Actress Thandie Newton Talks Bulimia
The Pursuit of Happyness Movie Star Speaks Out About Eating Disorder
Aug 6, 2007
It seems that the new trend with famous celebrities is revealing their struggle with an eating disorder. The newest survivor of bulimia is The Pursuit of Happyness actress Thandie Newton. Her lengthy filmography includes movies such as Crash, Mission Impossible II, The Chronicles of Riddick, ER, and The Truth About Charlie.
The most positive thing about it, though, is that more awareness around the issue than most organizations can muster, is brought about with one press release or statement.
How She Developed an Eating Disorder
Beginning at around age 14, Thandie Newton says she was training for ballet exams and only allowing herself to eat cottage cheese.
"I had terrible bulimia for about a year. I've still got the scars on my knuckles from where I put my fingers down my throat," she tells Easy Living magazine in the September 2007 issue.
She describes the abusive men she dated shortly afterwards and how her bulimia escalated by the time she reached her early 20s.
"I'd been involved with this guy for a long time,” she was quoted as saying in the same magazine. “He was much older than me and I felt a lot of shame about my sexual relationship with him. I would have these dinners with him and then go back to the flat and I'd throw up. Then I went out with someone who was emotionally abusive, criticizing me the whole time," (Easy Living, 2007).
Recovering from Bulimia
Things took a hopeful turnaround, though, when she was on location in Los Angeles for a film. Shooting was taking a toll and she ended up seeing a professional therapist to help her deal with it.
After the first session, she says, she felt immediately better because she had made the connection between the shame she felt and the self abuse she was doing to herself. Although most people don’t have such quick results, sometimes it takes an understanding professional to kick start the journey to recovery.
Eating Disorder Recovery
Thandie says that she’s living a wonderful life now. She married screenwriter Ol Parker in 1998, and they live together in northwest London. Their 2 children are Ripley (6 years old) and Nico (2 years old).
Success has blessed her with awards and fame, which she keeps humble and balanced about. She was the 2006 BET Awards presenter, has just completed the film Run, Fat Boy, Run and is in the midst of filming RochnRolla, the newest venture of Guy Ritchie.
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