Ariel Winter relived her own mental health struggles while filming her new movie Dog Years.

The 19-year-old actress has left her sensible Modern Family alter ego Alex Dunphy behind with her latest big screen venture, about a former movie star, played by Burt Reynolds, struggling to come to terms with ageing.

Ariel plays Lil, a rebellious young chauffeur, someone who the actress related to on a number of levels thanks to her own life experiences.

"Lil is in an abusive relationship that she finally gets out of, and through her, the movie also puts a spotlight on mental illness. That's something that's been really important for me," the star, who became officially emancipated in 2015 after alleging that her mother had been physically and emotionally abusive, told Maxim magazine.

"That's been my whole life, ever since I was a kid. There's a scene in the movie where Lil rattles off a bunch of different antidepressants and anti-anxiety pills she's taken, and the thing is, I've actually taken most of them. When I recited that whole thing, a lot of it was just reciting experiences."

Ariel hopes this movie will help stop mental health being such a taboo, as she insists a bigger discussion is needed about it.

It wasn't all emotional on set though and the brunette beauty loved every minute of working with legendary actor Burt, 81.

"I didn't know much about him, I'll be honest," she admitted. "I did a lot of research and was like, this guy is an absolute legend. I love Burt to pieces. He's the most kind, genuine, talented man you'll ever work with, and we just have such a connection."

She even hinted that the pair cried when watching the finished version of Dog Years after growing so close.