Kristen Johnston Opens Up About Substance Struggles During SATC Appearance

Actress Kristen Johnston has disclosed that she was struggling with substance abuse during her guest appearance on Sex and the City, offering a candid look at her journey toward sobriety during a recent podcast interview.

The 58-year-old actress appeared on the Wednesday, September 2 episode of the Dear Chelsea podcast, where she discussed her battle with addiction during the period when she filmed her memorable role as Lexi Featherston on the hit HBO series.

"I was a hot mess," Johnston told Us Weekly, though she emphasized she maintained professional boundaries while working. "I was just kind of messy, like late at night after I was doing a lot of theater. [There was] a lot of drinking after theater, lots of wine, the occasional foray into cocaine, but I knew what I was talking about. Let's just put it that way," she told Us Weekly.

Johnston clarified that she never used drugs or consumed alcohol while actually on set during production.

Her character Lexi Featherston appeared in season 6 of Sex and the City as a party girl who famously declared that New York was over and complained of boredom after being prohibited from smoking at a society event. The character met a dramatic end, falling to her death from a skyscraper window while holding a cigarette.

During the podcast conversation with host Chelsea Handler, Johnston reflected on the roots of her addiction, tracing it back to childhood feelings of discomfort.

"I think I was an addict since I was a kid, even though I wasn't, obviously, doing it then," Johnston told Us Weekly. "I, like, just needed to escape always. I did not like being in my skin. One of the first things I really had to figure out was how to be in my skin," she told Us Weekly.

The actress described how she replaced destructive habits with creative pursuits after achieving sobriety. Johnston revealed she took up crafting, including making decoupaged trays, and even presented Handler with one of her handmade creations during the interview.

"The trays can be anything from West Elm or they can be from Etsy," Johnston told Us Weekly, explaining her crafting process.

Johnston emphasized the significant amount of time and mental energy that active addiction consumed in her daily life. She described how much effort went into obtaining substances and managing her habit.

"You don't realize until you quit how much time, if you're a real active addict like I was, how much time is spent figuring stuff out, how to get this, getting that thing, getting this delivered," she told Us Weekly. "It takes a lot of energy," Johnston told Us Weekly.

The actress has maintained sobriety for approximately two decades, though her path included one relapse about 10 years ago. Before that relapse, she had achieved 10 years of sobriety, bringing her total time sober to roughly 20 years.

"There was a little burble about 10 years ago," Johnston told Us Weekly regarding her relapse. "And then, before that was 10 years, so altogether, probably 20," she told Us Weekly.

Johnston acknowledged that traditional Alcoholics Anonymous meetings did not work for her recovery approach. Instead, she relied on a friend who served as a sober companion for support.

"I got sober in New York, so my whole home group is there, and I did go [to meetings] for a year pretty diligently," Johnston told Us Weekly. "Then I just was like, 'Let me just try to wing it,'" she told Us Weekly.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).