Shailene Woodley almost quit acting after The Descendants

Actress Shailene Woodley contemplated quitting acting after starring in The Descendants, because she struggled with the pressure to "live up to other people's expectations".

The Divergent star reveals she started to feel uncomfortable after garnering critical acclaim for her performance in the 2011 George Clooney film, and she seriously considered giving up her fledgling screen career.

She tells Vanity Fair magazine, "Somebody came to me and said, 'I can't wait to see what you do next.' I took that as pressure - that I had to live up to somebody else's expectations.

"There were a few months where I was like, 'I don't want to act anymore.' And then I got over it and realized it's none of my business what other people think of me."

Woodley also credits co-star Clooney with helping her to embrace Hollywood again.

She continues, "He has been an angel in my life for many reasons. He knew everyone's name on set. He treated everyone as an equal and everyone got his warmth."

Clooney has also heaped praise on the 22 year old, stating, "Shailene can do whatever she wants. If she wants to be a movie star, she has it. If she wants to change the world, she will. Her talent and kindness go hand in hand."