Hollyoaks and Coronation Street star Nikki Sanderson has revealed she had a ‘very bad’ battle with depression in her 20s.
The actress, 36, said she struggled for years during her time between the two soaps.
The Blackpool-born star joined Coronation Street when she was just 15 and played Candice Stowe for six years until she left the famous cobbles.
Honest: Soap star Nikki Sanderson has opened up about her battle with depression throughout her 20s
She told the Mirror: ‘If I go from a busy lifestyle to nothingness it’s very hard. It’s bad for my mental health, feeling empty, so I try to keep my mind motivated. I suffered depression in my 20s and it was a very, very, bad time.
‘I’m lucky my mind is healthy now. But I have to stay busy to avoid the feeling of a lull. I’m fortunate I always have someone at the end of the phone.’
Nikki, who now plays Maxine Minniver on Hollyoaks, said the show’s bosses have been checking in on its stars during lockdown and making sure they are safe and well.
Difficult period: The actress left Coronation Street aged 21 and went on to suffer with her mental health in the following years
Nikki previously opened up about her mental health struggles on Instagram in 2018, where she wrote: ‘This is the first time I have openly and publicly admitted this, as like so many, I had been ashamed and embarrassed…
‘I have suffered with depression in the past.’
Nikki was recently put through her paces as one of the stars of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
She said the show had an impact on her mental health as she was unable to switch off during the gruelling challenges.
Last month, Nikki was keen to flaunt her toned physique as she posed in scanty lingerie in her latest Instagram post.
Wow! Nikki Sanderson appeared keen to flaunt her toned physique as she posed in scanty lingerie in her latest Instagram post on Wednesday evening
The actress flashed her taut abs in a black lacy bralet, which she teamed with a pair of high-waisted black pants.
Nikki added a quirky edge to her look with a colourful cardigan from the 80s, which she revealed she had discovered while routing through her mum’s loft.
The star kept her look glamorous with a full face of make-up, and wore her brunette tresses in bouncy voluminous waves, swept to the side.
She completed her loungewear look with a pair of retro glasses with silver frames.
Who dares wins! She is currently being put through her paces as one of the stars of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins where she faces physically gruelling challenges
The sexy snap came after it was revealed that Nikki had her nose broken while appearing on the survival challenge programme.
Helen Skelton broke fellow contestant Nikkis nose after instructors encouraged them to box each other.
The former Blue Peter presenter, 36, left Nikki nursing her nose after the friendly scrap, with Helen insisting she didn’t want to hurt her.
Injured: The sexy snap comes after it was revealed that Nikki had her nose broken while appearing on the survival challenge programme
Speaking to The Sun, Helen explained: ‘I had to fight Nikki and that was tough because I really like her.
‘She hit me a lot and I only hit her a couple of times, but when I did she was like, “Oh my God, I think you’ve broken my nose”.
‘I might have only hit her a couple of times but I connected. It’s so weird having to fight someone you like, I didn’t want to hit her, then she hit me once and I was like, ‘OK!’
The brutal reality show sees Helen and fellow celebrities including Katie Price and Joey Essex, will be head to Scotland’s West Coast to find out if they’ve got what it takes to pass SAS selection.
For help and support call Samaritans helpline 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org.
Ouch! Helen Skelton broke fellow contestant Nikkis nose after instructors encouraged them to box each other