Daniella Westbrook: 'Drugs Have Ruined My Looks'

Daniella Westbrook

First Posted: 29/02/2012 08:31 Updated: 29/02/2012 09:26   WENN

Former EastEnders actress Daniella Westbrook has confessed she's lucky to be alive after her cocaine hell - but admits years of drug abuse have destroyed her looks.

The star's long addiction to coke has been well documented and Daniella, who has now been clean of drugs for 11 years, is grateful she managed to kick her habit, which left her face ravaged.

In an interview with Closer magazine, she said: "I couldn't have gone through all those years of drug addiction and come out of it unscathed. It's aged me and it's done things to my face, but I'm lucky to be alive."

It's estimated the star spent a total of ÂŁ250,000 on drugs, and cocaine took such a strong hold she continued to snort it throughout her first pregnancy.

Daniella, who spent ÂŁ20,000 on nose reconstruction after her habit caused a collapsed septum, is considering heading to Amy Childs' salon for some discounted Botox, but she admits her years of addiction have left her wary of medical help.

She added: "Once an addict, always an addict. The other day I went to the doctor and he told me to use Vicks to unblock my nose, but I can't do that - just the thought of putting anything up my nose now makes me gag."

DANIELLA THROUGH THE YEARS:

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  • 2009 Tric Awards - London

    Danniella Westbrook arrives at the Tric Awards held at the Grosvenor House Hotel, central London.

  • PA NEWS PHOTO 26/3/98 ACTRESS Danniella WESTBROOK ARRIVES WITH HER SON KAI FOR THE MOVIE PREMIERE OF THE FOX'S ANIMATED MOTION ...

    PA NEWS PHOTO 26/3/98 ACTRESS Danniella WESTBROOK ARRIVES WITH HER SON KAI FOR THE MOVIE PREMIERE OF THE FOX'S ANIMATED MOTION PICTURE "ANASTASIA" AT THE ODEON LEICESTER SQUARE, LONDON

  • Beauty/Westbrook & van Outen

    Actresses Danniella Morgan (formerly Westbrook) and Denise van Outen attend a post-show party at Home House in Portman Square, London, following the first night of a re-cast 'Beauty and the Beast' musical at the Dominion Theatre.

  • EastEnders/ Candyfloss

    Members of the cast of TV soap EastEnders relax at Brighton during a break. From left: Danniella Morgan, who stars as Sam; Todd Carty, who plays Mark and Tamzin Outhwaite, who plays Melanie .

  • The Princess Diaries Westbrook

    Danniella Westbrook with her fiance Kevin Jenkins, her son her son Kai, five, and his daughter Jordan, seven, at the premiere in Covent Garden central London of the Walt Disney film The Princess Diaries.

  • "SCOOBY DOO" LONDON FILM PREMIERE.

    Danniella WESTBROOK ATTENDS THE "SCOOBY DOO" FILM PREMIERE IN LONDON.PICTURE: UK PRESS

  • Westbrook & Windsor Rainbow Trust

    Actresses Barbara Windsor (R) and Danniella Westbrook arrive at Le Meridien Grosvenor House Hotel in central London, for 12th annual Rainbow Trust Ball, in aid of the charity which helps terminally ill children and their families.

  • Danniella Westbrook - Ya-Ya Sisterhood

    Former Eastenders actress Danniella Westbrook arrives at the UK screening of The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood, at the Warner Village, Leicester Square.

  • Danniella Westbrook Two Weeks Notice

    Danniella Westbrook and her husband Kevin Jenkins arrive for the UK premiere of Two Weeks Notice at Warner West End in London's Leicester Square. The romantic comedy, directed by Marc Lawrence stars Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock.

  • THE '2 FAST 2 FURIOUS' UK PREMIERE

    Danniella WESTBROOK ATTENDS THE '2 FAST 2 FURIOUS' PREMIERE IN LONDON.PICTURE: UK PRESS

  • SCARY MOVIE 3 LONDON PREMIERE

    Danniella WESTBROOK ATTENDS THE 'SCARY MOVIE 3' PREMIERE IN LONDON.PICTURE: UK PRESS

  • Pia Michu and Inanch VIP Collection launch - London

    Daniella Westbrook arrives to the Pia Michi collection launch. London

  • Children's Champions 2010 - Arrivals

    LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 03: Danniella Westbrook arrives at the Children's Champions 2010 Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, on March 3, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)

  • TV Quick & Tv Choice Awards - Champagne Reception

    LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 07: **UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS OUT** Daniella Westbrook and Steve McFadden attend the TV Quick & TV Choice Awards Champagne reception held at The Dorchester on September 7, 2009 in London, England. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

  • Gillian Tayleforth and Daniella Westbrook

    LONDON - JULY 14: British actresses Gillian Tayleforth and Daniella Westbrook arrive for the premiere of the film 'Stuart Little 2' at Planet Hollywood on July 14, 2002 in London. (Photo by Dave Hogan/Getty Images)

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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
deckercat
change the world
03:12 AM on 03/03/2012
but when i drink, you get them back.
12:13 AM on 03/03/2012
Drugs ruined your looks ? shouldnt have taken them then, end of.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Betho42
that's what she said.....
07:21 PM on 03/02/2012
don't have a clue who she is.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Blackorpheus
the decisive blows are always struck left-handed
06:45 PM on 03/02/2012
Shoot. I like your looks better after the drugs.
02:35 PM on 03/02/2012
Wouldn't argue with that opinion
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mirola
Read between the lines
01:34 PM on 03/02/2012
Took a while, be she's finally woken up. (She's lucky it only ruined 'her looks', could have ruined much more then that).
01:08 PM on 03/02/2012
As you knew, should have known, probably repeatedly were told that they, drugs would.

Let your honest though tragic humbling be a lesson to all. Like I said I would never use drugs and for all those who would shout 'you never know', that in this case would not apply to me.
There is so much info out there about the dangers of drugs but it is never to much to emphasise it. A criticism of Huffington Post (UK) is with such life changing issues, a pointer to a relevant source of government or medical authority advice is a minimum.
The secret is a relationship with God, in the end you never wander too far, such as 'Daniella far'. Parents put some fear of God back into our children, that way even when they stray, the truth ' written in their innermost parts' saves may not absolutely save them so as to not totally have fallen to pieces, but cushions them.
But any absolute must come from within. So try yee all to seek first!
Why do people always say they are lucky to be alive when they clearly messed up big time? Were they not lucky to be alive before they messed up?
When some people 'sell' their story, I am wondering what is the catch. Are they craving sympathy or more of the same, limelight? I saw nothing in the article aimed at warning others, except look at me.
10:08 AM on 03/02/2012
"drugs ruin life's"

........... and this is news ?
Craigzz
God must like pinball
08:56 AM on 03/02/2012
She was no oil painting to start with, and she's nearly 40, another celeb who finds a scapegoat in blaming illegal drugs for ruining there life, never heard of everything in moderation ?

I suppose Stephen Fry has destroyed his life also then ? Get a life Daniella, that you have to stoop so low with a story like this, just shows how pathetic you really are, or desperate to pay for botox injections.
07:11 AM on 03/02/2012
there,s no business like snow business !
07:09 AM on 03/02/2012
ok i you can do 200 lines [i must not snort coke ]
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bbomb187
06:26 AM on 03/02/2012
Another example of why people should not do drugs. And to think this country wants to legalize them. Shame on those who want to see any type of drug legalized.
10:04 AM on 03/02/2012
Yes, ban alcohol, caffeine and tobacco. They are "any type of drug".
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
bbomb187
05:22 AM on 03/03/2012
go for it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lisa Morreira
06:02 AM on 03/02/2012
She doesn't look "ravaged" to me.
07:39 PM on 03/01/2012
The government needs to go hard on these drugs. They are ruining the lives of our future leaders.
05:40 AM on 03/02/2012
Future leaders?

David Cameron was caught smoking cannabis at school, is married to an ex-raver and has in the past called for the legalisation of drugs. Queen Victoria used tincture of cannabis and was addicted to laudanum (opium). Not forgetting Winston Churchill who used copious amounts of that dangerous "legal high" known as alcohol. There are many other examples including JFK (amphetamine) and William Gladstone (opium).
08:24 AM on 03/02/2012
steve jobs & richard Branson - LSD
04:00 PM on 03/01/2012
What she is saying here is very true and she is a mightily brave girl for putiing this out there but it does serve as a warning to others. If you look at the pictures above you can see that the shape of her nose has completely changed due to the damage and then reconstruction. I really used to fancy the pants off of this girl and i still see her as pretty but she has lost that WOW look she used to have, i really used to think she was stunning. It's a shame what fame and fortune does to some people but at least she learnt in the end, probably by the hardest way possible but at least she did learn. And now she is putting out her story which surely will only deter others from taking her path, even if she only deters one person that will have been enough. Fair play to you Daniella for being so brutally honest, i wish you much success, and i still fancy you, if you want to go for a drink call me on 0785.............lol....
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Tony Booth
11:28 AM on 03/02/2012
that 'wow look' is called 'the bloom of youth' and she's not had that for a long time.
sounds like someone is selling something and needs publicity. fair enough but let's not put all the blame on 'drugs' for unavoidable aging.