Japanese Actor Alice Hirose Opens Up About Her Struggles

Alice Hirose, the 31-year-old Japanese actor, has given a candid account of a troubled period in her career, as well as a long-standing health condition she continues to manage today.

In her remarks, Hirose described this phase of her life as a "dark period," during which she felt, in her words, as though "everyone was my enemy." She credited an encounter with a widely respected actor as a turning point that helped her move past this difficult chapter, though she did not specify the identity of this person or the exact timing.

Hirose also disclosed that she has lived with an eating disorder since her late teens. She explained that the condition involved cycles of eating and then forcing herself to vomit, a pattern she said continues to affect her even now, at 31. "I'm still fighting it," she reportedly said, underscoring that the condition has not fully resolved despite years passing.

In a separate but related revelation, Hirose spoke about a letter written to her by her mother, which reportedly moved her to tears. The letter contained a line that appears to have left a lasting impression on the actor: her mother told her that, as a parent, her daughter's success was equally her own success — a sentiment that speaks to the close bond between the two amid Hirose's struggles.

Hirose's decision to speak publicly about both her emotional difficulties and her eating disorder places her among a growing number of public figures in Japan and elsewhere who are choosing to destigmatize conversations around mental health and body image. Such disclosures from well-known entertainers are often seen as significant, given the pressure on public figures to maintain a polished image.

The reports, which were carried by several Japanese media outlets, did not provide additional details about current treatment Hirose may be receiving or the precise timeline of these events. Nonetheless, her openness has been noted as a notable moment of vulnerability from a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, one that may resonate with others facing similar struggles with food and body image.