For more than a decade, Sam Smith’s life and career have unfolded before the public eye, tracing a remarkable arc from wide-eyed newcomer to internationally recognized, Oscar-winning artist.
Yet behind the glittering awards and sold-out arenas lies a deeply personal journey of fear, self-discovery, and resilience.
Through career highs, mental health struggles, identity milestones, and creative reinvention, Smith has remained steadfast in refusing to let the world define them.
Instead, they have rewritten the narrative on their own terms, offering fans and observers a rare glimpse into both the artistry and humanity that define their journey.
In 2016, at just 23 years old, Sam Smith won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Writing’s on the Wall,” the theme from the James Bond film Spectre.
This achievement placed them in the exclusive history of the Bond franchise, making them the second performer after Adele to receive such an honor.
Prior to the Oscar, Smith had also won the Golden Globe for the track, a recognition that further cemented their early impact on the music industry.
At such a young age, the accolades were exhilarating but also overwhelming.
Smith had entered the global stage almost overnight, and while the awards marked a professional pinnacle, they also intensified the pressures of fame that would define much of the next several years.
Fame, Fear, and the Weight of Public Attention
The meteoric rise to stardom brought more than acclaim. It also brought anxiety, scrutiny, and a sense of vulnerability that Smith had not anticipated.
In interviews, they candidly admitted the toll fame took on their mental health. Speaking to The Sun in 2018, Smith said, “I get massive anxiety.
I really struggle.” They described experiences at award shows and public events as nearly paralyzing: “I thought I would be more in control of my body and emotions, but I get so nervous, to the point I’m almost having panic attacks.”
Smith often relied on the support of close friends and family to navigate these challenges.
“Sometimes I need people who I love around me to tell me, ‘Pull yourself together, you’re being a drama queen — it’s too much now, Sam, so rein it in,’” they recalled.
At the same time, they reflected on the emotional cost of fame: “The fame is something I thought I wanted, and when it happened, it scared me.”
This honesty struck a chord with fans worldwide, who recognized in Smith’s words a rare vulnerability from someone constantly in the public spotlight.
Sobriety, Clarity, and Healing
Amidst the highs and lows of touring, award shows, and public attention, Smith turned toward personal transformation.
By 2018, they had committed to sobriety, describing the clarity it brought to both their personal and professional life: “I never want to make promises, but being sober is something I’m interested in.
When I don’t drink and I’m not smoking cigarettes, when I’m completely clean, I feel so focused and happy.”
This period of introspection allowed Smith to break from destructive patterns and embrace new ways of engaging with life and creativity. “I am more fun when off the booze — it’s nice.
I am enjoying it now, and we will see how it goes,” they reflected. The process of self-care and self-awareness would become crucial in navigating the pressures of public life.
A Silent Struggle Becomes Public
Smith’s mental health challenges became impossible to hide by 2020, when they opened up about panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and the lingering effects of trauma.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, they revealed, “I’ve always been sad, but for the first time, I actually really had mental health issues, like panic attacks, anxiety, depression.
It really hit me hard. I think it was PTSD, probably from before.”
This openness came in the wake of several high-profile incidents. In 2019, Smith abruptly ended a performance in Cape Town due to anxiety and subsequently canceled several appearances, including a highly anticipated duet with Normani at the Billboard Music Awards.
Later that year, they addressed these struggles in a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing their experiences in therapy over the previous 18 months.
“Looking back on a year and a half of therapy and what has been probably the most challenging time of my short 27 years here,” Smith wrote, “I’ve watched and read so much over the last 6 months to try and make sense of all the mess in my head.
Tried to find ways to organize all of my problems so that they are bound and organized into folders and boxes, so that they will never haunt me or affect me again.”
Embracing Identity and Authenticity
One of the most defining moments in Smith’s journey came on September 13, 2019, when they publicly announced a change in pronouns to they/them.
“Today is a good day, so here goes,” Smith began. “I’ve decided I am changing my pronouns to THEY/THEM ❤ after a lifetime of being at war with my gender. I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out…”
This declaration represented a milestone in self-acceptance, allowing Smith to fully own their identity and communicate authenticity to a global audience.
It also positioned them as an influential figure in conversations about gender fluidity, self-expression, and representation in popular culture.
Creative Reinvention: New York, New Skin, and Freedom
By October 2025, Smith had relocated to New York City, marking a new chapter of both life and artistry.
Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, they radiated a sense of confidence and peace. “I have moved here. Crazy,” they said of the relocation.
When asked how it felt, Smith beamed, “Weirdly—not wearily — but being in New York, I feel the most free I’ve ever felt.”
This freedom translated directly into their creative endeavors.
At the time of the interview, Smith was preparing for a groundbreaking Brooklyn residency titled “To Be Free: New York City,” a project that promises to explore themes of identity, liberation, and artistry in an immersive, personal format.
A Decade of Transformation
Looking back over the past decade, Sam Smith’s journey is defined by resilience, self-discovery, and relentless pursuit of authenticity.
From the dizzying highs of winning an Oscar at 23 to the raw vulnerability of public mental health struggles, and from embracing their gender identity to embarking on bold new creative ventures, Smith has continually redefined what it means to live—and create—on one’s own terms.
Photographs spanning this period tell the visual story of that transformation:
the early days of wide-eyed fame, the intensity of global recognition, moments of private struggle, and ultimately, the emergence of a self-assured, empowered artist fully at peace with who they are.
Each image, each candid statement, is a reflection of growth, courage, and the profound human experience behind a life in the spotlight.
Sam Smith’s story is a testament to the idea that true artistry is inseparable from personal truth.
Through every high, low, reinvention, and revelation, they have shown the world that fame may be fleeting, but self-acceptance, creativity, and authenticity are enduring.
In sharing their journey so openly, Smith has offered more than music—they’ve offered a mirror in which fans and observers alike can see the courage to confront one’s fears, embrace one’s identity, and ultimately, transform.
For more than a decade, Sam Smith’s life and career have unfolded before the public eye, tracing a remarkable arc from wide-eyed newcomer to internationally recognized, Oscar-winning artist.
Yet behind the glittering awards and sold-out arenas lies a deeply personal journey of fear, self-discovery, and resilience.
Through career highs, mental health struggles, identity milestones, and creative reinvention, Smith has remained steadfast in refusing to let the world define them.
Instead, they have rewritten the narrative on their own terms, offering fans and observers a rare glimpse into both the artistry and humanity that define their journey.
In 2016, at just 23 years old, Sam Smith won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Writing’s on the Wall,” the theme from the James Bond film Spectre.
This achievement placed them in the exclusive history of the Bond franchise, making them the second performer after Adele to receive such an honor.
Prior to the Oscar, Smith had also won the Golden Globe for the track, a recognition that further cemented their early impact on the music industry.
At such a young age, the accolades were exhilarating but also overwhelming.
Smith had entered the global stage almost overnight, and while the awards marked a professional pinnacle, they also intensified the pressures of fame that would define much of the next several years.
Fame, Fear, and the Weight of Public Attention
The meteoric rise to stardom brought more than acclaim. It also brought anxiety, scrutiny, and a sense of vulnerability that Smith had not anticipated.
In interviews, they candidly admitted the toll fame took on their mental health. Speaking to The Sun in 2018, Smith said, “I get massive anxiety.
I really struggle.” They described experiences at award shows and public events as nearly paralyzing: “I thought I would be more in control of my body and emotions, but I get so nervous, to the point I’m almost having panic attacks.”
Smith often relied on the support of close friends and family to navigate these challenges.
“Sometimes I need people who I love around me to tell me, ‘Pull yourself together, you’re being a drama queen — it’s too much now, Sam, so rein it in,’” they recalled.
At the same time, they reflected on the emotional cost of fame: “The fame is something I thought I wanted, and when it happened, it scared me.”
This honesty struck a chord with fans worldwide, who recognized in Smith’s words a rare vulnerability from someone constantly in the public spotlight.
Sobriety, Clarity, and Healing
Amidst the highs and lows of touring, award shows, and public attention, Smith turned toward personal transformation.
By 2018, they had committed to sobriety, describing the clarity it brought to both their personal and professional life: “I never want to make promises, but being sober is something I’m interested in.
When I don’t drink and I’m not smoking cigarettes, when I’m completely clean, I feel so focused and happy.”
This period of introspection allowed Smith to break from destructive patterns and embrace new ways of engaging with life and creativity. “I am more fun when off the booze — it’s nice.
I am enjoying it now, and we will see how it goes,” they reflected. The process of self-care and self-awareness would become crucial in navigating the pressures of public life.
A Silent Struggle Becomes Public
Smith’s mental health challenges became impossible to hide by 2020, when they opened up about panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and the lingering effects of trauma.
In an interview with Zane Lowe on Apple Music, they revealed, “I’ve always been sad, but for the first time, I actually really had mental health issues, like panic attacks, anxiety, depression.
It really hit me hard. I think it was PTSD, probably from before.”
This openness came in the wake of several high-profile incidents. In 2019, Smith abruptly ended a performance in Cape Town due to anxiety and subsequently canceled several appearances, including a highly anticipated duet with Normani at the Billboard Music Awards.
Later that year, they addressed these struggles in a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing their experiences in therapy over the previous 18 months.
“Looking back on a year and a half of therapy and what has been probably the most challenging time of my short 27 years here,” Smith wrote, “I’ve watched and read so much over the last 6 months to try and make sense of all the mess in my head.
Tried to find ways to organize all of my problems so that they are bound and organized into folders and boxes, so that they will never haunt me or affect me again.”
Embracing Identity and Authenticity
One of the most defining moments in Smith’s journey came on September 13, 2019, when they publicly announced a change in pronouns to they/them.
“Today is a good day, so here goes,” Smith began. “I’ve decided I am changing my pronouns to THEY/THEM ❤ after a lifetime of being at war with my gender. I’ve decided to embrace myself for who I am, inside and out…”
This declaration represented a milestone in self-acceptance, allowing Smith to fully own their identity and communicate authenticity to a global audience.
It also positioned them as an influential figure in conversations about gender fluidity, self-expression, and representation in popular culture.
Creative Reinvention: New York, New Skin, and Freedom
By October 2025, Smith had relocated to New York City, marking a new chapter of both life and artistry.
Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, they radiated a sense of confidence and peace. “I have moved here. Crazy,” they said of the relocation.
When asked how it felt, Smith beamed, “Weirdly—not wearily — but being in New York, I feel the most free I’ve ever felt.”
This freedom translated directly into their creative endeavors.
At the time of the interview, Smith was preparing for a groundbreaking Brooklyn residency titled “To Be Free: New York City,” a project that promises to explore themes of identity, liberation, and artistry in an immersive, personal format.
A Decade of Transformation
Looking back over the past decade, Sam Smith’s journey is defined by resilience, self-discovery, and relentless pursuit of authenticity.
From the dizzying highs of winning an Oscar at 23 to the raw vulnerability of public mental health struggles, and from embracing their gender identity to embarking on bold new creative ventures, Smith has continually redefined what it means to live—and create—on one’s own terms.
Photographs spanning this period tell the visual story of that transformation:
the early days of wide-eyed fame, the intensity of global recognition, moments of private struggle, and ultimately, the emergence of a self-assured, empowered artist fully at peace with who they are.
Each image, each candid statement, is a reflection of growth, courage, and the profound human experience behind a life in the spotlight.
Sam Smith’s story is a testament to the idea that true artistry is inseparable from personal truth.
Through every high, low, reinvention, and revelation, they have shown the world that fame may be fleeting, but self-acceptance, creativity, and authenticity are enduring.
In sharing their journey so openly, Smith has offered more than music—they’ve offered a mirror in which fans and observers alike can see the courage to confront one’s fears, embrace one’s identity, and ultimately, transform.
