Danniella Westbrook has endured a high-profile drug addiction, relationship dramas and a horrific gang rape – and now the actress has confessed to another dark chapter in her past.
In her new TV show Danniella Westbrook: In Therapy, the former child star breaks down before therapist Mandy Saligari and tearfully admits: “I was sexually abused as a child.
“I was seven years old, [it was] within the workplace and that continued for a lot of my life.”
The mum-of-two began modelling at the age of seven and admitted in the emotional interview: “At seven I was like a 14 year old. There were certain things going on with me that shouldn’t have been…”
Danniella explained that she was the “keeper of people’s secrets for a long time” but has decided she doesn’t want to do that any more.
The 42 year old also admitted that the abuse has left her having “no connection” with sex, revealing: “Sex doesn’t mean anything to me… I feel absolutely nothing.”
Danniella came into the spotlight aged 16 portraying Sam Mitchell in EastEnders, but her life spiralled out of control, and in 2000 aged just 25, was left with an eroded septum as a result of a £1,000 a week cocaine habit.
In more emotional scenes, she also opened up about the impact being raped in 1994 by a gang of drug dealers she owed money to has had on her. She explained: “I was raped by three guys for three days – and for 19 years I didn’t tell anyone.
“That’s denial and it’s affected my personality a lot.”
Danniella Westbrook: In Therapy airs June 28 at 10pm on Channel 5.
Read more in this week’s Closer magazine, out now.