Ellie Goulding used to take drugs when she was a goth.

The 'Burn' hitmaker has admitted she used to be a compete contrast to her current innocent, blonde bombshell image, explaining she used to be ''a bit of a rebel''.

She told Sir Michael Parkinson about hearing a life on the streets, and said: ''I very nearly did go down that path. I was a bit of a rebel when I was 14.

''People would call me a goth. I had long black hair which was real. I had piercings and liked heavy metal music, and the rest of it.''

Meanwhile, when the presenter - interviewing Ellie for the upcoming series of 'Masterclass' - responded, ''And drugs''?

She replied: ''Yeah. I definitely had a period of drinking and being a bit crazy. I had no idea what my future was going to be then.''

Ellie, 27, also admitted being in the public eye has meant she was ''very insecure'' about her about her looks, and initially she struggled to cope with the pressure.

She said: ''I felt for a long time that I had to be really skinny and looking good. And when i finally realised that was what it was about, I stopped caring.

''I did become very insecure. I never came into this to become a pretty pop star but all of a sudden I was being talked about for what I was wearing, for my nose, my chin.

''I didn't ask for that but people assume because you are in that position that is what you want.''