Actress and TV personality Daniella Westbrook has opened up in a powerful and honest interview on The UK Hair and Beauty Awards relaunched podcast, Say It Louder, hosted by Sophie Lux and Lucas Freitas.
Best known for her long-standing career in British television, including EastEnders, Celebrity Big Brother, Dancing on Ice and I’m A Celebrity, Daniella spoke candidly about growing up in the public eye, the pressure placed on women in the media, online trolling, addiction recovery, mental health and learning to rebuild her life with honesty.
During the interview, Daniella reflected on nearly four decades in the public eye, saying: “I’ve been in public life for 39 years now, and I’ve sort of grown up in front of the nation.”
In one of the most emotional moments of the episode, Daniella spoke about forgiveness, moving forward and what matters most to her today.
“My children forgive me for the things I’ve done, and that’s all that matters to me,” she said. “I forgive myself for a lot of things. Just keep moving forward, and I’m too busy to be worrying about the past.”
The conversation also covered the impact of online abuse, with Daniella explaining how difficult trolling can be, particularly when comments target a person’s appearance or past struggles.
She said: “That’s the one that sticks with you. Even if your friends and people tell you that you look lovely, when you read that one comment, that’s what sticks with you.”
Speaking directly to young women and anyone struggling with social media pressure, Daniella added: “Be brave and speak to someone. Don’t sit there typing it to someone. Speak to somebody face to face. It’s okay to break down.”
The episode also touched on Daniella’s own mental health journey. She spoke openly about seeking professional help, being under a mental health team and the importance of asking for support when things become too much.
“I talk about it openly because it’s part of who I am,” she said. “You have to keep carrying on. Take some time out, get strong, come back, just keep going.”
Sophie Lux, founder of The UK Hair and Beauty Awards, said the conversation was exactly why Say It Louder was created.
“I asked Daniella to come on because I am genuinely inspired by her,” said Sophie. “As somebody who has struggled with mental health myself, seeing someone be so honest about what they have been through and still keep going gives people hope. That is what this podcast is about: saying the things people are often too scared to say out loud.”
Co-host Lucas Freitas brought humour, warmth and honesty to the conversation, helping create an episode that moves between emotional reflection, unfiltered opinions and laugh-out-loud moments.
The interview also explored Daniella’s move into talent management through her agency W1 Elite, which she launched after seeing reality TV stars and public figures struggle with fame, pressure and a lack of proper support.
Daniella explained: “I was sick and tired of looking at all these reality stars come off shows and get used and abused by managers. So many people are left with mental health issues after that.”
She added that her agency offers support including access to therapists, financial guidance and career advice, helping talent build something more sustainable beyond short-term fame.
The episode ends with a lighter “Say It or Shot It” segment, where Daniella, Sophie and Lucas answer cheeky questions and share unfiltered stories, bringing the podcast’s mix of honesty, humour and chaos to life.
Say It Louder is HBA’s relaunched podcast series, created to have raw, honest and entertaining conversations with well-known faces, industry voices and people with stories worth hearing.
