Helen Hunt felt years of ‘misery and shame' over Hollywood beauty standards
During an interview with The Flow Space, the 61-year-old actress opened up about the 'misery and shame' she often felt about her physical appearance early in her career and explained how she chose to move beyond expectations.
'It felt impossible not to internalise the way you're supposed to look,' Hunt said. 'And [there was] a certain amount of misery and shame around not looking exactly that way.'
Hunt added, 'I realised, 'This could quietly ruin your whole life.' I made a decision: I'm not playing. Not gonna [let it] take up a lot of space in my mind.'
Hunt said her approach has been influenced by The Only Diet There Is, a book written by the spiritual leader Sondra Ray.
'What I took from it is, eat what you want and love every bite, period,' she said.
Hunt isn't the only '90s star who has openly spoken about the struggles she faced as a young star.
Earlier this year, Christina Applegate got candid about how the pressures of being portrayed as beautiful and sexy on Married … with Children led to an eating disorder.
'Playing that character kind of did things to me in my psyche that were no bueno – like anorexia,' the 53-year-old explained on her MeSsy podcast while speaking to guest and former Married … with Children co-star Katey Sagal.
'Yeah, a pretty bad eating disorder started when I was doing that show that lasted for a really long time,' she said.
Applegate said she never told anyone about the disorder at the time and was 'very, very private about it.'
'I would hide in bathrooms to eat, because I had so much shame around eating that I would hide on the aeroplanes, like when we went to London,' she said. 'I remember hiding in there to eat like one shrimp, 'cause I was so afraid if anyone saw me eat that they'd think I was going to try to get fat or something. I don't know. I was in such a dark space.'
Sagal, who played Applegate's on-screen mother on the show, which ran from 1987 until 1997, told her that she 'didn't know all that.'
Applegate answered, 'Yeah, I kept everything close to the chest. There's a lot of stuff that happened in the wings of my life that you guys didn't know about.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Lil Nas X seen roaming LA streets nearly naked in disturbing video, hospitalised then arrested
Lil Nas X was hospitalised and then arrested following a bizarre incident in Los Angeles overnight. The Old Town Road rapper, 26, was seen in video obtained by TMZ wearing only white underwear and boots while roaming around LA's Ventura Boulevard around 4am local time, per the outlet. When spotted by a fan, he reportedly told them he was headed to a party and put an orange traffic cone on his head, as shown in the video. Multiple people called police to report the incident and the Los Angeles Police Department arrived on the scene at around 5.50am local time, a public information officer tells Page Six. We're told the pop star, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, charged at the officers and so he was 'taken into custody' and 'transported to a local hospital for a possible overdose.' The PIO says the singer was then placed under arrest for battery on a police officer. Public records show the musician was booked at 11.22am local time at Van Nuys Jail. Reps for Lil Nas X did not immediately return Page Six's request for comment. The Atlanta-born entertainer has not yet addressed the ordeal. Prior to his public antics, Lil Nas X exhibited peculiar social media activity. He shared at least 11 photos via his Instagram of a disorganised house with pieces of art and furniture scattered around. In two of the pics, he was seen lunging as he posed in mirror selfies. One of the captions read, 'And just like that she's back. We've all waited so long. When dreamworld needed her the most..' He also captioned a selfie of himself, 'OH NO sHES GONE MAD! CRAZY I TELL U!' Earlier on Thursday, Lil Nas X shared a video via his Instagram Story as well, in which he was seen riding shotgun in a car and dancing while Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing played over the clip. The Grammy winner has been open about his drug use in the past. In 2021, he shared that he took psychedelic mushrooms while creating his album Montero. Lil Nas X also told Variety in 2020 that after the death of his grandmother two years prior, he self-medicated by 'smoking [weed] heavily.' However, he added at the time, 'But then I started feeling more connected with the universe, and taking everything as a sign.'
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Brent Hinds, former lead guitarist of heavy metal band Mastodon, dies in motorcycle crash
Brent Hinds, former guitarist and vocalist with Grammy-winning heavy metal band Mastodon, has died in a motorcycle crash in Atlanta. Hinds, aged 51, died after a car collided with his Harley-Davidson motorcycle late on Wednesday night, Atlanta police said. "We are heartbroken, shocked and still trying to process the loss of this creative force with whom we've shared so many triumphs, milestones, and the creation of music that has touched the hearts of so many," the band said on social media. Mastodon had three albums rise into the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart and two that topped the Rock Album chart — Emperor of Sand in 2017 and Once More 'round the Sun in 2014. Hinds co-founded Mastodon in 2000 with bassist Troy Sanders, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer Brann Dailor. Mastodon's third studio album, 2006's Blood Mountain, was their first to reach the Top 40, peaking at number 32 on the Billboard 200. Hinds left the band in March 2025. No reason for the departure was given. The band said they had "mutually decided to part ways", but comments made by Hinds on Instagram indicated a rocky relationship with the members of his former band. "We're deeply proud of and beyond grateful for the music and history we've shared and we wish him nothing but success and happiness in his future endeavours," the band said at the time. Mastodon — which forged ferocious metal, progressive wizardry and sludge rock tendencies — earned six Grammy Award nominations, winning one in 2017 for best metal performance for Sultan's Curse from the album Emperor of Sand. Rolling Stone magazine listed Mastodon's 2011 album The Hunter among its best of the year, saying the band had "streamlined their molten thrash into a taut thwump that doesn't pull back one bit on their natural complexity of innate weirdness". Hinds was due to tour Europe later this year with Fiend Without a Face, a band that was once a side project during his years with Mastodon. AP
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Nicest judge in the world' Frank Caprio dead at 88 after announcing health ‘setback'
Beloved Justice Frank Caprio, who went viral on social media as the 'nicest judge in the world,' has died at age 88 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Caprio died on Wednesday less than 24 hours after he shared a video from his hospital bed on Instagram, asking for prayers, The Sun reported. 'Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,' the post announcing his death read. 'His warmth, humour, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him. 'He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend. 'His legacy lives on in the countless acts of kindness he inspired. In his honour, may we each strive to bring a little more compassion into the world — just as he did every day.' Judge Caprio's family said he died peacefully. In a gut-wrenching video shared to his 3.2 million Instagram followers, Judge Caprio revealed that he had suffered a health setback and was again hospitalised. 'Last year, I asked you to pray for me and it's very obvious that you did because I came through a very difficult period,' Judge Caprio said as he laid on his hospital bed. In December 2023, he announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and began radiation treatment. 'Unfortunately I've had a setback, I'm back in the hospital now and I'm coming to you again asking you to remember me in your prayers once more,' he continued. 'So, I ask you again, if it's not too much, that you remember me in your prayers. 'I'm a great believer in the power of prayers. I think the almighty above is looking over us. So remember me, please.' Judge Caprio became a fixture in Providence, Rhode Island, after becoming a judge in 1985 – he even had his own daytime show, Caught in Providence, which ran from 2018 to 2020. He received multiple Daytime Emmy Award nominations and left social media users in tears for the way he handled a speeding ticket involving a 96-year-old Victor Colella. Mr Colella appeared in an episode of Judge Caprio's show and was in court, representing himself, after being fined for speeding in a school zone. Judge Caprio immediately dismissed Mr Colella's case after the elderly man explained to him that he was not a fast driver, and was only driving to take his 63-year-old son, who is handicapped, to get his blood work because he had cancer. 'You are a good man. You really are what America is all about. Here you are in your 90s and you're still taking care of your family. That's just a wonderful thing for you,' Judge Caprio told Mr Colella in admiration. He said more than once, 'I don't wear a badge under my robe. I wear a heart.' Judge Caprio served as a judge for the Providence Municipal Court for almost 40 years, retiring in October 2023. Dan McKee, the governor of Rhode Island, ordered all flags at state agencies and buildings to be flown at half-mast in honour of Judge Caprio. 'Judge Caprio was a Rhode Island treasure,' Governor McKee wrote in a statement. 'On a personal level, he was a friend who faced his illness with bravery, and I will miss him dearly. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones, during this difficult time. 'Judge Caprio not only served the public well, but he connected with them in a meaningful way, and people could not help but respond to his warmth and compassion. 'He was more than a jurist – he was a symbol of empathy on the bench, showing us what is possible when justice is tempered with humanity.'
