Danniella Westbrook’s Turbulent Life Through The Years
Danniella Westbrook’s name is never far away from the tabloids, but she shocked us all after that 2018 appearance on the Jeremy Kyle Show, revealing she’d not only been battling ovarian cancer, but was hooked on drugs once again…
It’s not been an easy ride over the years for the former actress, but she’s certainly got an interesting story to tell – let’s take a look…
She Started Work As A Model For Tammy Girl AGED 7
Borin in 1973, Danniella’s showbiz career started early when she became a child model for Next’s children’s fashion-ware (at just 7 years old), before moving on to becoming the face of the ultra-desirable high-street chain, Tammy Girl.
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Image Source/Closer
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She’s also dabbled in the acting world, appearing in TV adverts for Coca Cola and Open cars, as well as bagged a minor role in Grange Hill. But her talents didn’t stop at modelling and acting on screen, Westbrook also performed on stage; impressively, she landed stints on London’s West End.
Her Role As Sam Mitchell AGED 16
The door to the acting world opened properly for Danniella at 16 as she secured the role of Sam Mitchell in EastEnders, first appearing in 1990. She played the younger sister of bad boys Phil and Grant for six years before being written out in 1996.
Image Source/Closer
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Between 2012 and 2013, the actress also had a stint in popular soap Hollyoaks as she played bad girl Trudy Ryan.
Eastenders Star Danniella Westbrook’s First Tried Cocaine AGED 14, Becoming Addicted AGED 21
The actress has been open with the public about her battle with drugs and revealed that she first tried cocaine at the young age of just 14.
After she landed her role in EastEnders and a regular income, Danniella often visited London clubs where her drug use escalated. By the age of 21, she was spending up to £400 a day on her cocaine addiction.
In 2000, it pictures emerged that showed that Danniella’s nasal septum had eroded due to excessive drug use. As a result, she checked into rehab, six months later appearing on TV programme The Priory claiming she’d been drug free for months.
However, the show’s hosts believed that she was on drugs at the time of the interview, she later admitted she was.
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Image Source/YouTube
Westbrook admits:
“I said I was clean, but it was obvious I wasn’t. I look about 50, and my voice was shaky. I should never have been allowed on. They wanted to laugh at me, rip me apart. I despise that sort of thing, but it did me the world of good because watching it I realised, ‘I’m so ill.’
“When it came to the crunch I thought, ‘Hang on. I don’t want to die.'”
The actress did another stint in rehab in an attempt to beat her drug habit once and for all.
I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
In 2003, Danniella appeared happy and healthy – sporting a glowing tan and golden hair – for the second series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Although she seemed like she was ready for the jungle, she ended up walking out of the camp on day nine after breaking down and realising how difficult life was on the show.
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Image Source/YouTube
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That Jeremy Kyle Appearance In 2018
Danniella’s shock appearance on ITV show Jeremy Kyle in 2018 revealed that she was still struggling with her addiction. On the show Jeremy told her that he’d pay for her to attend rehab after Danniella not only admitted her drug battle, but the news that her septicaemia had returned.
Image Source/Birmingham Mail
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Westbrook reveals on Twitter:
“Human beings make mistakes.i have a tendency being an addict 2 run back 2 what I know in times of struggle&hardship.
“It’s insane but it’s addiction. I hate it & I hate myself after but tbh it’s a illness that twists ur soul. But it’s 1 I battle and won’t let get the better of me.”
She added, “Always x I have had bad news of late about my health and i did what I always do and buried my head for a few weeks in Spain.. made some bad choices because the news has rocked me .. x”.
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Danniella Westbrook’s Return To Jeremy Kyle In 2019
Although the episode hasn’t been aired yet due to the show being halted with immediate effect in early May, the actress filmed with the show host to discuss the latest on her drug addiction – and it’s good news!
Image Source/YouTube
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Danniella wrote on Twitter:
“I’ve just been informed @ITVJeremyKyle will now not be airing tomorrow .. Im hoping you guys get to see it at a later date but catch me on loose women tomorrow (sic)”
She continued:
“I shall be on @ITVJeremyKyle first thing tomorrow it’s a heartbreaking show but with a happy ending I seriously didn’t realise just how riddled with the illness of addiction I was .. But tune in & feel free to watch me on @loosewomen tomorrow also (sic)”
It appears that Danniella is not only free from cancer, but also ‘fixed from the inside out’.
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