'To The Bone' Star Lily Collins Opens Up About Her Own Past Eating Disorder

Lily Collins has opened up about suffering from eating disorders as a teenager, as she promotes new indie film To The Bone.

In To The Bone, Collins stars as a young woman battling anorexia and for the actress it was an important story to tell, as eating disorders are still treated like a taboo subject.

Lily Collins stars in To The Bone

“This movie was really important to me to be a part of because, as a teenager, I suffered from eating disorders,” the actress told Variety. “This is the first time I’m talking about it. This is my moment of talking about it.

“It’s important. It’s really important. It’s something that a lot of young women go through and there’s no shame in it, and this movie is about that — it’s about embracing your past and about realising it’s something that doesn’t define who you are, but it’s about your experiences, surrounding yourself with people that support you, and about surviving and getting through it.”

The film is based on the real life experiences of writer and director Marti Noxon, who also battled eating disorders in her past. Their shared experiences meant that Collins was immediately drawn to the project and working with Noxon.

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“This was something that right away when I met Marti, I completely was like, oh my god, we have to work together,” Collins said. “We have to tell this story because it’s something I think that’s incredibly taboo with young men and women to talk about, especially in today’s day and age where it’s more and more prevalent.”

After sharing her story at the Sundance Festival Collins took to Instagram to thank fans for their support. Sharing a photo of herself jumping in the air while surrounded by snow, Collins wrote: “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. Remember, you are never ever alone.”