Orange Is the New Black actress Laura Prepon reveals she injected herself with hormones due to Hollywood pressures

Prepon said her desparation to look a certain way 'backfired'

Laura Prepon (Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Turner)

Laura Prepon has revealed the extreme lengths she was driven to by the pressures she felt from Hollywood beauty standards.

The Orange Is the New Black star admitted she was so affected by the scrutiny women in the industry face that she injected herself with hormones.

The actress was asked by E! News what body image advice she would give to any young actress starting out in Hollywood today.

“It’s a tough question for me because I went through all of this,” the 35-year-old explained. “I totally understand that girls would go through things like crash diets. And I injected myself with hormones and all these crazy things because I was so desperate to look a certain way which ultimately just ended up backfiring."

Prepon was speaking as she releases her new nutrition and weight management book The Stash Plan. She urged new actors to “truly embrace who you are” and praised OITNB where she plays Alex, for its diverse casting.

“When you look at a show like Orange, all these women are so gorgeous and we all look so vastly different and our show just celebrates individuality so much.”

Indeed the Netflix series set in a maximum-security federal prison has been praised for its inclusive nature with cast favourites including transgender activist Laverne Cox, gender fluid icon Ruby Rose and body positivity campaigner Danielle Brooks.