Actress Kristen Johnston has revealed that she took up heavy drinking and drugs during her “Sex and the City” phase.
Johnston discussed her journey through recovery and her sober status.
Kristen Johnston reflects on drinking and drug use during her ‘Sex and the City’ years
Johnston, 58, appeared on the “Dear Chelsea” podcast and reflected on her stint in “Sex and the City”. She said that she wasn’t sober at that time and struggled with drinking and substance abuse. The actress admitted she was a “hot mess”.
“I was just kind of messy, like late at night after I was doing a lot of theater. [There was] a lot of drinking after theater, lots of wine, the occasional foray into cocaine, but I knew what I was talking about. Let’s just put it that way,” she said.
Johnston opened up about the difficult phase in her life. “I think I was an addict since I was a kid, even though I wasn’t, obviously, doing it then. I, like, just needed to escape always. I did not like being in my skin. One of the first things I really had to figure out was how to be in my skin.”
Us reports that the SATC alum decided to do crafts and DIY projects to fill the time she previously spent drinking. “I had to come up with crafts,” she said.
She is known for her declarations, “New York is over” and “I’m so bored I could die.” She delivered the popular lines after being told she could not smoke at a society party. The show then wrote the character off by having her plummet to her death. Lexi fell out of a skyscraper window with a cigarette in her hand.
Johnston has been sober for 10 years.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
