Lily Collins Details “Terrifying” Journey Sharing Eating Disorder

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Content warning: This story discusses eating disorders.

Lily Collins is looking back on how far she’s come.

Almost a decade after first talking about her eating disorder, the star of Emily in Paris marked Eating Disorder Awareness Week by sharing what it was like to publicly reveal her personal story.

Lily, who has personal experience with eating disorders and portrayed similar struggles in her role in the film To The Bone, has long been a voice for greater awareness and understanding of these conditions. In a recent Instagram Story, she explained her advocacy is meant to help others avoid suffering in silence or shame, according to People magazine.

The 36-year-old actress, known for playing a woman with anorexia in the 2017 film To The Bone, praised the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) for the crucial help they provide. She shared that speaking openly about her own experiences was not only helpful for her personally, but also for others facing similar challenges.

Everyone’s journey to recovery is unique and takes time, but thanks to groups like NEDA and movies like To The Bone, I’ve been able to find support from people who understand what I’m going through, which has helped me feel less isolated, Lily shared.

Sharing my experiences with eating disorders has been incredibly scary, but also deeply fulfilling,” she said. “Knowing my story could help even one person in their recovery makes it all worthwhile.

Lily and her husband, Charlie McDowell, welcomed their daughter, Tove Jane, last year through surrogacy. Lily has often openly discussed her personal history with anorexia and bulimia.

In her 2017 memoir, Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, the actress shared that she developed an eating disorder at age 16 following her father, Phil Collins’, separation from Orianne Cevey.

She described feeling overwhelmed by her parents’ divorce and struggling to navigate the pressures of being a teenager while simultaneously building careers in modeling and acting – both of which placed a lot of emphasis on her appearance. This led to a difficult relationship with food, which stopped being enjoyable and became a stressful obligation. She felt constantly tired, irritable, and unpleasant to be around. Despite all of this, she believed she was succeeding because she was losing weight and felt in control.

That year, Lily explained why she took the role in To The Bone, stating that the film, directed by Marti Noxon, allowed her to work through personal experiences.

During an interview with IMDb Studio, she explained that she finished writing a book last year and completed her chapter about her personal experiences just a week before receiving the script from Marti. She felt it was as if the universe was guiding her, helping her confront a past fear and allowing her to share her experience in a way that could spark a much-needed conversation about a sensitive topic, especially among young people of all genders.

Lily described the project as deeply personal and admitted it had its difficulties, but she felt it was completely worth the effort.

In a 2017 Instagram post, she described feeling both cold and liberated, calling it a significant moment where she embraced her history, was honest about her experiences, and felt no shame or regret.

She added, “Remember, you are never ever alone.”

Lily isn’t alone in openly discussing her mental health. Here are other celebrities who have also shared their stories.

Rapper Radric Davis, known professionally as Gucci Mane, shared in his 2025 book, Episodes: The Diary of a Recovering Mad Man, that he was diagnosed with both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. He explained that these diagnoses led to a mental health crisis in 2020.

Honestly, after everything that happened, it really hit me that I needed to take responsibility for my own well-being and health. I told the guys on The Breakfast Club that I never want to go through something like that again, and I’m committed to getting help – even if that means going to therapy and taking medication if necessary. It’s about prioritizing my health, period.

Gucci Mane shared that he hoped being open about his struggles would help others. He also said his children, Ice Davis and Iceland Davis, along with his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, motivated him to get help when he was going through a difficult time.

He explained that his wife was expecting their son, and he worried about the impact raising a family would have on his mental health. He feared a severe mental health episode he might not recover from, so he proactively began working on himself and seeking professional support.

The former star of Gossip Girl shared his experiences as a young actor, revealing he struggled with what he called “body dysmorphia.”

In an April 2025 interview with The Guardian, Penn shared that they used to strongly dislike their body and wished they had a different one.

Honestly, it was really striking to hear him talk about how he dealt with everything after his parents split. He explained that after a tough time with depression and feeling really isolated, he found himself in a situation where he felt pressured to focus on his appearance. He put it so well – it was like he was both deliberately and forcefully pushed towards believing that the more ‘traditionally attractive’ he became, the more opportunities and worth he’d have. It was a really vulnerable thing to share, and it gave a lot of insight into the pressures he faced.

Despite the mental struggles, though, Penn credited his ability to persist to his spirituality.

He explained that overcoming his disappointments and personal struggles enabled him to return to his work, hoping he’d grown and changed as a person in the process.

The Scrubs alum has been vocal about her past difficult relationship with food.

She described her struggles with food, saying, “Some might label it an eating disorder, but it’s just how I lived my life.” In an interview on The Funny Thing Is podcast, she admitted food was her biggest weakness and that she engaged in extreme behaviors related to it.

She added, “I would over-exercise, and there was a sprinkle of bulimia in there.”

Despite admitting she finds it hard to stick to her diet, she’s also been open about the positive steps she’s making towards a healthier lifestyle.

In 2017, she told Bon Appétit that at age 23, she completely changed her lifestyle by eliminating sugar and alcohol and taking up yoga, breathing exercises, and stretching. She described this combination as being more effective than the medication Ritalin.

She shared that she struggles with food and body image, which are genuine challenges for her. However, she’s working on healing those issues and is focusing on a healthy lifestyle by nourishing her body with good food.

The Full House alum reflected on her mental health journey and navigating her battle with depression.

She explained on her podcast, Candace Cameron Bure Podcast, that it’s incredibly hard to talk about these things, even with those closest to you. She admitted that she personally feels she should be able to handle it on her own, and admitting she needs to talk about it feels like a weakness.

The Grammy-winning artist often talks about how she safeguards her well-being, like blocking out negativity online, and she also offers guidance to others who are struggling.

When asked what advice she’d give someone struggling with their mental health, she told Vogue that patience is key. She explained that she was patient with herself, resisted making any rash decisions, and allowed time to pass, believing that difficult feelings will eventually lessen.

As people adjusted to social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, the singer of “Firework” opened up about how challenging and stressful times like these can be.

She tweeted that it’s hard to decide what’s more difficult – avoiding the virus or dealing with the sadness that comes with this new way of life. Katy explained that she often finds comfort in her car, saying it’s become her safe place since there aren’t many other options for getting away from things.

The model partnered with designer Kenneth Cole to support The Mental Health Coalition and recently discussed her personal struggles with anxiety on Good Morning America.

She remembered that after her panic attacks began happening again, she was finally able to find the information she needed to understand them.

Kendall explained that she experiences both good and anxious days, making her emotional state fluctuate. That’s why she wanted to get involved with this cause – she hopes to help people feel less isolated and alone.

The actor known for playing Black Adam has publicly discussed his struggles with depression and the challenges men often face when trying to talk about their mental well-being.

Everyone experiences difficult times and struggles with depression – it doesn’t care who you are. It took me a while to learn this, but it’s important to not be afraid to talk about what you’re going through. Men, in particular, often keep their feelings bottled up, but remember that you’re not alone.

Prince Harry helped reduce the shame around getting mental health support when he discussed his own experiences with therapy in an interview with the Telegraph. He explained that talking about his struggles made him realize many other people go through similar things, saying, “Once you start talking about it, you realize you’re not alone.”

The actress from Empire has publicly discussed her experiences with depression and emphasizes the importance of seeking professional support. She’s stated that talking to a therapist is essential for her to cope with these challenges.

Taraji P. Henson founded The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation to fight the stigma surrounding mental health within the Black community and to expand access to Black mental health professionals.

The Grammy-winning artist revealed she began a treatment using MDMA and psilocybin therapy to cope with the effects of both an eating disorder and performance anxiety.

She told Rolling Stone in May 2025 that she experienced touring without any stage fright for the first time. She described a strange, shared physical sensation with the audience—almost like a change in air pressure—that felt deeply connected to the music. This made her realize how much she thrives on, and even needs, that intense, emotional connection with her listeners to truly feel her music come alive.

She explained that prioritizing her mental health and stopping birth control helped her develop a broader understanding of her gender identity.

She explained that she decided to stop taking birth control because it felt like a break from societal expectations of how women should be. It might sound unusual, but she felt like she was no longer confined by those expectations, and that freedom allowed her to explore new possibilities.

In 2017, the Riverdale actress shared on Instagram that she battled with serious anxiety and depression in middle school, and that support from her family and a therapist was life-saving. She emphasized the importance of reaching out for help, saying it’s the first step, and that everyone has immense value.

The singer behind the hit “What He Didn’t Do” recently opened up about her experiences living with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) over the past several years.

Carly shared on the Dumb Blonde podcast in August 2025 that her anxiety began during her divorce, which happened during the Covid pandemic. However, she also revealed she’s struggled with severe OCD since childhood.

Over the past decade, I got used to keeping things to myself and handling problems on my own. But a couple of years ago, I realized I needed to go back to therapy and start understanding what was going on. I discovered that my obsessive-compulsive disorder wasn’t something that started recently; I’ve actually been dealing with it since I was a child, around six or seven years old.

I’ve been following Kristen Bell for a while now, and I really admire how open she is about her mental health. She’s shared so many helpful strategies – not just in big speeches, but even in quick posts on Instagram. It’s really inspiring to see her talk about it so honestly and consistently.

She encourages people to discover what works best for them, and, as she shared with Health magazine, this could involve things like medication, balancing negative thoughts with ten positives, and regular exercise.

The cookbook author is a mother of four and has bravely shared her experience with postpartum depression, a condition many new mothers face but often feel unable to discuss.

She explained in a 2017 letter to Glamour that it became increasingly comfortable for her to talk about her experience. Her hope was to show others that this could happen to anyone, and to help those going through it feel less ashamed and isolated.

While publicizing her book, Mirror, Mirror, the model shared with The Edit magazine that she struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts as a teenager, describing a feeling of “something dark” within her during that period.

Cara explained to the publication, as reported by W magazine, that she used to depend on love and other people for her happiness. She realized she needed to learn how to find joy on her own. ‘It took me a long time,’ she said, ‘but now I’m able to be happy by myself.’

Ariana Grande encouraged fans to prioritize their mental health after a Twitter user playfully asked about her therapist. She responded by saying therapy has been life-saving for her on numerous occasions.

She encouraged me not to be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to suffer needlessly, and healing from trauma is possible. While she acknowledged she had a long journey ahead, she felt that simply recognizing this possibility was a good first step.

The singer has publicly shared her struggles and recovery related to addiction, mental health, and other personal challenges, often incorporating these experiences into her songs.

She consistently encourages her followers to prioritize their mental well-being, emphasizing that it’s a continuous journey with both good and bad days. She previously shared on Instagram, “To anyone who’s struggling, remember that life has its highs and lows, but it’s important to keep going.”

The actress has openly discussed mental health, both through her work – like her portrayal of Rue in the show Euphoria – and in her personal life.

Zendaya revealed in 2013, on an app she no longer uses, that she felt anxious after a talk show appearance on Ellen when her microphone malfunctioned. She’s since found ways to cope with those feelings, explaining that sometimes you need to take a break to reduce stress.

In a recent interview with WSJ Magazine, the singer openly shared her experiences with mental health, explaining that she experienced extreme highs and lows, with periods of depression lasting for weeks.

She revealed she’s been dealing with mental health challenges, but finding the right medication has made a huge difference in her life.

The Grammy-winning artist dedicated herself to promoting kindness and openly discussing mental health, sharing her own experiences as well.

Honestly, for years I’ve been battling with whether to talk about my struggles with mental health, to be open about what I’ve been going through. It’s been such a private thing, but I’ve realized something huge: keeping it all bottled up just makes things worse. It’s like secrets actually feed the illness, you know? I said it at an event back in 2018, and it felt so freeing to finally admit that the truth is, keeping quiet just keeps you sick.

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2026-03-03 02:51