Portia de Rossi opens up about battling eating disorders

Portia de Rossi revealed some shocking news about her past.

The 42-year-old actress got candid about her struggles with bulimia and anorexia at a young age in an episode of the online docuseries “It Got Better,” which shares the personal stories of LGBT celebrities to help prevent suicide in the LGBT community.

In an exclusive clip obtained by Entertainment Tonight, de Rossi recalls one of her first modeling gigs and the pressures that came with it.

"Everything became about what I looked like… I felt tremendous responsibility when I was 12 years old and I was put on a catwalk,” de Rossi explains, “My modeling agents had told me to go on a diet. So I didn't eat for 10 days before then.”

The Scandal actress also remembers the harsh criticism she received from her fellow models about her “bushy eyebrows” and what caused her to turn to bulimia.

"I got in the car after that event, and just opened up a bag of my favorite candy and put my whole head in it," she explained. "And I think, 'S--t, what have I done? I just undid two weeks worth of dieting.' So then I vomit.”

Looking back on that day, de Rossi explains that she did it to “erase the feelings with food, erase the food by vomiting...but you're still left with the shame,” she said.

Though the road to recovery has been difficult, the Arrested Development star managed to find self-acceptance after falling in love with Ellen Degeneres and the two have been married to since 2008.

De Rossi’s emotional episode will premiere on Wednesday, May 13.

Image credit of Jennifer Graylock/INFphoto.com

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