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EASTENDERS star Charlie Brooks has shared photos illustrating a significant change in her appearance since giving up alcohol.
She has moved past her partying days, acknowledging six years of sobriety, and proudly told her fans that she has developed a ‘sober glow’.
Eastenders legend Charlie Brooks celebrated six years sober by sharing a throwback to her party daysCredit: Instagram / charlie_brooks_xx
The star looks significantly different from her pre-sobriety self and revealed that she is starting a skincare journey after gaining her “sober glow”Credit: Getty
Reflecting on her past relationship with alcohol, Charlie revealed that she gave it up for good after being trapped in a cycle of ‘regret, shame, and fear’ for years, calling it the “best decision I’ve ever made”.
In recognition of her journey to sobriety, Charlie posted a picture of herself opening a can of Stella Artois and pouring it into a pint glass on her Instagram.
In her caption, she wrote: “Cigarettes and alcohol. Oh my goodness. I used to LOVE them. My skin, body, and mind… did not.”
“Late nights. Smokers’ corner. Tequila rounds. Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. My absolute favorites — until they weren’t.”
She acknowledged that the consequences of her alcohol-fueled nights led to a cycle of “Empty bank. Regret. Shame. Fear”, despite having “some fantastic times”.
“That cycle lasted a decade,” Charlie added, “Ten years of ‘never again’ followed by… again.”
In her caption, Charlie admitted that she “didn’t want to enter my 40s on the same merry-go-round,” reminiscing about her decision to stop drinking entirely.
She mentioned that the change came “little by little” and described her sobriety as a “work in progress,” while also noting that she had achieved a “sober glow.”
Charlie continued: “I’m learning when to push, when to pause, and when to step aside and let life unfold.”
“It’s a continuous journey. Always.”
“And yes — the sober glow is a real thing!”
The mother-of-one, who portrayed Janine Butcher in the long-running soap, shared that she is on a journey, posting images of herself receiving various facial and skincare treatments.
The final image showed the actress with her dog, sporting a much more noticeable glow after eliminating alcohol from her life and replacing it with a range of treatments.
“I love not drinking,” she concluded, “It’s the best decision I’ve ever made [dancing emoji].”
Charlie stepped away from her role as Janine in BBC’s EastEnders after
Her last scenes aired on Boxing Day in 2022, where she was taken into police custody following a car accident that left Linda Carter injured.
The star shared that she is now undergoing a skincare journey as she continues her sober life, detailing a number of different treatmentsCredit: Instagram / charlie_brooks_xx
The results of her skin treatments and sobriety appear to be treating her well, with the actress showcasing noticeably smoother skin and an enhanced glowCredit: Instagram / charlie_brooks_xx
Charlie’s controversial character was not killed off in the show, leaving the door open for a potential return in the future.
Since departing from the soap, the actress has participated in competition shows including Dancing On Ice.
Charlie competed in this year’s series of the ice-skating dance competition, paired with Olympic medalist skating professional Eric Radford.
The duo progressed quite far in the competition, after she found herself in a dance-off against Anton Ferdinand.
