United Kingdom, Oct. 9 -- Harry Styles has credited a "very outgoing" ex-girlfriend with helping him overcome his anxiety about being out in public.

The former One Direction star has admitted he used to feel unsafe walking around his adopted hometown of London during the height of his fame in the boyband but he's revealed a former partner helped him overcome his fears and it changed his life as he now freely strolls around without bodyguards.

During an interview with Thom Yorke for Rolling Stone, the Radiohead frontman recalled bumping into Harry on the street in Rome, saying: "I was ... impressed that you were just walking down the street.

"I was like: 'Where's his security?' Because I mean, I know I can do it, but I didn't know you c...