Former Celebrity Traitors contestant Julie Hesmondhalgh has revealed that her niece's 2018 ovarian cancer diagnosis 'shook me to my core' and prompted her to rethink her relationship with alcohol. The 56-year-old actress, known for her roles in Coronation Street and Mr Bates vs The Post Office, opened up in an interview with the Sunday Times.
Borderline Alcoholic Admission
Hesmondhalgh admitted there were times in her life when she was 'borderline alcoholic', reflecting on growing up in the Eighties and Nineties as a working class northerner where drinking was a big part of the culture. She described the thought of driving somewhere without having a drink as 'anathema' to her, adding that some of her worst experiences in life involved alcohol.
The turning point came in 2018 when her niece was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Although her niece has since recovered, the experience left a lasting impression on Hesmondhalgh.
Life-Changing Moment
She said: 'I absolutely think that there have been times in my life where I was borderline alcoholic. It's hard when you've grown up in the Eighties and Nineties as a working class northerner because it was such a big part of the culture.'
'The thought of driving somewhere and not being able to have a drink was just anathema to me, but some of my worst experiences in life have involved alcohol. And then, in 2018, my niece got ovarian cancer and that really, really rocked me. That shook me to my core.'
Hesmondhalgh added: 'I wouldn't go back to lying in bed at night thinking what did I say and feeling mentally vulnerable for anything. In fact I accidentally had a drink on holiday recently. Instead of a 0 per cent Heineken they gave me a proper one and I was sick as a dog.'
Celebrity Traitors Experience
The actress also spoke about being asked to join the second series of Celebrity Traitors. She revealed to the BBC that the invitation came during the broadcast of the first series, which was won by Alan Carr. She said: 'I got asked to do it at the height of last year's celebrity series. I was doing a play in London. They came to see me in my dressing room and asked me. I couldn't believe it. I like fell on the floor. Keeping it a secret was so, so hard.'
Hesmondhalgh was one of the first celebrities to be banished from the Traitors castle after journalist Amol Rajan failed to be recruited by then Traitors Richard E Grant and Maya Jama.
