Alexandra Vandernoot: the battle she fought in secret during her young adult years

Born in Uccle in 1963, Alexandra Vandernoot was trained at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels. Quickly, the actress began to appear in productions broadcast worldwide. While the global audience immediately identifies her as Tessa Noël, the fiancée of the immortal Duncan MacLeod in the cult series Highlander, it is in France where she becomes a familiar figure to the public.

The actress became one of the muses of Francis Veber, standing out in popular successes such as The Jaguar, The Closet, or the unforgettable The Dinner Game, alongside Jacques Villeret. And the Belgian artist doesn’t stop there: she flourishes in the theater, where she acts alongside Gérard Jugnot in Dear Treasure, and makes her mark in successful series like Camping Paradis, Profiling, or more recently Family Business on Netflix. But behind the success, the charming Belgian hides a deep wound, born on the benches of her drama school.

Context:
Alexandra Vandernoot is a Belgian actress known for her roles in both French and international productions.

Fact Check:
Alexandra Vandernoot did play the role of Tessa Noël in the television series Highlander.

When did Alexandra Vandernoot develop bulimia?

It was in 2013, in the pages of Gala magazine, that the actress chose to reveal her past struggles with eating disorders. It all began when she entered the Conservatory. Suddenly exposed, the 18-year-old woman struggled with the pressure associated with her acting career. “Being exposed to the gaze of others, especially men, understanding that this job depended on their desire, upset me a lot. So, I faded away, put in parentheses,” confessed Alexandra Vandernoot.

This is when bulimia took over. “I ate a lot, without making myself vomit. In a year, I gained 25 kilos,” explained the actress. At the time, the subject was still taboo, and medical care was just beginning. “We didn’t know much about this illness, we treated it with sedatives,” she regrets. For several years, Alexandra Vandernoot fought against her disorder, but it was only at the age of 25 that she met the one who would ultimately help her heal.

This encounter that changed everything for Alexandra Vandernoot

It was at this moment that the young actress met Bernard Uzan. The director then took a significant place in her life, and Alexandra Vandernoot finally became aware of her health problems: she embarked on a path to recovery and serenity. Together, the two artists welcomed two children: Léo and Julia. For over 30 years, Bernard Uzan and the former star of “Ici tout commence” provide unwavering support to each other and collaborate regularly on their professional projects. Proof that together, everything is easier.

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