Former Hollyoaks and Coronation Street star Lucy-Jo Hudson has shared a tearful picture after an emotional week.
The actor, who shares four-year-old son Carter with partner Lewis Devine, took to Instagram on Sunday (July 21) to candidly reflect on the challenges of motherhood.
Hudson is also mum to 10-year-old Sienna-Rae, who she shares with her ex-husband and former Corrie co-star Alan Halsall.
Alongside a smiling mirror selfie, Hudson also shared an image of herself crying. "This is me and this is also me," the caption began.
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"I don't normally post things like this... because I know there are people out there with real problems and mine are quite inferior to those. But when I mentioned my 'emotional' week on my stories, I had so many of you reach out to me saying how much you can relate.
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"So I wanted to speak from the heart on here. This week has been tough, I've really not coped well.
"I've had a lot of work on, followed by a lot of sleepless nights (with Carter not being 100%) that has then [led] to him being really challenging. And there's a lot of times that I've been able to cope with him and his behaviour, but this week... it just broke me."
Hudson went on to discuss how "rewarding" parenting can be but also acknowledged its challenges.
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"It's ok to have a cry, it's ok to not cope, we're human and all have limits... and being a working mum in today's world is tough," she continued.
"We're meant to have it all together. We have to juggle full time parenting, with full time work, while we look after our health, and fit time in to train, while running a house, renovating it, and cooking and cleaning and giving your kids your time, your partner, your family, friends, and showing everyone on here how amazing your life is."
She concluded: "Life is tough, and incredibly fast paced these days... so I just wanted you to know that I'm feeling what you're feeling, overwhelmed, exhausted, pulled in all directions, emotional and that it's ok to hit a wall and get to a place where you break down.
"It's important to feel that and let it all out. So just know you're not alone, I'm with you, I feel you, and it's ok to have those down days. We've got this."
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Hudson went on to share a positive update with her followers on Monday (July 22) by posting a snap of herself dressed up for the day. "Today's a new day," she wrote on Instagram.
"I am all cried out after last week. And I've shaken myself off, had a more chilled day yesterday at the in-laws (which was just what the doctor ordered because they're amazing) and I'm feeling more like [my] old self again."
Hudson had her breakout role on ITV soap Coronation Street, playing the role of "killer" Katy Harris from 2002 to 2005. She has also appeared in Wild at Heart, Casualty and Doctors.
Most recently, she appeared as Donna-Marie Quinn in Hollyoaks, before leaving the show in September 2023 after five years.
Hollyoaks streams first online via Channel 4 each weekday at 7.30pm. Episodes then air on E4 the following day, before getting their YouTube premiere a week after that.
Selected omnibus episodes are available via Prime Video.
