Lily Collins Reflects on Her Past Struggles with Eating Disorders

Lily Collins is opening up about dealing with eating disorders, and how her new part in the new drama “To the Bone" become very personal for her.

The 27-year-old who opened up about her movie — which is about anorexia — and how it affected her while at the Sundance Film Festival. Speaking to IMDb, she revealed, "This was definitely a more dramatic role for me; I suffered with eating disorders when I was a teenager as well."

Collins, also an author, penned the book, "Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me.” While writing the chapter on her experience with her eating disorders, she received the script for the movie. She shared, "It was like the universe putting these things in my sphere to help me face, kind of dead-on, a fear that I used to have."

She added it was “a way to explain it as someone who's gone through it and to open up a topic that is considered quite taboo with young people nowadays, male, female, and to really start a conversation."

Preparing for the role meant Lily had to drop weight, but she made sure to do it properly. "It caused me to have to emotionally go there, but in a way that was the most safe, healthy way possible with a nutritionist, and really to physically go there but also emotionally.

A role hitting that close to home required "a different set of emotional skills,” she said.

While at Sundance, Collins also shared a message for her fans on Instagram, writing, "Chilled to the bone but feeling so free. What a huge moment this is for me. Owning my past, being open, and having no shame or regrets about my experiences. Sharing my history with eating disorders and how personal this film has been is one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. Thank you for all your love and support. I'm sending all of mine right back (especially today!) and remember, you are never ever alone #Unfiltered…"