Home and Away star Emily Weir reveals the life-changing decision that saved her after battling inner demons: 'Sometimes things have to break'

star Emily Weir has opened up about her sobriety journey, revealing she has now been alcohol-free for eight years after quitting drinking in 2018.

The actress, 34, told this week's Stellar magazine that she turned to to cope

Emily said she has continued to prioritise her sobriety with the help of a 12-step program, which she joined four years ago.

'Sometimes things have to break in order to be rebuilt,' she said.

'These ideas we have about ourselves – and what a woman should be and how an actress should be – these are old, old ideas. They have to break in order to birth something new.'

The actress also reflected on changing attitudes towards alcohol since giving up drinking, saying the rise of the 'sober curious' movement has helped reduce the stigma surrounding addiction and mental health.

'We're more aware of mental illness... there seems to be less shame,' she said.

'I'm a big believer that silence, in regard to addiction and mental health, is something that fuels it. When you can talk about it and be honest and vulnerable about it, there's healing in that.'

While she acknowledges not everyone feels comfortable discussing their struggles, Weir said she hopes sharing her own experience can encourage others.

'I feel comfortable in sharing it, not to flaunt it, but to give hope that you can live a really amazing life on the other side of anything,' she said.

About six months after giving up alcohol, Emily

Since then, her character has been at the centre of several emotional storylines, including infertility and pregnancy loss.

Emily said she was drawn to the show's willingness to tackle difficult issues, adding that conversations around fertility remain taboo for many families.

'I don't think we're fully out of the woods with that, especially where a lot of our show reaches,' she said.