Ambika Mod opens up about insecurity over looks despite One Day success

Ambika Mod shouted-out her soaring self-esteem to being cast in Netflix One Day.

The 27-year-old actress shot to fame after starring in series adaptation of author David Nicholls’ novel of the same name opposite Leo Woodall.

Speaking on the latest episode of Reign with Josh Smith podcast, Ambika revealed she was taunted over with her physical appearance which led her down a spiral of self-doubt and self-criticism.

She explained that she constantly had boys come up to her at school and tell her, “’You’re really ugly’. S*** like that.”

“That does still inform a lot of who I am,” the BBC alum explained. “So I guess that being cast as the romantic lead in a big TV show is pretty validating.”

“If I were in my villain era I'd be cackling, 'I proved you wrong!',” Ambika quipped.

The This Is Going To Hurt star went on to reveal her her struggles with depression and anxiety, noting: “I know what it feels like to go through a day where nothing is sparking joy and you just feel really hopeless and a bit futile for the future and all you're living in is self-doubt and self-criticism.”

“Seeing yourself on screen feeds into insecurities about how you look and how valued you are in society, how beautiful you feel — do people fall in love with someone who looks like me?” she continued.

“There's so much insidious messaging that comes with your face and people who look like you not being front and centre. I hope now that's changing.

“I feel like I've got to be the smartest, funniest person in the room because my looks aren't going to get me anywhere,” the actress added.