This time last year, Denise Van Outen, 45, admitted she was ‘unfit, miserable’ and had ‘given up’. After a broken foot forced her to pull out of the West End production of Chicago back in 2018, Denise was plagued with low moods.
But less than two years later, after a successful appearance on The Masked Singer, she’s in a much better place.
‘I made some life changes and reinvented myself,’ Denise said. So what’s really been going on behind closed doors for the star?
‘YOU FEEL SO RESPONSIBLE’
In 2018, Denise, who is mum to nine-year-old Betsy, was set to play Velma Kelly in the West End hit Chicago, 17 years after she first took on the role.
But before rehearsals even started, Denise was forced to pull out after an accident where she fractured her heel running.
‘Going into Chicago and the West End, which is all singing and dancing, I wanted to be super-fit, so before training I was running and it happened,’ she said.
‘I felt this shooting pain through my heel. I went to see an ankle specialist that day and found out that it was a stress fracture right through the heel, so – pretty bad.’ Denise added that having to pull out of the musical meant that her mental health spiralled.
‘It was awful,’ she said. ‘I felt fantastic both mentally and physically. I was feeling on top form. But I was devastated because it had just been announced that I was going into the show, and I’d done it 17 years ago.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 13, 2020-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der April 13, 2020-Ausgabe von WOMAN'S OWN.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?