![TV star Jill Halfpenny Spotting another actress at AA helped me go teetotal](https://cdn.magzter.com/1583504377/1719274842/articles/ZnKZsyFTQ1719290901816/TV-STAR-JILL-HALFPENNY-SPOTTING-ANOTHER-ACTRESS-AT-AA-HELPED-ME-GO-TEETOTAL.jpg)
Jill, 48, describes in her new book how she used to binge drink to forget about her father's death, which was not really discussed when she was growing up with her mum and sisters.
She says it helped her "escape" and "stop thinking".
Jill, who also starred in The Long Shadow, Coronation Street, Three Girls, The Drowning and The Holiday, has been teetotal for over a decade.
But she says her drinking had reached a point where she was getting more drunk than the people she was with and crashed out on sofas.
Escape
In A Life Reimagined: My Journey of Hope in the Midst of Loss, she writes: "I began to see that I became a different person when I drank and I didn't always like who I became.
"I needed to be honest with myself and the people in my life. For a long time, alcohol had helped me escape, to stop thinking, to change the way I felt about myself.
"Conversely, I thought it also helped me access all the things that lay dormant inside me."
This story is from the June 25, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 25, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![DROSS TO BOSS AS LIONS ESCAPE](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/63kXZAAc61719809903640/DROSS-TO-BOSS-AS-LIONS-ESCAPE.jpg)
DROSS TO BOSS AS LIONS ESCAPE
Southgate had looked lost on touchline until amazing twist
![Year of hurt never stopped me dreaming](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/-tX2fWtkK1719809630666/YEAR-OF-HURT-NEVER-STOPPED-ME-DREAMING.jpg)
Year of hurt never stopped me dreaming
RELAXED RADUCANU READY TO BE PART OF GLORIOUS SUMMER
![It's a Shangri-La moment for our leaders of the pack](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/8tVMbKC9T1719809778009/ITS-A-SHANGRILA-MOMENT-FOR-OUR-LEADERS-OF-THE-PACK.jpg)
It's a Shangri-La moment for our leaders of the pack
GARETH SOUTHGATE and England love a leadership group but for more than an hour and a half of an utterly dreadful performance it went missing.
![DUEL'S GOLD](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/nySjO4QAm1719809477245/DUELS-GOLD.jpg)
DUEL'S GOLD
Verstappen and Norris gift laughing Russell a rare win
![IT'S OUR MOMENT OF TRUTH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/5UN2txP3T1719809351967/ITS-OUR-MOMENT-OF-TRUTH.jpg)
IT'S OUR MOMENT OF TRUTH
KEVIN SINFIELD has warned England their tour starts now as Steve Borthwick's side prepare to face New Zealand on Saturday in Dunedin.
![LOS FIRMLY IN PROFIT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/GC1N2gst91719809204416/LOS-FIRMLY-IN-PROFIT.jpg)
LOS FIRMLY IN PROFIT
Angeles wins Irish Derby
![Tories and Labour working to get small business votes](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/pBWoAorbn1719808618634/TORIES-AND-LABOUR-WORKING-TO-GET-SMALL-BUSINESS-VOTES.jpg)
Tories and Labour working to get small business votes
FOUR in five bosses of small and medium-size businesses are still holding out to be wooed Thursday's General Election.
!['Jane saved my life...it's as simple as that'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/rjOEgKkpF1719808485306/JANE-SAVED-MY-LIFEITS-AS-SIMPLE-AS-THAT.jpg)
'Jane saved my life...it's as simple as that'
Dog charity worker nominated for her PTSD crusade
![Children killed by missiles](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/1orpHyTFm1719808414210/CHILDREN-KILLED-BY-MISSILES.jpg)
Children killed by missiles
THREE children were among seven civilians killed by a Russian missile attack on a town in southern Ukraine.
![Pub's not the best place if you have a hangarover](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/21044/1750655/nt081WjuO1719808335301/PUBS-NOT-THE-BEST-PLACE-IF-YOU-HAVE-A-HANGAROVER.jpg)
Pub's not the best place if you have a hangarover
IT may not be the best choice for a quiet pint - this pub garden is just 50ft from an airport runway.