Lily Collins revealed in a new interview that she and her character in To the Bone both suffered from an eating disorder.
People reported the actress opened up to IMDB Studio about her new film. To the Bone premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year and she spoke about her past struggles with eating disorders and how she had to "emotionally go there" for her latest role as Ellen, the teenager suffering from Anorexia.
The 27-year-old actress stated, "This was definitely a more dramatic role for me, I suffered with eating disorders when I was a teenager as well,” she said. “I wrote a book last year and I wrote my chapter on my experiences a week before I got Marti’s script and it was like the universe putting these things in my sphere to help me face, kind of dead on, a fear that I used to have. And, a way to explain it as someone who’s gone through it and to open up a topic that is considered quite taboo with young people nowadays, male, female, and to really start a conversation.”
Collins had to lose weight for her role as Ellen, but she did so with the aid of a nutritionist so her transformation could be as healthy as possible, unlike the physical and emotional toll anorexia has on the body.
“It caused me to have to emotionally go there, but in a way that was the most safe, healthy way possible with a nutritionist, and really to physically go there but also emotionally and it did require a different set of emotional skills, to kind of go back in time for me, with you know, my experiences,” the actress explained. “So definitely a different type of film for me to do, very, very personal.”
Collins' fans praised her when she revealed this long held secret of her former teenage years. She took to Instagram to thank them for their love and support.
"Chilled to the bone but feeling so free. What a huge moment this is for me. Owning my past, being open, and having no shame or regrets about my experiences. Sharing my history with eating disorders and how personal this film has been is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Thank you for all your love and support. I'm sending all of mine right back (especially today!) and remember, you are never alone #Unfiltered..."