The Royal Family legend Sue Johnston has revealed in her book that she suffered from bulimia for ten years.
The former Brookside star has spoken openly about her eating disorder in the book, titled Things I Couldn’t Tell My Mother.
Speaking about the book in The Mirror, Johnston said: "Back then my eating demon was out of control. I was constantly obsessed with food to the exclusion of everything else, and this went hand in hand with an intense self-loathing,"
"I began to eat any old rubbish, shoving it down my neck and then throwing it up again. I was treating myself like a dustbin. I'd cry with shame but I couldn't stop. It was an appalling time and I have been dreading this coming out because I haven't told my son or Goddaughter yet. I nearly didn't write about it - but that felt dishonest.
"The truth is, I'm ashamed I allowed myself to get so low over food when there are people in the world starving. Having played a psychologist in Waking the Dead I know what my character Grace would say to someone with bulimia, but I can't be kind to myself in the same way."
She continued: "When Brookside took off I was on TV all the time and I hated seeing myself on screen. I became acutely aware of my appearance. So I began making myself sick. I would go to the toilet, stick my fingers down my throat and throw up,"
"It became something I did after every meal. I was triumphant, feeling all my dieting prayers were answered.
"But I came through it. And now I am on top of my relationship with food and try to eat healthily and exercise.
She finished with: "I just hope that by talking about these experiences I can make other women who are struggling the way that I once did know that they can come through it, too."
