Lily Collins opens up about the brutal battle against eating disorders
Lily Collins has described her recovery from an eating disorder as ‘an ongoing process’ RadarOnline.com Revealed concerns are mounting in Hollywood that her newly signed role as Audrey Hepburn could revive pressure to match the late icon’s famously slim frame.
The 36 year old Emily in Paris star marked Eating Disorder Awareness Week with a candid Instagram post in which she reflects on her past struggles.
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‘No one has to struggle in silence or shame’
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Collins opened up about her eating disorder issues.
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Collins, who previously portrayed a young woman with anorexia in the 2017 film To the bonehas long talked about the complexity of recovery. Her comments come as she prepares to fight Hepburn in an upcoming biopic about the Breakfast at Tiffany’s‘s legend, a role industry insiders tell us will see her appearance come under intense scrutiny.
Hepburn, who died in 1993 at the age of 63, became synonymous with a boyish silhouette that helped define mid-century Hollywood glamour.
In her Instagram post, Collins wrote: “I wanted to take a moment to recognize Eating Disorder Awareness Week… as someone who has struggled with an eating disorder – and been able to tell the story of so many others like me through my character in To the bone – I have always advocated for more awareness and understanding around eating disorders, so that no one has to struggle in silence or shame.
“Recovery looks different for everyone and is an ongoing process, but thanks to the help of organizations like @neda (the National Eating Disorders Association) and films like To the boneI have learned to connect with others who share similar experiences and feel less alone.”
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The responsibility that comes with playing Audrey Hepburn
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It comes as she prepares to play the “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” actress.
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Collins added, “Coming out and opening up about my history with eating disorders was and is one of the most terrifying yet rewarding experiences of my life. If every time I share my story it helps even one person on their recovery journey, it will be worth it.”
A source close to Collins said: “Lily understands the responsibility that comes with playing Audrey Hepburn. Audrey’s image is so ingrained in popular culture – the tiny waist, the ballerinas, the elegance. There will inevitably be commentary about whether Lily physically fits in.”
The insider added, “That kind of focus can be challenging for anyone, especially someone who has been open about struggling with body image in the past. There is pressure in biopics to visually transform, and with Audrey, that expectation is heightened because her look was so iconic.”
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Lily Collins and her image of ‘perfection’ explained
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The 36-year-old admitted her struggle had to do with “perfectionism.”
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Another industry source said: “Studio executives are aware of the sensitivities. The conversation isn’t about asking Lily to change herself – it’s about honoring Audrey’s spirit. But social media can be unforgiving and comparisons are inevitable.”
Collins previously spoke in detail about the roots of her illness in a 2017 interview.
She said: “I never got to the point where I needed medical attention and went to the hospital, so I never took the time to talk about the facts. You tend to surround yourself with myths when you have an eating disorder.”
Collins also explained that her struggle had to do with control and perfectionism, adding, “When I was younger, I wanted to achieve this image of what I thought perfection was, and I equated that with – well, with what you see in the media, you think body shape has a lot to do with being perfect. I wanted to determine how I got there.
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Collins also confessed that her struggle stemmed from wanting to “feel in control.”
“At that time I was dealing with high school and relationships, and at that stage of your life you’re very out of control,” she continued. “How do you feel in control? Well, I had control over how I ate and looked.
“As I got older, I realized that there is no such thing as perfection, and my priorities have shifted because I want to have a family someday. I don’t want these self-imposed issues to affect whether or not I can have children – because the reality is that you can’t have children when you’re that sick.”
