Grammy-nominated singer Andra Day has opened up about her experience battling s** and p^rn addiction while filming “The United States vs. Billie Holiday.”

In an interview with InStyle, Day shared that she wanted the focus of the film, in which she played jazz legend Billie Holiday, to be on her music rather than her hyper-sexualized image during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s due to her own addiction issues.

Day said, “I didn’t want any element of sexualization…I had come out of something in my own life – dealing with p^rn addiction, s** addiction.”

She emphasized that she was being candid because she knew she wasn’t the only one facing these struggles but wanted to overcome them.

Despite the challenges, the role ended up being a source of healing for Day.

Playing Holiday helped her honor the strength of femininity and put her addiction behind her.

“I feel now, after playing Billie, that I’m honoring her and the strength that is femininity,” she said.

Day also revealed that she lost 40 pounds for the role, although not in the healthiest way.

She smoked cigarettes and drank alcohol due to desperation for her first film role to be a success.

People often asked her whether she felt prettier after losing weight, but Day said she liked being “juicy” and preferred the way her body felt before.

She acknowledged that beauty takes on many different forms and credited Holiday for helping her view herself in a different light.

“She opened me up to valuing myself in a way that I hadn’t fully before,” Day said.

In conclusion, Day’s journey through addiction and her portrayal of Billie Holiday highlight the importance of focusing on a person’s talents and strengths rather than their physical appearance.

Her candidness about her own struggles may also encourage others to seek help and overcome similar challenges.