Actress Olivia Munn has opened up about her battle with trichotillomania, a compulsive disorder that causes people to pull out their own hair—something she says began after a tabloid frenzy during her past relationship with Chris Pine.
Speaking candidly on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard podcast, the 44-year-old star recalled how the condition first took hold after paparazzi captured the couple together during their brief romance from 2009 to 2010.
“There’s a sensation. It’s probably not even real, but I’ll feel like, ‘Oh, this eyelash feels like it’s gonna come out,’ even though it’s not,” Munn explained. “And then when you pull it, there’s a quick second of pain. And then satisfaction. And then immediate regret.”
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The Photo That Sparked It All
According to Munn, it was a single paparazzi photo that marked her entry into the tabloids—and triggered the beginning of her condition.
“There was a paparazzi shot of [Chris and I], and it was the first time I was in the tabloids,” she said. “I was wearing this blue old prom dress with big pom poms on the side… and when the photos hit, people thought I had staged it. Someone literally said, ‘Who carries a clutch during the day?’”
That moment of public scrutiny, she said, marked the onset of her hair-pulling disorder, which she’s been managing ever since.
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Still on Good Terms with Chris Pine
Despite the tabloid chaos of the past, Munn shared that she and Chris Pine remain friendly. The two recently reconnected during Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary celebration.
“He is amazing. We were in the airport lounge together, and it was so great to catch up. He’s just the best,” she said.
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Where She Is Now
Olivia Munn, now married to comedian John Mulaney, is a mom to two children—three-year-old Malcolm and baby Mei, who is just nine months old.
The actress has been open in recent months about other challenges, including her breast cancer diagnosis and recovery journey, showing a willingness to share even her most vulnerable moments to help others feel less alone.
