Jodi Gordon has shared intimate details of her recovery process as she overcomes substance abuse.
The former Home and Away star completed a 30-day alcohol addiction recovery program at a Sydney clinic in 2022.
The 39-year-old tells this week’s issue of Star Magazine who has improved her relationship with her daughter, Aleeia, 10.
“There’s more confidence in the way we communicate now. (Aleeia) is very intuitive. She knows what’s going on,” Jodi said.
“She knows that Mom doesn’t drink and that she had to go get help. She knows that life today is amazing and that she has a mother who is there for her, who is reliable and who loves her very much.
“In terms of parenting, it’s definitely brought us closer in a very authentic way.”
Jodie revealed that while she still has an acting agent, he doesn’t attend auditions and has retreated from the acting spotlight.
Instead, she works four days a week as a mental health support worker for Sane Australia, which provides telephone and online support to those experiencing difficulties.
Jodi Gordon has shared intimate details of her recovery process as she overcomes substance abuse. Pictured in this week’s issue of Stellar magazine
“Because it’s a telehealth service, I’m just Jodi. I just chat and ask questions like, ‘What’s going on with your day? What’s bothering you?’ I love the anonymity,” she said.
“It’s a great honour to work for a company that is truly fighting to change the stigma around mental health. It’s wonderful to work in the field of defending people’s rights.
‘But then (because) I have experienced, on the other hand, discrimination and stigma, there is a lot of purpose there.’
Earlier this year, Jodi admitted she had struggled with substance abuse “for most of her life” while celebrating her 39th birthday.
The former Home and Away star completed a 30-day alcohol addiction recovery program at a Sydney clinic in 2022. The 39-year-old tells this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine that she has improved her relationship with her daughter, Aleeia, 10 (right).
The actress shared a raw post on Instagram explaining how going to rehab and getting sober “completely changed my life in ways I didn’t think were possible.”
“I have struggled with substance abuse for most of my life. I entered recovery at age 24 but was never able to stop,” she wrote in the post.
‘On April 7, 2022, I got sober and have remained sober ever since, completely changing my life in ways I never thought possible.’
Gordon said his mother Bronwyn was his “hero” and “was constantly teaching me how to use my own strength to get back up.”
She also revealed how her father, who passed away last year, taught her “acceptance, forgiveness and unconditional love.”
She hinted she had mended her rocky relationship with ex-husband Braith Anasta, and thanked the former NRL star for giving her the gift of daughter Aleeia.
“She knows that Mom doesn’t drink and that she had to go get help. She knows that life is amazing these days and that she has a mom who is there for her, who is reliable and who loves her,” Jodi said.
“I always wanted a big family and I got it with my daughter Aleeia. She is unlike any human being I have ever met: she is so loving, fierce, patient, wise and curious,” she continued.
‘I love being your teacher and student… Thank you Braith for the wonderful gift of a lifetime.’
Gordon’s troubles first came to light when she became embroiled in a bizarre drugs scandal with her former biker partner and Kings Cross identity Mark Judge in June 2009.
Police found the pair huddled in the bedroom of Mark’s Bellevue Hill home after Gordon called Triple Zero under the delusion that armed intruders were threatening his life, triggering an emergency operation.
Police reviewed CCTV footage and found no sign of any intruders – just Gordon and Judge hiding in a bedroom.
Jodie revealed that while she still has an acting agent, he doesn’t attend auditions and has stepped away from acting. Instead, she works four days a week as a mental health support worker for Sane Australia, which provides telephone and online support to those who are struggling.
Gordon allegedly told officers during an interview after the bizarre episode that he had used cocaine earlier that night.
The day before, Gordon’s fiancé, Channel Seven heir Ryan Stokes, had called Kings Cross police to report her missing after a night out. The couple split shortly after the scandal.
After splitting from Ryan, Gordon continued dating the man who would become her husband: rugby player Braith Anasta.
They were married from 2012 to 2015, and welcomed their daughter Aleeia in 2014.
The couple sadly split in 2015 and Gordon had a couple of romances before meeting British banker Sebastian Blackler in 2020.
But their relationship soured in November of that year when it was revealed Blackler was due to appear in court on a police-issued violence order just a week after Gordon made their relationship public.
Police took out an interim AVO, ostensibly to protect Gordon from Blackler after attending his home in the eastern suburbs.
“Because it’s a telehealth service, I’m just Jodi. I just chat and ask questions like, ‘What’s going on in your day? What are you struggling with? ‘ I love the anonymity,” she said.
Police were called to Gordon’s home in Double Bay shortly after midnight following reports of a disturbance.
‘At around 12.30am on Friday 27 November 2020, officers were called to a unit at Wiston Gardens in Double Bay,’ a NSW Police spokesperson said at the time.
‘Following enquiries, Eastern Suburbs officers have suspended the investigation at the request of the victim. No further action is planned at this time.’
Police subsequently issued an interim restraining order to prevent Blackler from assaulting, threatening, stalking, harassing or intimidating Gordon.
The couple is known to have split in May 2021 but resumed their relationship in February 2022.
But a similar incident in April 2022 finally ended their romance for good before Gordon entered rehab.
Court documents allege police found Gordon “heavily affected by intoxicating liquor” at a Kurrajong Heights guest house on April 3, 2022 with an injured Sebastian Blackler.
Shortly afterwards, a Windsor Local Court magistrate ordered Gordon and Blackler not to communicate until April 2024.
Jodi hinted she had mended her rocky relationship with ex-husband Braith Anasta (left), thanking the former NRL star for giving her the gift of daughter Aleeia.
Another condition of the violence orders taken out by police against the couple (and agreed to by their lawyers without admissions) prohibited them from stalking, harassing or assaulting each other.
Blackler’s lawyer, Michael Bowe, told Daily Mail Australia at the time that the pair’s volatile romance was over.
The AVOs related to an alleged altercation in Sydney’s far north-west.
New South Wales Police were called to the bed and breakfast and arrested Blackler, but later released him without charge.
According to court documents, when police asked Blackler about the bruising and swelling on his left eye, he allegedly said his girlfriend “hit him with a wine bottle,” but declined to make a formal statement.
The AVO documents also stated that police found bruising to Gordon’s left eye and lower lip, and three lumps on his forehead, but they believed the injuries were days old.
The court documents also allege that police “fear that domestic violence is occurring between the parties and that Gordon’s consumption of intoxicating liquor is exacerbating the violence.”
“It is clear that there is domestic violence between the parties (but they) are reluctant to disclose how the injuries occurred,” the documents state.
Officers took out a restraining order against Gordon on behalf of Blackler, who was also issued with an AVO against the actress for the same alleged incident.
Since her stint in rehab following the incident, Gordon has been single and focused on health, fitness and motherhood.
She is often seen enjoying ice baths and exercising at Coogee Beach.
Jodi is pictured at an event with her Home and Away co-star Isabel Lucas during her days on the soap.
In her post, Gordon revealed her new career change, explaining that she is now studying a Bachelor of Counselling and Communication Skills and has recently started her first professional job in Mental Health.
“I’m loving this tough journey in a new field, working incredibly hard, forging my way fiercely, with curiosity, wonder and purpose every day,” she continued.
“The future looks very bright if I continue down this path to become a therapist and stay sober to share my experience. Here’s to the good fight to reduce the discrimination and stigma that we all know exists.”
She ended by saying how poetry and writing have helped me overcome the many dark moments in my life.
“If you’ve been with me on this wild ride, thank you for seeing my color when sometimes I’ve only shown gray. Thank you for loving me and supporting me in your own way. I’ve felt it.”
Read more in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine
