Japanese Actor Alice Hirose Opens Up About Her Struggles
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Japanese actor Alice Hirose, 31, has spoken openly about a difficult period in her career and a long-term health problem she still deals with today.
Hirose described the time as a "dark period" and said she once felt as if "everyone was my enemy." She has said meeting a well-known and respected actor helped her get through this difficult stage of her life.
She also revealed that she has struggled with an eating disorder since her late teens. She said that for years she would eat and then force herself to vomit. Hirose said that even now, at 31, she is "still fighting" this condition.
In another part of her story, Hirose talked about a letter her mother wrote her. She said reading the letter made her cry. In the letter, her mother wrote something that stayed with her: "As a parent, your success is my success."
By sharing these personal experiences publicly, Hirose has joined other public figures who talk openly about mental health and body image issues. Her comments have drawn attention in Japanese media, with several outlets reporting on her story.
Hirose did not give further details about when exactly these events happened or who the respected actor was. Still, her willingness to discuss such a personal struggle has been seen as a brave and honest moment.
Vocabulary7 words
- actor
- a person who plays a part in movies or on TV
- dark period
- a time in life that feels very difficult and sad
- respected actor
- an actor many people admire and look up to
- eating disorder
- an illness about unhealthy eating habits
- vomit
- to bring food back up out of the stomach
- success
- doing well; achieving good things
- mental health
- the condition of a person's mind and feelings
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Quiz
Answer key
1. 31 2. Meeting a respected actor 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japanese actor Alice Hirose, 31, has spoken openly about a difficult _____ in her career and a long-term health problem.
Hirose described the time as a "_____ period" and said she once felt as if "everyone was my enemy."
She has said meeting a well-known and _____ actor helped her get through this difficult stage of her life.
She also revealed that she has struggled with an _____ disorder since her late teens.
She said that for years she would eat and then force herself to _____.
Hirose said that even now, at 31, she is "still _____" this condition.
Hirose talked about a _____ her mother wrote her. She said reading it made her cry.
Her mother wrote: "As a parent, your _____ is my success."
By sharing these personal experiences, Hirose has joined other public figures who talk openly about _____ health.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think it is helpful for public figures to share personal struggles like this?
- How can meeting someone you admire help a person through a hard time?
- What do you think about the mother's words: "Your success is my success"?
- Do you think talking openly about eating disorders helps reduce stigma? Why or why not?
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