Lady Gaga has revealed that doesn’t like to ‘torture herself’ while thinking about her demons, despite always ‘looking for an out’ at the height of her struggles.

The star, 38, has announced her return to music with her new album Mayhem, and as the cover star of ELLE UK’s March 2025 issue, she has spoken about she tries to ‘celebrate’ her darker moments.

Posing for an eye-catching shoot with the publication, Gaga admitted that she ‘used to drink and smoke and lot’ before finding an ‘escape route,’ and has been grateful she is able to share that struggle with her followers through her new music.

She said: ‘Trying to escape. I used to drink a lot and smoke a lot, and I was always looking for an out. 

‘I used to call it the trap door. I used to be like, ”I need an escape route.” And I stopped doing that. And I actually started feeling it. Being present. As an artist, it’s hard to go through that and not want to share that with my fans.’

Gaga went onto share that through the making of her seventh album, which will be released on March 7, she’s rediscovered the chaotic parts of herself that she thought were a thing of the past.

Lady Gaga has revealed that doesn’t like to ‘torture herself’ while thinking about her demons, despite always ‘looking for an out’ at the height of her struggles

The star has announced her return to music with her new album, and as the cover star of ELLE UK’s March 2025 issue, she has spoken about she tries to ‘celebrate’ her darker moments

Posing for an eye-catching shoot with the publication, Gaga admitted that she ‘used to drink and smoke and lot’ before finding an ‘escape route’

The Born This Way hitmaker added: ‘The chaos I thought was long gone is fully intact and ready to greet me whenever I’d like. 

‘Part of the message of even the first song on the album is that your demons are with you in the beginning and they are with you in the end, and I don’t mean it in a bleak way.

‘Maybe we can make friends sooner with this reality instead of running all the time.’

‘Mayhem is about following your own chaos into whatever cranny of your life that it takes you to. And in that way, it was about following the songs. Writing as many songs as I did for this album was a labour of total love. And then you just have to be very cut-throat by the end.’

Gaga, who is engaged to investor Michael Polansky, also shared rare insight into their relationship, by revealing the sweet thing he used to say to her when they first met.

The couple began dating after being set up by her mother in 2020, and got engaged earlier this year.

She said: ‘He used to say to me when we first met, ”You are a special human being when the cameras aren’t on you. And I get to see that all the time.”’

Michael also spoke about his relationship with his bride-to-be, adding: ‘It’s been one of the most incredible parts of this chapter of my life, to live with and coexist alongside someone making art and being creative in ways that very few people get to experience. I think of myself as really lucky to have been there for it.’

She said: ‘Trying to escape. I used to drink a lot and smoke a lot, and I was always looking for an out’

Gaga went onto share that through the making of her seventh album, which will be released on March 7, she’s rediscovered the chaotic parts of herself she thought were a thing of the past

She added: ‘Mayhem is about following your own chaos into whatever cranny of your life that it takes you to. And in that way, it was about following the songs’

Gaga, who is engaged to investor Michael Polansky, also shared rare insight into their relationship, by revealing the sweet thing he used to say to her when they first met

She said: ‘He used to say to me when we first met, ”You are a special human being when the cameras aren’t on you. And I get to see that all the time”’

It comes following reports that Gaga is in talks to perform at the Grammy Awards next month, with bosses ‘desperate’ for the Joker: Folie A Deux actress to grace the stage

Gaga also briefly touched on the recent US Presidential Elections, in the wake of stars, including Selena Gomez, making their feelings known on Donald Trump’s order for the mᴀss deportations of undocumented immigrants – a policy he campaigned on ahead of the 2024 election.

Read More Lady Gaga is unrecognizable as she debuts dramatic new look

She added: ‘The main thing is I have so much compᴀssion and love for so many people that are afraid today. 

‘I want to acknowledge that I’m a very blessed person and I feel grateful for so much in my life every day. I know for a lot of people this election was devastating for their existence, so community is going to be the number-one thing. 

‘I am one of many people that supports the [LGBTQIA+ and other marginalised] communities. And we’re not going down without a fight. We will stick together. 

‘It’s going to be hard but I’m up for it. We’re up for it. And I just want everyone to know how deeply they’re loved and not invisible.’

It comes following reports that Gaga is in talks to perform at the Grammy Awards next month, with bosses ‘desperate’ for the Joker: Folie A Deux actress to grace the stage.

The March issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 6 February

Award bosses are hoping to get Gaga and Bruno Mars perform Die With A Smile at the glitzy ceremony.

Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Germanotta, and Bruno’s hit is up for two awards at the ceremony after it was streamed a staggered 1.6million times on Spotify since its release in August.

If Gaga signs on the dotted line to perform, it will be the first time in three years she will have performed at the awards night.

A source told the publication: ‘Grammys night is going to be mᴀssive, and everyone is hoping it can truly kick-start a huge year for Gaga.

‘She and her team are deep in talks to get her to perform at the ceremony for the first time in years.

‘She’s up for two awards so hopefully she won’t go home empty handed.’

The March issue of ELLE UK is on sale from 6 February