhart has expanded her career into publishing and beauty entrepreneurship.
She released a poetry collection, Swimming Lessons: Poems, exploring themes of anxiety, depression, love, fame, and vulnerability.
In 2024, she launched her skincare brand, Personal Day, focused on realistic skin solutions inspired by her own struggles with cystic acne and sensitive skin.
Her most recent acting project is Hal & Harper, created by Cooper Raiff and co-starring Betty Gilpin and Mark Ruffalo.
“You Haven’t Seen What I’m Capable Of”
Despite her fame, Reinhart has said she still feels the need to prove herself creatively.
“You’ve seen me do Riverdale, but that’s basically all anyone’s ever seen,” she previously told Teen Vogue. “I want to show you that I can do more.”
Behind the red carpets and social media following is a performer navigating chronic illness, mental health recovery, and the complexities of fame — all while advocating for better conversations around autoimmune disease, mental health treatment, and women’s healthcare.
Her journey is a reminder that even Hollywood stars can face invisible battles — and that persistence, proper medical care, and self-advocacy can make all the difference.