‘Curly Sue’ Actress Alisan Porter Opens Up About Alcoholism

Published on September 12, 2014. Updated October 15, 2014

Alisan Porter, best known for her role as a child actor in Curly Sue, is also a mom, a blogger and an alcoholic.

She opened up about her struggles on her blog, The ‘Lil Mamas, which she began in 2012 to offer fellow moms a space to talk about their problems and concerns without judgment.

“I’ve waited a long time to write about my sobriety: it’s a touchy subject,” Alisan told People magazine. “Also, you never know when you’re going to wake up and realize the disease won. I’ve been profoundly affected by so many losses of late and if I can help just one person, one former child actor or especially one mother, this will be worth it.” 

“I felt trapped, scared, and sad and I was ready to really go for broke or get better. So, I did what every good user does and I prayed to a god I had never believed in…and then called my mom,” she wrote in a blog post. 

“Days later I was off to treatment, just like that,” Alisan continued. “For the next four years I went to meetings, worked the steps, got a sponsor, found a god of my own understanding, prayed, meditated and basically grew up.”

Alisan, mom to a 2-year-old and a 4-month-old, says the pressure of motherhood sometimes makes her want to reach for alcohol, but it also helps her avoid drinking because she doesn’t want to “miss one second of responsibilities.”