She announced her separation from husband of 13 years Martin Isaacs in July of last year, with the pair still engaged in a bitter tug of war over assets and spousal support.
But Mary J Blige has revealed the pain she suffered during her divorce has actually helped her, through being channelled into her acclaimed role in the drama Mudbound.
The 46-year-old singer-turned-actress told The EDIT that she used her pain to identify with the similar struggles her character deals with in the Netflix film, ahead of its release on Friday November 17.
Mary said: ‘The heaviness you see in Florence came from what I was personally dealing with. I was very depressed, and not sure what was going on in my life.
mary j b
‘A lot of the things we do in a relationship are in the name of love. You want to save it, so you do stupid stuff and give him what he wants, knowing you shouldn’t. You create a monster.’
The Grammy winner has been tipped for Oscar gold this coming awards season for her acclaimed role in the period drama, which tells the story of two families pitted against each other by racial hierarchy in the American Deep South during the Second World War.
In the stunning shoot, Mary embraced the street style she has become famous for, rocking some serious cleavage in a low cut blue shirt and fau fur jacket combo teamed with a fabulous bucket trilby.
For another snap, the star rocked a classic white tie shirt and jeans combo with her blonde tresses in a glamorous side do.
Mary also rocked a hip hop-tastic studded hat and denim jacket combo, showcasing her incredible figure in a cropped bustier.
mary j blinge
Mary J Blige Demands Ksh 600Million From Ex-Husband As Their Bitter Divorce Battle Rumbles On
Reflecting on her troubled year, Mary revealed she has now taken the time to move on from her struggles, relying on her faith and keeping fit to give her the strength to keep going.
She added: ‘I learned life is the greatest teacher. You gotta ask, what did you do to end up here? That’s when you can start to heal. And I realized that I must have hated myself, because I didn’t deserve to be treated like that.
‘So I’m learning to love myself. Even in the midst of it all, I didn’t give up on myself – I went to the gym every day, I prayed. So when it blew up, I had some strength to keep going.’
‘I’m 46, I’m older. But that means I can handle any kind of feeling now. I felt this before, whatever. So I’m strong. I’ll get through whatever I need to get through.’
Mary will play family matriarch Florence Jackson in the film, alongside a star-studded cast including Carey Mulligan and Garett Hedlund.
