Lily Collins, the star of Emily in Paris, has once again spoken candidly about her long and deeply personal battle with an eating disorder, emphasizing that recovery is an ongoing journey rather than a final destination.
The 36 year old actress shared her reflections during Eating Disorders Awareness Week, describing how opening up about her experience feels both terrifying and empowering. She stressed that no one should suffer in silence or shame.
“I want to take this moment to highlight Eating Disorders Awareness Week,” Collins wrote on Instagram on February 26, also praising the work of the National Eating Disorders Association in the United States, calling it life saving.
Collins first publicly revealed her struggle in 2017, around the time she starred in the drama To the Bone, where she portrayed a young woman battling anorexia. The role was especially personal, as it mirrored her own past.
In her essay collection Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me, Collins shared that her struggles began at age 16 during her father Phil Collins’ divorce. She described feeling overwhelmed by emotional pain and confusion while also trying to manage adolescence alongside two serious careers that were largely centered on her appearance.
“I couldn’t cope with the pain and confusion of my father’s divorce,” she wrote, adding that balancing her teenage years with professional pressures became increasingly difficult.
Reflecting on To the Bone, Collins explained that telling this story carried a deep responsibility. As someone who has personally experienced an eating disorder, she has consistently advocated for greater awareness and compassion.
Recovery, she noted, looks different for everyone. It is rarely linear and often requires patience, support, and community. She credited organizations like NEDA and projects like To the Bone with helping her connect with others and feel less alone.
Her message was clear. Healing takes time, vulnerability takes courage, and no one should face such battles without support.
