Latest news with #TheDumpingGround
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer reveals she's been diagnosed with perimenopause: ‘I felt like I was being possessed'
Tracy Beaker star Dani Harmer has revealed that she has been diagnosed with perimenopause after noticing symptoms related to her mental health. The 36-year-old actor, who rose to fame for her starring role in the CBBC TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's novel The Story of Tracy Beaker, explained in a new TikTok video that she went to the doctors after experiencing brain fog, night sweats and difficulties with her mental health. In the video, Harmer pulled back some of her hair to reveal that her curly hair, which had become known as Tracy Beaker's signature locks, was thinning out as a result of the condition. 'I am losing it – it is thinning so badly you can see, like, the bald patches coming in, but just, like, the texture. It's thinning – it's bad, right?' she said. She added that the hair loss was 'getting me down' and that she was considering going to a salon to have curly hair extensions installed. Speaking about obtaining her diagnosis, Harmer revealed that it was her husband, Simon Brough, who encouraged her to get a diagnosis after her 'whole personality had pretty much changed'. 'There was just too much to ignore,' she said. 'I felt like I was being possessed by someone else; it was horrible – I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression.' The actor is now managing her symptoms with the menopause treatment Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), which was prescribed after her doctor had run tests for different conditions, including cancer and coeliac disease. She said that the treatment has made her feel like herself again and that she had lost the weight that she had gained during lockdown, but her periods were 'all over the place'. Perimenopause is when a person has the symptoms of menopause but the periods have not stopped. The condition becomes menopause when a person fails to have a period for 12 months. Menopause is when periods stop due to lower hormone levels, which typically affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. Menopause and perimenopause can cause symptoms like anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flushes and irregular periods. These symptoms can start years before your periods stop and carry on afterwards. Harmer encouraged her fans who have had similar symptoms to seek medical advice and 'do not suffer', adding: 'Some of the symptoms are horrendous and you can spiral so quickly. I was really glad I went and got help.' The actor and her partner welcomed their first child, Avarie-Belle, in 2016. They had a second baby, Rowan, in 2022. Harmer appeared in The Story of Tracy Beaker from 2002 to 2005, before appearing in spin-offsTracy Beaker Returns (2009) and TheDumping Ground (2013).
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Former child star, 36, bravely opens up about perimenopause diagnosis
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER child star has left people stunned after revealing she's been diagnosed with perimenopause. Dani Harmer is most famous for playing Tracy Beaker - Jacqueline Wilson's curly-haired schoolgirl - in the TV show from 2002 to 2005. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Dani Harmer took to TikTok to open up about her struggle with perimenopause Credit: tiktok/@ 3 She said that she's been really suffering with hair loss Credit: tiktok/@ 3 Dani is most famous for playing curly-haired schoolgirl Tracy Beaker in the TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's books Credit: CBBC She also reprised the role in the spinoffs Tracy Beaker Returns in 2010, The Dumping Ground in 2013, and My Mum Tracy Beaker and The Beaker Girls in 2021. Dani is now 36, and opened up about her health struggle in a video on her TikTok page, as she admitted it's taken a massive toll on her famous ringlets. "I have been diagnosed with perimenopause," she said. "And what I need your help with is my hair. "I am losing it like it is thinning so badly like you can see like the bald patches coming in but just like the texture. "It's thinning - it's bad right." She went on to ask whether she should get hair extensions, but added she was worried that they would make her tresses even worse. "It could be a terrible idea. it might make my hair even worse to be honest but it's really getting me down now!" she admitted, adding that she's also taking collagen supplements after being gifted them. As for how she was diagnosed with perimenopause, Dani admitted it was her husband Simon who first noticed that her " whole personality had pretty much changed". In addition to an increase in her depression and anxiety, she had bad "brain fog", night sweats and sleep interruptions. I've always had very thin hair but perimenopause made it worse -my little secret from Amazon fills in my bald spots "There was just too much to ignore," Dani admitted. So she went to the GP, saw a female doctor, and got a "diagnosis pretty swiftly". They also did blood tests to rule anything else out. "I felt like I was being possessed by someone else, it was horrible - I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression," she sighed. "So I'm really glad that I went and I got help. "My doctor was more than happy to put me on HRT." What is the menopause and how does it affect women? The menopause is a transitional period all women go through in mid-life. Hormones related to the reproductive system deplete namely oestrogen, over a period of time. This doesn't just cause periods to stop. Sex hormones act all over the body, from the brain, skin, vagina and more. Therefore, dozens of symptoms affect all areas of the body, to varying degrees. Women's experiences of menopause vary greatly. While some breeze through it, others' lives are significantly impacted. It can feel as though it lasts a couple of years, or for decades. It cannot be predicted how each woman will fare. When is menopause? Perimenopause is when symptoms start but periods have not yet stopped, although they will be irregular. This can start in the early 40s. Menopause is when periods have completely stopped for a year. The average age this happens is 51, but it can be any time from 45 to 55, according to the NHS. The term 'menopause' is used to describe the experience overall. Menopause before the age of 45 is called early menopause, affecting five per cent of women. Menopause before the age of 40 is called premature menopause, affecting one per cent of women before 40 and 0.1 per cent of women under 30. This may happen for no clear reason, but also as a result of surgery, genetics or medications. A year after that the final period, a woman is considered to be entering the post-menopausal stage. How does it impact a woman's life? The menopause can be an extremely testing time in a woman's life and for those around her. The body is going through a significant change, and the symptoms that come with it can feel alien, with women sometimes describing a loss of sense of self. Physical symptoms include hot flushes (a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest), difficulty sleeping, night sweats, heart palpitations, headaches, muscle and joint aches, weight skin, skin changes, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and more. Symptoms affecting mental health or cognition include brain fog, memory loss, low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem and irritation. There are ways to manage symptoms and cope with menopause - and women need to know that they are not alone in facing it. Medication, such as HRT or oestrogen gel, can help attack the symptoms. However, experts often say it needs a rounded approach incorporating good lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and less alcohol. Many women report that their life began after menopause after it drew them to a healthier way of living. However, the huge burden it can have - on work, family life and more - is important for society to recognise, as adapting policies at work, for example, can make it easier for women to stick with their job. Read more about menopause on The Sun's Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign. Dani said she's been on HRT for around 18 months, and "feels like myself again". She's also lost the weight she gained during lockdown. And while she still has the "odd hot flush and stuff", the only lasting side effect is the hair loss. Dani concluded her video by offering to try and answer any questions anyone wanted to ask her about perimenopause. "I'm definitely no expert at all! But if anyone has any questions I'll try and answer using my experiences," she added in the caption. In the comments section, people shared their hair regrowth tips for Dani, with one writing: "Kerastase Genesis serum, once a day". "Oil once a week on hair wash day and your hair will be thicker in a month." "Try weleda hair tonic! It's so good," another added. "Rosemary oil on TikTok shop," a third commented. While others praised Dani for speaking about her perimenopause struggle. "I think I'm suffering with perimenopause too!" one wrote. "Kinda scary as I'm 34, but this video makes me feel so much better about it." "So proud of you talking about this babe," another added. As a third said: "Thanks so much for talking about it. I've felt so alone and confused at times with it!!" One person admitted they'd been left stunned by the fact Dani was old enough to have perimenopause - considering they still think of her as a teenager in Tracy Beaker. "Whaaaaat? You're about 17yrs old!" they exclaimed.
The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Health
- The Irish Sun
Former child star, 36, bravely opens up about perimenopause diagnosis
A FORMER child star has left people stunned after revealing she's been diagnosed with perimenopause. Dani Harmer is most famous for playing Tracy Beaker - Jacqueline Wilson's curly-haired schoolgirl - in the TV show from 2002 to 2005. Advertisement 3 Dani Harmer took to TikTok to open up about her struggle with perimenopause Credit: tiktok/@ 3 She said that she's been really suffering with hair loss Credit: tiktok/@ 3 Dani is most famous for playing curly-haired schoolgirl Tracy Beaker in the TV adaptation of Jacqueline Wilson's books Credit: CBBC She also reprised the role in the spinoffs Tracy Beaker Returns in 2010, The Dumping Ground in 2013, and My Mum Tracy Beaker and The Beaker Girls in 2021. Dani is now 36, and opened up about her health struggle in a "I have been diagnosed with perimenopause," she said. "And what I need your help with is my hair. Advertisement Read more Health stories "I am losing it like it is thinning so badly like you can see like the bald patches coming in but just like the texture. "It's thinning - it's bad right." She went on to ask whether she should get hair extensions, but added she was worried that they would make her tresses even worse. "It could be a terrible idea. it might make my hair even worse to be honest but it's really getting me down now!" she admitted, adding that she's also taking collagen supplements after being gifted them. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous As for how she was diagnosed with perimenopause, Dani admitted it was her husband Simon who first noticed that her " whole personality had pretty much changed". In addition to an increase in her depression and anxiety, she had bad "brain fog", night sweats and sleep interruptions. I've always had very thin hair but perimenopause made it worse -my little secret from Amazon fills in my bald spots "There was just too much to ignore," Dani admitted. So she went to the GP, saw a female doctor, and got a "diagnosis pretty swiftly". Advertisement They also did blood tests to rule anything else out. "I felt like I was being possessed by someone else, it was horrible - I was just getting deeper and deeper into a dark depression," she sighed. "So I'm really glad that I went and I got help. "My doctor was more than happy to put me on HRT." Advertisement What is the menopause and how does it affect women? The menopause is a transitional period all women go through in mid-life. Hormones related to the reproductive system deplete namely oestrogen, over a period of time. This doesn't just cause periods to stop. Sex hormones act all over the body, from the brain, skin, vagina and more. Therefore, dozens of symptoms affect all areas of the body, to varying degrees. Women's experiences of menopause vary greatly. While some breeze through it, others' lives are significantly impacted. It can feel as though it lasts a couple of years, or for decades. It cannot be predicted how each woman will fare. When is menopause? Perimenopause is when symptoms start but periods have not yet stopped, although they will be irregular. This can start in the early 40s. Menopause is when periods have completely stopped for a year. The average age this happens is 51, but it can be any time from 45 to 55, according to the NHS. The term 'menopause' is used to describe the experience overall. Menopause before the age of 45 is called early menopause, affecting five per cent of women. Menopause before the age of 40 is called premature menopause, affecting one per cent of women before 40 and 0.1 per cent of women under 30. This may happen for no clear reason, but also as a result of surgery, genetics or medications. A year after that the final period, a woman is considered to be entering the post-menopausal stage. How does it impact a woman's life? The menopause can be an extremely testing time in a woman's life and for those around her. The body is going through a significant change, and the symptoms that come with it can feel alien, with women sometimes describing a loss of sense of self. Physical symptoms include hot flushes (a sudden feeling of heat in the face, neck and chest), difficulty sleeping, night sweats, heart palpitations, headaches, muscle and joint aches, weight skin, skin changes, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and more. Symptoms affecting mental health or cognition include brain fog, memory loss, low mood, anxiety, low self-esteem and irritation. There are ways to manage symptoms and cope with menopause - and women need to know that they are not alone in facing it. Medication, such as HRT or oestrogen gel, can help attack the symptoms. However, experts often say it needs a rounded approach incorporating good lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet and less alcohol. Many women report that their life began after menopause after it drew them to a healthier way of living. However, the huge burden it can have - on work, family life and more - is important for society to recognise, as adapting policies at work, for example, can make it easier for women to stick with their job. Read more about menopause on The Sun's Fabulous Menopause Matters campaign. Dani said she's been on HRT for around 18 months, and "feels like myself again". She's also lost the weight she gained during lockdown. And while she still has the "odd hot flush and stuff", the only lasting side effect is the hair loss. Dani concluded her video by offering to try and answer any questions anyone wanted to ask her about perimenopause. Advertisement "I'm definitely no expert at all! But if anyone has any questions I'll try and answer using my experiences," she added in the caption. In the comments section, people shared their hair regrowth tips for Dani, with one writing: "Kerastase Genesis serum, once a day". "Oil once a week on hair wash day and your hair will be thicker in a month." "Try weleda hair tonic! It's so good," another added. Advertisement "Rosemary oil on TikTok shop," a third commented. While others praised Dani for speaking about her perimenopause struggle. "I think I'm suffering with perimenopause too!" one wrote. "Kinda scary as I'm 34, but this video makes me feel so much better about it." Advertisement "So proud of you talking about this babe," another added. As a third said: "Thanks so much for talking about it. I've felt so alone and confused at times with it!!" One person admitted they'd been left stunned by the fact Dani was old enough to have perimenopause - considering they still think of her as a teenager in Tracy Beaker. "Whaaaaat? You're about 17yrs old!" they exclaimed. Advertisement
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Hollyoaks star unrecognisable 16 years after leaving E4 soap with bushy grey beard
A FORMER Hollyoaks hunk looks unrecognisable with a bushy grey beard - 16 years after leaving the famous E4 soap. This actor was on the show from 2004 to 2009, and 6 Can you guess who this former Hollyoaks star is? Credit: instagram/@officialstuartmanning 6 This actor was a HUGE Hollyoaks heartthrob in the noughties Credit: instagram/@officialstuartmanning 6 The actor in question is Stuart Manning, who played Russ Owen on Hollyoaks Credit: Lime Pictures 6 During his heyday Stuart was a pinup due to his Hollyoaks heartthrob status Credit: Getty Did you guess the actor was Now 45, the actor joined the soap when he was in his mid-twenties and was the soap's pinup. But now the actor - who during the noughties dated new look . Taking to his Instagram Stories, Read more on hollyoaks His hair is also a lot longer, which he wore in curtains that fell down his face. The soap star shared that he was on his "morning walk" and he was off to take a look at a "historic church". HOLLYOAKS HEARTTHROB Stuart launched to fame as a Hollyoaks heartthrob when he was 26. He was an instant hit with fans, and was rewarded with some big storylines. Most read in Soaps This included his character Russ marrying Mercedes McQueen (albeit briefly), battling testicular cancer and dating twin Sophie Burton . He also saved Sophie from the Dog In The Pond when it caught fire – only for her to die in his arms shortly afterwards. Hollyoaks' Stuart Manning lands huge Hollywood role with Denise Richards after having to take work as a delivery driver During his time on Hollyoaks , Stuart cemented himself as the soap's leading hunk. Speaking in 2009 about often being "shirtless" on the show, he told "If you're a girl coming into the show, you're going to be wearing short skirts and small tops, and for a guy you're going to be in your underwear or shorts or a tight top. "When I joined the show, I prepared for that and I worked out – especially when I was in the calendar a few years ago. "I'm starting to get back into my old shape again!" Asked at the time about how he felt about all the female attention he received, Stuart told the publication: "It's always quite nice ! "Especially when you have to go and do signings in record shops and places like that – there are loads of women and a fair load of blokes too. "I think the gay following for Hollyoaks is really big now, and that's cool too." 6 Stuart was on Hollyoaks between 2004 and 2009 and briefly reprised his role in 2018 Credit: Lime Pictures LEAVING HOLLYOAKS After five years in the Hollyoaks spotlight, Stuart quit the soap in 2009 to peruse other projects. He then shocked fans when Stuart's character Russ was brutally killed in a hammer attack, after he was exposed for cheating on Mercedes by sleeping with Goldie McQueen. LIFE AWAY FROM HOLLYOAKS After leaving Hollyoaks for good, Stuart has continued to act. He has starred in Doctors, The Dumping Ground, and Casualty. The actor also appeared on I'm A Celebrity in 2009. Stuart even starred in US TV show Glow and Darkness, alongside Away from the showbusiness, 6 The actor is married to wife Georgina and they have two children Credit: Instagram
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Tracy Beaker legend Dani Harmer was in labour for five days
Actress Dani Harmer admits she was traumatised by the birth of her first child and it influenced her decisions when she got pregnant with her second child. Dani Harmer, best known for her role as the iconic Tracy Beaker, has opened up about the traumatic birth of her first child - revealing she was in labour for five days before getting an emergency caesarean-section. She spoke about the experience to Vanessa Feltz on weekday Channel 5 show Vanessa, where she admitted that the experience left her fearing for her life. She told the show host: "I was in labour for five days. I then had to have an emergency C-section, which was really, really scary." Dani added that while the ordeal is a bit of a blur to her now because of the medication she was on while giving birth, the emotional toll it took affected her for a long time. Dani shared: "I don't remember much of it because I was drugged up on a lot of different things, but it was an experience I really didn't want to have to repeat. So when we fell pregnant with my second, I really wanted to go for an elective caesarean." Although she originally had a firm stance on wanting to deliver via operation, Dani said she faced pressure to try and give birth naturally the second time around. At the time she hit back, saying: "Unless you can guarantee me that I'm going to give birth naturally, one hundred per cent, then otherwise I will want an elective one." The traumatised actress added: "If I think back to that first birth, I can almost cry about it, and it took a really long time to get over it." Dani, now 36, shot to fame in the early 2000s playing fiery schoolgirl Tracy Beaker. She later reprised that role on various spin-offs, including Tracy Beaker Returns, The Beaker Girls and most recently, The Dumping Ground. She made her directorial debut on the last series, which is a challenge she decided to embrace after shadowing directors on set. While speaking to the BBC about her return to the franchise, Dani said: "It is so good to be back and making a cameo as Tracy, she's been a part of my life for over 20 years now, but I'd quite happily play her forever!" Off-screen, Dani is also a devoted mum of two. Her daughter, Avarie-Belle, now eight, has mixed feelings about her mum's famous role. While she is a fan of Jacqueline Wilson's books and spin-off shows like The Dumping Ground, she wasn't exactly blown away by the original Tracy Beaker show. Dani laughingly recalled: "I tried to show her a bit of Tracy Beaker, but she was like, 'Mum, this is really boring.' I was like, 'How dare you!' Hopefully, she'll sit down and watch the OG series one day." On top of acting, Dani runs the Dani Harmer Academy, which is a LAMDA certified performing arts school that helps aspiring actors build confidence on and off screen.
