Corrie Bev slams stars
Star’s mental health blast
BEVERLEY Callard has warned her fellow celebrities to avoid brandishing mental illness “like a Gucci handbag”.
The Corrie actress – who has depression – said there was a danger it could “become fashionable” to claim to have such conditions.
She fears some stars may try to jump on the mental health bandwagon when they are simply having a bad day.
The star, who has played brassy Liz McDonald for 30 years, said: “Real mental illness is very dark and it takes a great deal of strength to ask for help.
“I think we are now definitely chipping away at the stigma.
Tears
“But we have to be careful mental illness doesn’t become like a Gucci handbag. There is a danger it can become ‘fashionable’.”
Three years ago, Beverley, 61, took two months off work after breaking down in tears on the Corrie set, suddenly fearing she did not measure up to the ITV soap’s stunning young female stars.
The actress said she was plunged into a black hole because she felt “idiotic” in one of her character’s costumes, which she said made her look like a tasselled lampshade.
Beverley did not speak to anyone for four days, which she spent in bed with a bottle of water.
Her breakdown came after a drug company axed medication she had been using for two years to combat her depression, claiming it was not profitable enough.
She recovered and returned to the soap after a London medic recommended by her former Corrie co-star Denise Welch prescribed her the right treatment.
Mental health charity Mind – for which she is an ambassador – said Beverley’s honesty had helped save lives by inspiring others to seek support.
The actress told Best magazine she had considered keeping her condition secret but was glad she had spoken out.
She said: “In the beginning I didn’t want to talk about my depression. But I also wanted to be up front and honest.
“You think you’re completely alone. But actually there are thousands going through exactly what you are.”