Elaine Paige has opened up about her addiction to sleeping pills during her theatre days, revealing that lived on them for years.
The English singer and actress, 78, confessed that she became dependent on sleeping tablets to help her get some rest and only managed to kick the habit during the pandemic.
Speaking to The Sunday Times magazine about the bad habit, she said: ‘I go to sleep but seem to wake up after four hours. For many years in the theatre I lived on sleeping pills, otherwise you’re wired until 2am after a show.
‘I called it my Judy Garland syndrome. They’re dreadful things to become addicted to, which I was. But since the pandemic I’ve managed to get off them and will not take one again.
‘I say to myself that even if I don’t sleep well, I’ll be fine the next day. I’m not ready to take afternoon naps yet.’
However, Elaine has moved away from performing on stage and has spent the past 21 years presenting Elaine paige on Sunday on BBC Radio 2.
2026-08-17 14:26:00
