Former EastEnders star Danniella Westbrook has broken her silence on the harrowing reality behind her recent hospitalisation — and the long, painful road to recovery that still lies ahead.

Danniella Westbrook is planning further surgery (Credit: Shutterstock)

The 52-year-old actress had been preparing for a long-awaited comeback in 2025 after landing a role in a new film. But those plans were suddenly put on hold when she was rushed to hospital after suffering severe breathing difficulties.

Danniella is hoping to do make a comeback (Credit: Shutterstock)

What doctors discovered next, she says, left even them stunned.

“Doctors Couldn’t Believe It When They Opened Me Up”

Danniella partied hard in her younger years (Credit: Shutterstock)

While in hospital, Danniella was forced to use a breathing machine as medics tried to uncover the cause of her worsening condition. During examinations, surgeons discovered three new holes in the roof of her mouth, in addition to the extensive nasal damage she has battled for years.

Her septum had already eroded previously following long-term cocaine use — something she has spoken about openly in the past.

“Doctors couldn’t believe it when they opened me up,” Danniella told the Mail.
“The top of my mouth had started to recede and it had two holes, which were constantly leaking and corroded. Everything I was eating and drinking was going through them.”

Emergency Surgery and 68 Stitches

Danniella has since undergone emergency surgery to repair the damage — leaving her with 68 stitches inside her mouth.

Surgeons also carried out a lip-revision procedure, correcting a cleft lip caused by the collapse of facial structure.

“The work went well,” she explained.
“My surgeon brought my top lip down and forward — those holes were pushing it back and curling my lip up.

“And because there was no structure at the end of my nose, everything was being pushed up and under. That’s why I couldn’t breathe — I was literally suffocating.”

A £45,000 Transformation Still to Come

Despite the recent operation, Danniella insists this is only the start of her rehabilitation.

In the New Year, she plans to travel to Dubai for a £45,000 face and neck lift, along with several smaller procedures. She believes the full recovery process could take up to two years.

The actress has also reflected candidly on her past addiction, revealing her cocaine habit once reached three grams a day, costing her an estimated £250,000.

Although she quit several times, she relapsed in 2014. In 2021, she announced she was finally drug-free after attending a treatment clinic in Mijas, Spain.

Looking Forward, Not Back

Now sober and determined to rebuild her life, Danniella is launching a new talent agency, W.1 Elite, and is filming a documentary chronicling her surgeries and recovery journey.

She has even hinted she would consider returning to EastEnders as Sam Mitchell — but only if the character was “killed off”.

For now, her focus is healing — both physically and emotionally.

“I got rid of all my mirrors,” she admitted.
“I hated the way I look… but now, I feel great.”

After decades of public scrutiny, health struggles and setbacks, Danniella says she is finally learning to rebuild her confidence — step by step.

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/