In a recent interview with Elle, Cheryl Cole discussed her relationship with Simon Cowell, her sacking from The X Factor US in 2011 and her highs and lows over the last four years including her divorce from Ashley Cole.

Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole at The X Factor London auditions in June.

The 31-year-old rose to fame in 2002 after auditioning for Popstars: The Rivals and was selected to join girl band Girls Aloud. 12 years on and the naïve starlet has been transformed, no doubt thanks to the help of an impressive management and PR team. But she has endured numerous personal and very public sacrifices and problems. 

Read More: Cheryl Cole Names New Album Only Human.

Cole explained how she had managed to cope with the issues which include her divorce from footballer Ashley Cole and sacking from The X Factor US. She appears to have worked through the difficulties by, quite literally, working. In the interview she said "I didn't stop and didn't let anything sink in, because I just couldn't absorb it."

She realised things finally had to change at the beginning of last year when Cole said she no longer recognised who she had become. The X Factor judge also discussed how depression had affected her family and how she had previously suffered from the illness. Cole touched on this in the interview, stating in 2013, that "something was seriously wrong: it felt like a nervous breakdown."

Cole attributes her mental state as the reason why she was sacked from The X Factor USA in 2011. The decision had been Cowell's but her fellow judge and the show's producer did not even have the courtesy to tell her directly. She was forced out of, not only the US version, but of The X Factor UK after being replaced by N-Dubz singer Tulisa Contostavlos. 

Simon Cowell
Cole has forgiven Cowell for sacking her from The X Factor US in 2011. 

Three years later, Cole has rejoined the judges on The X Factor UK and accepted Cowell's previous decision. In the interview she claimed "Simon was right to get rid of me." Explaining her justification by saying "I wasn't well in the head when that was going on, so it wasn't going to work. But he wasn't right not to tell me to my face." She added "I don't bear grudges. All that toxicity poisons you."

Cole shares much the same attitude towards her ex-husband, Ashley Cole, who was a renowned philanderer. The pair divorced in 2010 after four years of marriage and Cole explained in the interview how she prefers not to discuss her former relationship. She said "I don't want to be one of those ex-couples who hate each other. Let it rest and just move on."

Cole is optimistic about the future and has a stoic approach towards her past troubles. She said "I know I'm really lucky because none of what I've been through broke me. It actually taught me everything I'm going to need for the rest of my life."

Read the full interview in August's Elle magazine.

Read More: Cheryl Cole's Boyfriend Plans Birthday Bash.

Cheryl Cole
Cheryl Cole is back judging on The X Factor UK.