As she poses with her three children by the tranquil Merseyside coast in what is possibly her most candid interview ever, it’s obvious actress Helen Flanagan has come a long way since the “very scary” psychosis episode she thought might rob her of everything she holds dear.
Helen’s nightmare began after what looked like a dream New Year’s holiday to Bali with her three kids – Matilda, eight, Delilah, five, and three-year-old Charlie. But despite posting a stream of smiley photos to social media, her reality was actually very different.
“My kids weren’t with me on Christmas Day because I like to be really fair with my ex, and I know it sounds so silly because it was only one day, but it hit me really hard,” she says. “The plan was for me to take them to Bali for New Year instead, and although I enjoyed it, I didn’t feel myself, I was struggling. I felt terrible when I got back, I was crying all the time, I felt so low.”
The former Coronation Street star, 33, who gets very emotional during various points in our chat, admits that she now realises she was “mentally and physically breaking down” and that she had unresolved trauma – a lot of it down to her 2022 break-up with footballer Scott Sinclair, who she was engaged to for 13 years and is the father of her children.
Bu hikaye OK! UK dergisinin May 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye OK! UK dergisinin May 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
'We'd love to do I'm A Celebrity'
Star siblings Princess and Junior Andre tell all in their first exclusive joint photoshoot
LA DOLCE VITA
The idyllic island of Ischia offers a taste of the real Italy
STAY SAFE IN THE SUN THIS SUMMER
At home or abroad, your skin needs protection now more than ever
BEAN FEAST
This Morning chef Marcus Bean shares three filling dishes for all the family
'Society has programmed us to be negative'
TV presenter Melissa Porter opens up about raising her son alone and the lessons she has learnt along the way
Parenting was harder when my kids were little
As Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox launches her own wine range, she tells OK! she won't be sharing it with her teens and how turning 50 is a \"privilege\"
'Fans say they feel represented'
Reality star Lady Paris Smith on the importance of being a good role model and giving positive advice
GET READY FOR SWIFTMANIA!
The long wait is almost over for a legion of Taylor Swift fans, as her record-breaking Eras Tour reaches the UK
I would rather have more flesh and eat more food'
Queen of the TV kitchen for 25 years, Nigella Lawson talks about the pleasures of good cooking, her conversion to the air fryer and why you can't beat a good crisp
'My burns, my scarring, is part of who I am. I try to be at peace with it'
Katie Piper tells OK! about coming to terms with her past, her incredible charity work and blossoming TV career, and how she’s found happiness as a wife and mother of two children