Julie Hesmondhalgh Reflects on Alcohol Use and Acting Career

Julie Hesmondhalgh, known for her role in "Celebrity Traitors" and previously on "Coronation Street," has shared that she became teetotal in 2018 after realizing she might have a problematic relationship with alcohol. The 56-year-old actress told The Times that she has, at times, felt she was a "borderline alcoholic." Hesmondhalgh noted that her upbringing in the 1980s and 1990s in the North of England, where alcohol was a significant part of the culture, contributed to this.

She recounted an incident where a taxi driver recognized her and mentioned driving her years prior. Hesmondhalgh expressed embarrassment, stating that if the encounter was from before she quit drinking, she was likely in a "total state – crying or ranting." This led her to worry about having upset people. "I spend a lot of time fretting that I've upset people," she admitted.

Hesmondhalgh's recent appearance on "Celebrity Traitors" brought her attention, with fans delighting in her starstruck demeanor. She expressed admiration for co-stars like Myha'la Herrold and expressed excitement about meeting actors such as James Blunt and Richard E. Grant. However, she was banished from the game show, with fellow contestants suspecting her of being a Traitor.

Reflecting on her public image, Hesmondhalgh has previously discussed internalized misogyny and the societal pressures on women's attractiveness. In relation to her role in "Broadchurch," where her character was questioned for being a victim of rape, she commented on fighting the idea that desirability is linked to not being conventionally attractive. She mentioned needing to remember that "women understand that you can be sexually attractive without looking like Maya Jama."

This concern about appearance has extended to her acting roles, with Hesmondhalgh admitting she felt anxious about a recent script featuring a flirtatious scene. "I've been sent a script where I'm having a flirtation and I've been thinking, oh, that actor won't want to flirt with me," she said.

Despite being voted out of "Celebrity Traitors," Hesmondhalgh expressed enjoyment of the experience, acknowledging that her early exit might indicate she is not as skilled an actor as her fans might believe, affirming she was a "Faithful."