In the early ’90s, millions watched as she grew up on TV — but just a few years later, cocaine addiction nearly claimed her life.
This is the shocking story of Danniella Westbrook, one of the biggest soap opera stars the TV world has ever seen.
A collapsed jaw
Once a household name on EastEnders, a 16-year-old Daniella Westbrook captivated audiences with her fiery performance, becoming one of the UK’s most beloved soap stars.
But behind the scenes, her rise to fame came at a steep price. Today, the actress faces the harsh realities of her past: crumbling bones, a collapsed jaw, and a shattered cheekbone — a consequence of years spent battling addiction.
So how did this talented actress end up here?
Dreamed of fame
Daniella Westbrook was born in 1973 and grew up in Loughton, just outside London. From a young age, she dreamed of fame, and by the time she was seven, she had already launched her modeling career. Unlike many in the entertainment industry, Daniella didn’t come from a showbiz background — her father was a taxi driver, and her mother worked as a shop assistant.
Despite this, her career took off early. As a child model, she landed gigs with major global brands like Coca-Cola and Opel. One opportunity led to another, and before long, Daniella found herself stepping into the world of acting — an industry that would soon make her a household name.
As a child, she played a young thief in Melvyn Bragg’s London Programme and even performed in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. She also made a brief appearance in Grange Hill and starred in the music video for Queen’s The Invisible Man.
But perhaps the most ironic moment came when, at just 11 years old, she appeared as a background extra in EastEnders, roller-skating across Albert Square.
Her local newspaper even featured her picture with the caption: “Who knows? One day she may be the show’s star!” Little did they know just how true that prediction would become.
A dangerous addiction
By the time Daniella turned 16, her childhood dream of stardom was about to become a reality. She was put forward for a major role in EastEnders—Sam Mitchell, the feisty younger sister of Phil and Grant. After a successful audition, she made her official debut on the soap in July 1990.
With her natural charisma and on-screen presence, Daniella quickly became a fan favorite, taking part in some of the show’s biggest storylines. But after just three years, she shocked many by deciding to walk away in 1993, eager to explore other acting opportunities.
Fame, however, wasn’t done with her yet. In 1995, EastEnders producers came calling again, offering her a chance to return to the role that had made her a star. It should have been her big comeback. But behind the scenes, Daniella was battling a dangerous addiction to cocaine — one that was slowly but surely beginning to take its toll on both her life and career.
Daniella Westbrook’s downward spiral actually began long before she became a household name. She first tried cocaine at just 14, during a night out at a club. By the time she landed the role of Sam Mitchell in EastEnders at 16, she was already a regular on London’s party scene, and her drug use quickly escalated. What started as an occasional indulgence soon became a habit — Daniella later admitted to using “half a gram” of cocaine “maybe once a week.”
”I was always in clubs and everyone was doing coke and it was glamorous – except obviously, it wasn’t at all. I was just very young, very stupid and very easily led…I think there should be someone at EastEnders to say to young people when they come in, ‘Look, your life is about to change, you’re going to be invited places, and you’ll be offered drugs,’” she said.
Spent over $300,000 on her addiction
A the addiction grew, so did the consequences. She began arriving late to work, her behavior became erratic, and her once-promising career was starting to slip through her fingers.
In 1995, her with cocaine addiction reached a breaking point, leading her to check into the Charter Nightingale Clinic in London. This rehab facility is known for treating several high-profile celebrities, including Michael Jackson.
During the height of her nightclub-fueled lifestyle, Danniella admitted to spending a staggering $311,300 on her addiction. But the cost wasn’t just financial — her spiraling substance abuse also destroyed her relationship with pop star Brian Harvey, adding yet another heartbreaking chapter to her downfall.
”I’m every parent’s nightmare. I’ve done it all. I’m constantly apologizing to my mom and dad,” Daniella admitted after leaving rehab in 1995.
Despite this, she continued using five grams of cocaine daily throughout her first pregnancy. At her lowest point, she admitted to multiple suicide attempts, consumed by the depths of her addiction.
Stepping away from TV
By 1996, EastEnders producers had seen enough — they made the difficult decision to write her out of the show. Despite everything, Daniella was given a second chance in 1999 when the showrunners decided to bring Sam Mitchell back to EastEnders. Rather than recasting the role, they took a gamble on her once more.
But by then, her addiction had reached a disturbing new low — years of cocaine abuse had destroyed her nasal septum. In a desperate attempt to keep her on-screen, producers resorted to filming her from angles that hid the damage.
Throughout the 2000s, she was in and out of EastEnders, sometimes playing Sam Mitchell herself, other times replaced by Kim Medcalf.
Beyond the soap, she stayed in the public eye, appearing in reality shows like Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother. And despite stepping away from TV in 2016, she still makes headlines in the British press.
Her battles haven’t just been career-related. Danniella has faced serious health struggles, including mental health issues. In a 2017 appearance on Loose Women, she opened up about her diagnoses, saying, “I have borderline personality disorder, I’m bipolar, [paranoid] schizophrenia, I’ve got lots of different things.”
The health scares didn’t stop there. In 2018, she was treated for womb cancer after a misdiagnosis. Thankfully, she was given the all-clear the following year. Then, in 2022, a sudden bout of sepsis landed her in the ICU—but with fast treatment, she made a full recovery.
Horrific car accident
And when it comes to her personal life, Danniella’s relationships have been just as dramatic. In the ‘90s, she was in a long-term relationship with East 17 singer Brian Harvey before moving on to Robert Fernandez, with whom she had a son in 1996.
But tragedy struck in 1998 when Danniella was in a horrific car accident. She was thrown through the windshield at 85 mph, suffering severe facial injuries, including a dislocated eye. Miraculously, after corrective surgery, she avoided permanent disfigurement.
Later that same year, she married Ben Morgan, a van driver she had only known for eight weeks. They relocated to Australia, but the whirlwind romance fizzled out, and they divorced in less than a year.
Then came Kevin Jenkins, a businessman she wed in 2001, just months after the birth of their daughter, Jodie.
For a while, Danniella seemed to be settling into a quieter life. After her stint on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2003, she even declared she was done chasing fame, saying, “These days, I live an ordinary life. I work occasionally, but I also do the school run and laundry and prepare my family’s dinner.”
But by 2014, her marriage to Kevin was over. And while she may have stepped away from the small screen, Danniella Westbrook’s life has never been anything close to ordinary.
Danniella Westbrook today
As per 2025, Danniella continues to make headlines—but these days, it’s often due to her appearance rather than her acting career. Now 51, she has undergone multiple plastic surgeries over the years, some of which have led to painful complications.
Last year, after having surgery in Turkey, she traveled to Portugal, where she struggled with severe pain. ”Only I could go down to Portugal after an operation in the hospital. The pain I experienced was incredible, the worst in days. I feel like I have a hole in my head, literally,” she shared on Instagram at the time.
Danniella has faced heavy criticism from fans over her cosmetic procedures, and she has openly admitted to feeling anxious about the results. After getting liposuction, fillers, and Botox, she confessed, ”I can’t lie. After the liposuction, fillers, and Botox, I was so swollen I thought I was going to burst and I think the medical team was tired of me asking if this was normal.”
But some of her surgeries haven’t just been about aesthetics—she was forced to undergo jaw reconstruction after years of cocaine abuse left her bones deteriorating. Reflecting on the impact of her past addiction, she said, ”I just don’t look like me anymore. It’s clear that I’m going to age much faster because of drugs, but I didn’t need that.”
At one point, she even experienced her cheeks collapsing. She described waking up to find the left side of her face completely sunken—a stark contrast to the glamorous look she once had.
Though Danniella was once seen as a beauty icon, her journey has been filled with struggles, both physically and emotionally. Despite everything, she remains in the public eye, continuing to share her experiences with fans.
