Calista Flockhart Says She Thought Anorexia Rumors Were ‘Going to Ruin My Career’

Calista Flockhart talks about past rumors that she suffered from anorexia.

In a new interview with The New York Timesreleased Friday, the actress, 59, explained the unprecedented toll the rumors, which she said were false, had taken on her health and state of mind.

“I was an easy target, I guess. It was painful, it was complicated. I loved working on Ally McBealand it just made it worse,” she said of the persistent conversations about her weight, which began when she played the lead character on the hit Fox legal drama, which ran for five seasons from 1997 to 2002.

Flockhart continued: “I was very sleep deprived and depressed about it. I thought it would ruin my career. I didn’t think anyone would ever hire me again, because they would just assume I was anorexic and that would be the end of it. ”

She said she was thankful she was working at the time because it bothered her.

Calista Flockhart at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Neilson Barnard/Getty Images

Calista Flockhart reveals she and Harrison Ford joke with each other: ‘They call me the ‘scary monster’ at my house’

“I had days where I was really hurt, embarrassed and angry,” she continued. “I’ve always thought, ‘Calista, you’re a good person, you’re not mean to anyone,’ and I’m convinced of that.”

According to the Mayo Clinic, anorexia nervosa is “an eating disorder characterized by abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight, and a distorted perception of weight.”

“People with anorexia place a high value on controlling their weight and shape, using extreme efforts that tend to significantly disrupt their lives,” the Mayo Clinic’s explanation continues.

Calista Flockhart attends the New York premiere of FX’s “Feud: Capote VS. The Swans” at the Museum of Modern Art.

Arturo Holmes/WireImage

Calista Flockhart jokes about discovering husband Harrison Ford’s softer side: ‘He’s scared of me’

Flockhart said she never had to watch her weight and that her mother is also short.

The Super girl star admitted that she hasn’t thought about the damaging eating disorder rumors in a long time, but noted that they are unfair and that she doesn’t think they would happen in today’s culture.

“Now they call it body-shaming. I didn’t think about it for a long time, but it’s really not right to accuse someone of having a disease that a lot of people struggle with,” she told The New York Times.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“I look back at the pictures, and then I’m the same as now, and now nobody says a word.”

Flockhart stars in the FX series Feud: Capote vs Swans as Lee Radziwill, Jackie Kennedy’s sister, who was a friend of this season’s subject, novelist and screenwriter Truman Capote.

If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, visit NationalEatingDisorders.org.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education