In the 1990s, millions watched as Danniella Westbrook grew up on TV, becoming one of the UK’s biggest soap stars. But behind her success, addiction took a serious toll on her health, leading to severe consequences, including a collapsed jaw and damaged bones. How did this happen?
Danniella was born in 1973 and grew up in Loughton, near London. From a young age, she wanted to be famous. By age seven, she had started modeling. Although her parents weren’t in the entertainment industry, Danniella found success early. She worked for brands like Coca-Cola and Opel before transitioning into acting.
At 16, Danniella landed the role of Sam Mitchell on EastEnders, a role that made her famous. But soon, her life began to spiral due to a cocaine addiction. By the time she returned to the show in 1995, her drug use was severely affecting her life and career. She had already been using cocaine since she was 14.
As her addiction worsened, Danniella’s behavior became unpredictable. She spent over $300,000 on drugs and checked into rehab in 1995. Yet, her struggles continued, even during her pregnancy, and at her lowest, she admitted to suicide attempts due to her addiction.
By 1996, Danniella was written out of EastEnders due to her drug use. Although she returned to the show in 1999, her addiction had already caused significant damage. Her nasal septum was destroyed by years of cocaine use, leading producers to film her from certain angles to hide the damage.
Danniella faced many health issues, including mental health challenges and a misdiagnosed case of womb cancer. She also went through a serious car accident in 1998 that left her with severe facial injuries. Despite all these challenges, she continued to appear in reality shows like Celebrity Big Brother and Dancing on Ice.
Now 51, Danniella still makes headlines, mostly due to her appearance rather than her acting career. After several surgeries, including a jaw reconstruction, she has faced painful complications. Danniella has opened up about the struggles with her surgeries, admitting that they have affected her self-image and health.