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Ellie Goulding says she drank alcohol to make herself seem ‘more funny and interesting’

'I wasn't an alcoholic. I could go months without a drink, too,' singer says

Sabrina Barr
Tuesday 03 December 2019 11:12 GMT
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Ellie Goulding has said she used to drink alcohol with the intent of making herself appear “more funny or interesting”.

While speaking on the podcast Happy Place, hosted by radio presenter Fearne Cotton, the singer said that she would prepare for interviews by drinking, including on occasions when they would take place in the morning.

“I had to be a fake person to deal with the surreal situation I was in,” Goulding said, referring to her life in the spotlight.

“Usually for me it involved alcohol. I assumed I couldn’t be good enough, smart, funny, or crazy enough to be with certain people without it.”

The musician stated that she found BBC Live Lounge performances particularly “nerve-wracking”, which is why she decided to drink alcohol before them.

“I would say, ‘Right, I’ve got to drink this morning because I’ve got this interview and I don’t really know how to answer the questions, because I don’t really know who I am anymore,” the 32-year-old explained.

“I thought drinking would at least make me a bit more funny, or interesting.”

Goulding added that she never suffered from an alcohol problem, as she was able to abstain from drinking alcohol for long periods of time.

“I wasn’t an alcoholic,” she said. “I could go months without a drink too.”

On Saturday 31 August, Goulding married art dealer Caspar Jopling in a lavish ceremony at York Minster.

The singer told Cotton on the Happy Place podcast that Jopling has helped to ease her anger, having previously undergone therapy for anger issues.

“When I met Caspar, this anger thing just went away,” Goulding said. “At first it didn’t. I did that thing we all do when we first meet someone you really like and you... don’t possibly show any of your bad traits.

“With Caspar I instantly felt calmer.”

Always drink responsibly. For more information, visit Drinkaware.co.uk.

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