Lily Collins Eating Disorder: Talks New Movie To The Bone

Netflix originalTo The Bone has caused widespread controversy following its release earlier this month. The film stars Lily Collins as Ellen, a young woman battling anorexia in a rehabilitation home, and the 28-year-old actress lost a substantial amount of weight to play the role.

Netflix originalTo The Bone has caused widespread controversy following its release earlier this month. The film stars Lily Collins as Ellen, a young woman battling anorexia in a rehabilitation home, and the 28-year-old actress lost a substantial amount of weight to play the role.

Lily has spoken publicly about suffering from anorexia and bulimia herself during her teenage years, leading some to question the ethics of the production. The film has also been criticised for promoting "triggering" content, but Lily believes that creating a conversation around taboo subjects can lead to positive change. We sat down with her to find out more…

Hi Lily, as someone who has suffered from an eating disorder in the past were you nervous about taking on the role of Ellen?

“I was anxious, but the anxiety was driving me forward because I wanted to do this movie for a greater purpose. It served a greater story than just my own and I was excited by the idea of taking what’s considered a taboo subject and bringing it to more people. I think it’s super necessary in this day and age to make these conversations more accessible to young people, so that was really exciting to me.”

Did you worry about opening yourself back up to that mindset by getting in to character?

“It was nerve-wracking, but at the same time I knew I was so far along in my own recovery that my priorities had totally shifted from when I was younger. I was also being held accountable by so many people and I knew that I was supported. I was doing it with a nutritionist and so many people surrounding me that I felt were protecting me in a sense. I was very passionate about telling the story to more people and the anxiety was what drove me every day to continue to fight to tell the story.”

How much weight did you have to lose for the role?

“They never gave me a number or a goal weight, but I ended up losing around 20lbs. My nutritionist put me on lots of supplements and I was eating every meal, just specific things. I was very proud of the fact that I was never overly tired, I never missed a day of work and I never forgot my lines. We really made sure to maintain a semblance of control over the situation and also just to make sure my body was functioning the way that it should. I was reminding myself daily that I was hired as an actor, not because of the body I would have attained by suffering.”

Is there anything you wouldn’t change about your appearance for a role?

“I think it’s all situational. ‘Never say never’ is the mentality I’ve started to live by. When I was young I said, ‘I never want to dye my hair’. Now I’ve done it so many times and in Okja I was this pink/red colour, so you never know until something slaps you in the face. This script came along and smacked me hard. I was like, ‘Wow this is something I need to do.’”

When you read the script for the first time, were you thinking about how accurate and how sensitive you wanted to make it?

“Marti Noxon wrote the script and directed and it’s semi-autobiographical for her. She wrote from experience with a lot of heart and a lot of wit and dark humour that I related to so much. I knew from the get-go that if I could relate to it this much on the page, I was definitely going to be able to relate in the moments of filming. I got to insert little bits of myself along the way and Marti was really open to collaboration. I wanted to work with her in order to pay tribute to the character she created and her story, but also my own as well.”

How was working with Keanu Reeves?

“Keanu would rock up to set on his motorbike which was awesome. He’s so zen, he’s so calm and very sweet. He was always making sure I was ok because of the subject matter and he wanted to make sure that I was being taken care of.”

Netflix's 13 Reasons Why was criticised for sending a dangerous message to impressionable young people. What are your thoughts on this?

“I haven’t finished it yet, but I really commend Netflix for putting a subject matter out there that’s hard to deal with and talk about. With To The Bone it’s slightly different because they acquired it at Sundance once it had already been made, but I think the fact that they were willing to take a risk in order to put it out there is to be applauded. Teen suicide, bullying and eating disorders are so prevalent today, especially in today’s youth with women as well as men, and Netflix reaches so many people. The more something is in the limelight, the more conversations can be had and the more change can occur. I think sometimes controversy causes change and if they’re willing to be the ones who help to distribute that kind of change, that’s really quite amazing.”

Which Netflix shows do you like to watch yourself?

“I love House of Cards and Stranger Things. I met Millie [Bobby Brown] at the Golden Globes and she’s a little firecracker. I think she’s so extremely talented, so wise beyond her years and she’s got such a cute little fashion sense. I like all of the Netflix comedy specials and I love that they have documentaries as well. I love Chef’s Table. When I was filming Okja in South Korea, I visited this world-famous Zen Buddhist chef Jeong Kwan who was featured on an episode. We were eating and cooking together.”

Earlier this year you were nominated for a Golden Globe alongside Meryl Streep…

“She’s someone I’ve looked up to forever and incredible is not even a word to describe her. To be in a category with her was such an honour – everyone in that category. It really was an epic year. My mom took a picture of me [when I first found out] and I shared it on Instagram because I was just like, ‘This is the most real reaction I think I’ll ever have to something.’ I burst into tears.”

What have been your other pinch-me moments?

“When I was cast as Snow White in Mirror Mirror. They told me on April Fools’ Day so I burst out laughing, then I was screaming, then I was like, ‘Wait a second, is this a joke?’ and I started yelling. I couldn’t believe that I got to play a heroine that I grew up admiring and opposite Julia [Roberts].”

You’ve also done a few great rom-coms, but would you like to continue down the more serious drama route?

“I’d love to do more. I’d also love to do a French film at some point and I would love to do a British period drama. I feel like I live in that world in my own head, like Game of Thrones, Pride & Prejudice and Downton Abbey. It’s kind of where I feel the most comfortable sometimes.”

To The Bone is available on Netflix now.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLjApqauqp2WtKLGyKecZ5ufY8Kse8Crq6KbnJp8rbXLsmScp5yhtq%2B%2FjJ6YraGenHqltdKoqZ2domLBsHnToZxmmp%2Bjsm65zq%2Bgng%3D%3D

 Share!