She became a household name as a teenager, with millions watching her grow up on television. But only a few years later, cocaine addiction would push her life and career toward a devastating breaking point.
This is the remarkable and painful story of Danniella Westbrook, the former EastEnders star whose rise to fame was followed by years of addiction, health struggles, and personal turmoil.
A devastating impact on her face
Once one of the most recognizable faces on EastEnders, teenage actress Danniella Westbrook won over British audiences with her fiery portrayal of Sam Mitchell.
But behind the fame and television success, Westbrook was fighting a battle that would eventually have devastating consequences. Years of drug abuse, combined with other health problems and surgeries, would leave her dealing with severe damage to her face, including problems with her jaw and cheekbones.
So how did a promising young actress end up facing such difficult circumstances?
She dreamed of becoming famous
Danniella Westbrook was born in 1973 and raised in Loughton, Essex, just outside London. She dreamed of becoming famous from a young age, and by the time she was seven, she had already begun working as a model.
Unlike many young performers, she did not grow up in a show-business family. Her father worked as a taxi driver, while her mother was a shop assistant.
Her modeling career quickly began to take off. As a child, she appeared in campaigns for major companies, including Coca-Cola and Opel. Before long, opportunities in acting followed.
Westbrook appeared in Melvyn Bragg’s London Programme, played a role in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and made a brief appearance in Grange Hill. She also featured in the music video for Queen’s The Invisible Man.
One of the most memorable early moments of her career came when she was just 11 years old. She appeared as an extra on EastEnders, roller-skating across Albert Square.
A local newspaper even published her photograph with a prediction that she could one day become a star of the show.
That prediction would soon become reality.
A dangerous addiction begins
At 16, Westbrook’s childhood dream finally came true. She auditioned for the role of Sam Mitchell, the younger sister of Phil and Grant Mitchell on EastEnders.
After landing the part, she made her debut on the BBC soap in July 1990.
Her personality and natural screen presence quickly made her popular with viewers. She became involved in some of the show’s most memorable storylines and was soon a familiar face across Britain.
After three years on the show, however, she decided to leave in 1993 in the hope of exploring other acting opportunities.
Two years later, EastEnders offered her the chance to return as Sam Mitchell.
On the surface, it looked like the perfect comeback. Behind the scenes, however, Westbrook was struggling with a serious cocaine addiction that was beginning to affect virtually every part of her life.
She later revealed that she had first tried cocaine when she was just 14 years old while out at a club. By the time she joined EastEnders at 16, she was already regularly involved in London’s nightlife.
What began as occasional drug use gradually became a much more serious habit. Westbrook later said she could use around half a gram of cocaine in a week.
Reflecting on those years, she acknowledged how young and impressionable she had been and warned about the pressures young actors can face after becoming famous.
She spent hundreds of thousands on cocaine
As her addiction became worse, the consequences became impossible to ignore.
Westbrook began arriving late for work, her behavior became increasingly unpredictable, and her promising career started to suffer.
In 1995, she reached a crisis point and entered the Charter Nightingale Clinic in London, a rehabilitation center that has treated a number of high-profile celebrities.
At the height of her addiction, Westbrook said she had spent an extraordinary amount of money on cocaine — reportedly more than $300,000.
The damage went far beyond her finances. Her drug use also contributed to the breakdown of important relationships, including her relationship with East 17 singer Brian Harvey.
After leaving rehab in 1995, she openly admitted that she had caused enormous worry for her family and described herself as a parent’s worst nightmare.
Despite entering rehabilitation, her struggle with cocaine continued. She later revealed that she used significant amounts of the drug during her first pregnancy.
At her lowest point, Westbrook also spoke about multiple suicide attempts, showing just how deeply her addiction had affected her mental and emotional well-being.
Her television career begins to fall apart
By 1996, EastEnders producers had reached a breaking point and decided to write Sam Mitchell out of the show.
Still, Westbrook was given another opportunity several years later. In 1999, producers brought Sam Mitchell back and chose to give Westbrook another chance rather than recast the role.
But her addiction had already caused serious physical damage.
Years of cocaine use had severely damaged her nasal septum. According to reports, production teams sometimes used camera angles that made the damage less noticeable while she was appearing on screen.
Throughout the 2000s, Westbrook’s connection with EastEnders continued to change. At times she returned as Sam Mitchell, while on other occasions the character was played by Kim Medcalf.
Away from the soap, she remained a familiar face on British television. She appeared on reality shows including Dancing on Ice, Celebrity Big Brother, and I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!
Although she eventually stepped away from regular television work, her personal life continued to attract attention in the British media.
Serious health struggles
Westbrook’s difficulties weren’t limited to addiction and her acting career.
She has also spoken publicly about struggles involving her mental health. During a 2017 appearance on Loose Women, she discussed several diagnoses she had received and described the difficulties she had experienced throughout her life.
She also faced serious physical health problems.
In 2018, she underwent treatment for womb cancer after initially being misdiagnosed. Thankfully, she was later given the all-clear.
Then, in 2022, she developed sepsis and became seriously ill enough to require intensive care. Fortunately, she received treatment and eventually recovered.
A horrific car crash
Westbrook’s personal life has also included several major turning points.
During the 1990s, she was in a long-term relationship with Brian Harvey of East 17 before becoming involved with Robert Fernandez. The couple welcomed a son in 1996.
Then, in 1998, Westbrook was involved in a terrifying car accident.
She was reportedly thrown through the windshield at high speed and suffered severe injuries to her face, including a dislocated eye.
Despite the seriousness of the crash, corrective surgery helped prevent permanent disfigurement.
In 2001, Westbrook married businessman Kevin Jenkins, only months after the birth of their daughter, Jodie.
For a period, she appeared to be moving toward a quieter family life.
After appearing on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2003, she even suggested that she was no longer interested in constantly chasing fame.
She spoke about enjoying everyday family life, including taking her children to school, doing laundry, and preparing meals.
However, her marriage to Jenkins eventually ended in 2014.
And despite stepping away from regular television work, her life was anything but ordinary.
Danniella Westbrook today
In recent years, Westbrook has continued to make headlines, although much of the attention has focused on her appearance and medical procedures rather than her acting career.
She has undergone numerous cosmetic procedures, some of which have resulted in painful complications.
Following surgery in Turkey, she later traveled to Portugal and spoke publicly about experiencing severe pain. She described the discomfort as among the worst she had ever experienced and said she felt as though she had a hole in her head.
Westbrook has also faced criticism over some of her cosmetic procedures, while openly discussing her own concerns about the results.
After undergoing procedures including liposuction, fillers, and Botox, she admitted that she had experienced significant swelling and anxiety while recovering.
But not all of her surgeries have been cosmetic.
Westbrook has required reconstructive procedures on her jaw after years of cocaine abuse caused extensive damage to the bones in her face.
Reflecting on the consequences of her past, she has spoken openly about regretting the impact drugs had on her appearance and health.
At one point, she also described experiencing a dramatic change in her cheeks, saying that she woke up to discover that one side of her face had become noticeably sunken.
The transformation was particularly difficult for someone who had spent much of her youth in the public eye.
A life marked by highs and lows
Danniella Westbrook’s story is a striking example of how quickly fame, addiction, and personal struggles can collide.
She went from being a young girl with dreams of becoming an actress to one of Britain’s best-known soap stars. But her battle with cocaine addiction eventually affected her career, relationships, finances, and physical health.
Despite everything she has endured, Westbrook has continued to speak publicly about her experiences and the consequences of her past choices.
Her journey has been filled with painful setbacks, but she remains a recognizable figure who continues to share her story with the public.