When you see Sarah Silverman on stage, you would never think she was suffering on the inside.

Confident, irreverent and absolutely hilarious, the 44-year-old writer, actress and producer looks like she was born to entertain.

This is the woman who, while dating Jimmy Kimmel, went on his show and played him a music video in which she and Matt Damon starred called “I’m F—king Matt Damon”.

It’s a classic. You can watch it here:

But, reminding us that looks can be deceiving, the 44-year-old penned an essay for Glamour magazine about the depression and anxiety she has suffered from the age of 13.

And, learning that Silverman – a celebrity, a comedian, a successful woman who appears to be living the good life – has depression is genuinely shocking, as hearing that news about anyone often is.

Like the world was shocked when much-loved funnyman Robin Williams took his own life last year.

No matter how many times we hear that mental illness doesn’t discriminate, there’s still a perception that those with glamorous-looking lifestyles would surely not be marred by the punishing and potentially devastating condition.

Sarah Silverman with comedy goddess Tina Fey. Image via Facebook.

It’s why celebrities speaking out about their mental health issues is incredibly important. Each time someone like Hayden Panettiere, Cara Delevingne, Ryan Phillipe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Owen Wilson, Gwyneth Paltrow or Ashley Judd openly discusses the times in which they have struggled, others feel less alone. It reminds us to look beyond the veneer of the smiling faces of our friends and family members and search for any red flags that show they are not coping.

The more famous people that talk about mental illness, the more regular these reminders become. And, hopefully, the more people feel able to discuss their own problems with their loved ones, colleagues and medical professionals.

Sarah Silverman: “I couldn’t deal with being with my friends, I didn’t go to school for months, and I started having panic attacks.” Image via Facebook.

Silverman says years of medication – at one point she was taking 16 Xanax a day – left her like “a zombie walking through life”, before a therapist helped her get off the pills. Now, she says regular therapy and a small dose of medication has helped her learn to live with and control her depression.

If this post brings up issues for you, or you just need someone to talk to, please call Lifeline on 131 114.