Danniella Westbrook reveals surprising career change saying new job ‘gives me a better buzz than any drug’
DANNIELLA Westbrook has revealed that she is training to be a therapist and holistic healer, and says this spiritual new direction gives her a 'better buzz than any drug'.
The former EastEnders actress, 48, opens up about her surprising new direction in the new episode of her friend Paul Danan's podcast.
Speaking to The Morning After, which goes live tonight at midnight, the addict speaks about how helping others is her new drug of choice.
She says: "I am actually going off to work at a holistic centre in Harrogate. A friend of mine has opened one, they have sound healing, reiki, therapists, all different stuff."
As well as currently studying for an NVQ in therapy, she is also training to be a yoga teacher.
Danniella adds: "I am learning how to be a therapist I am getting there. I am training really hard and I am doing loads of different stuff and techniques. I am learning yoga and that too."
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On top of that, she has been approached to run a mental health course by Kirklees council in Yorkshire to help those suffering with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as their families.
And she says the joy she gets from helping others with the same issues she has battled gives her the biggest high.
Speaking to Paul, she explains: "I think for us as well, It’s all about getting that buzz, whether that’s a buzz from audience reaction, a buzz from seeing somebody else thriving or growing, it’s actually so much better than the buzz you would ever get from a drug. So much better."
She continues: "As much as I love acting and will always love being an actor... my love for helping other people, especially within this vile viscous illness that we all suffer from, gives me more joy than acting.
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"God, if i could have had this bottled as a something I would have taken years ago, that would have been the drug I would have picked.
Danniella also reveals in the chat that she recently completed a spiritual retreat in Wales where she got hooked on sound baths.
She recalls: "I was doing the sound healing for three hours a day. The way it goes through your body, I have never had a high that that healing gives me. It has really helped me. That healing stuff took the anxiety side of things away from me."
Danniella is famous for several stints on EastEnders as Phil and Grant's sister during the 90s and 2000s.
Sam hasn’t been seen in Walford Square since 2016 after she attended the funeral of her mum, Peggy Mitchell.
The character will soon return, but with Kim Medcalfe playing her instead.
The actress was cast as Sam in the early noughties when Danniella was axed due to her drug use away from the show.
The Morning After with Paul Danan is available on Apple, spotify and all other podcast stores. To subscribe, go to
For more information on Paul's theatre company, go to
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