Olivia Munn Opens Up About Trichotillomania Triggered During Chris Pine Romance
- Jun 30
- 3 min read
30 June 2025
Olivia Munn has revealed a deeply personal episode from her past, sharing how trichotillomania, a mental health condition involving a compulsive urge to pull out one’s own hair emerged during a period of intense public scrutiny while dating Chris Pine in late 2009. On a recent episode of Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, the actress recounted how paparazzi photos of her outside Pine’s home led to critical online comments accusing her of orchestrating the situation, a backlash that triggered her to begin pulling out her eyelashes, marking the onset of this condition.
Munn, now 44, traced the habit she battled back to that emotional moment. She described the progression: feeling an urge to pluck an eyelash even when it appeared normal, the quick sting of pain from pulling it, then a fleeting moment of satisfaction followed by immediate regret. It was a behavior pattern that many people with trichotillomania understand all too well and in her case, it came at a time when she was already navigating the pressures of sudden fame.
Her connection to Pine coincided with his rise to fame through Star Trek, and their brief relationship became fodder for the tabloids. Munn laughed about the paparazzi moment during the interview, recounting a humorous yet unsettling anecdote about the “ugliest dress” she chose for The Daily Show an old prom-style gown complete with pom-poms. She had hoped to land on a “worst dressed” list as a joke, but instead she found herself reacting to the wave of critical responses about the exposure of dating someone in the public eye.
She described how reading comments such as “who carries a clutch during the day” cut deeper than she expected. That wave of ridicule, she admitted, triggered her extremely vulnerable moment with trichotillomania an impulse she now identifies as her coping mechanism for anxiety brought on by sudden exposure.
Despite the difficult memory, Munn shared a positive note about her ongoing relationship with Pine. She said they recently reconnected at an airport lounge during SNL’s 50th anniversary celebration. She described him as amazing, indicating that although the relationship was fleeting, it had ended on cordial terms.
Munn’s openness about her trichotillomania experience is part of a longer journey of self-acceptance and mental health advocacy. She has previously spoken out about her struggle with the condition, never shying away from discussing the challenges that often accompany public life. In doing so again on the podcast, she opened the door for a more empathetic conversation around a disorder that many suffer in silence.
Her act of candor adds to a broader shift in Hollywood where stars embrace susceptibility and emotional realism instead of crafting perfect facades. Mental wellness, self-care, and authenticity are increasingly viewed not as vulnerabilities but as strengths, and Munn’s testimony contributes to that cultural movement.
Now happily married to comedian John Mulaney and mother to two young children, Malcolm, age three, and nine-month-old Méi Munn lives far from the glare and stress of paparazzi and tabloids. The equilibrium she’s found in family life stands in contrast to her early adult years, illustrating her personal evolution.
Munn’s experience highlights broader truths about what happens when one’s private life suddenly becomes public property. Beauty trends, red carpet choices, and romantic affiliations can spiral into online shaming that is more than just discomfort it can trigger serious mental health responses.
In revealing how eyelash pulling became her response to invasive attention, Munn joins other public figures who have shared similar struggles turning their stories into beacons of understanding for others. Her voice reminds us that fame does not immunize anyone from anxiety, and celebrity therapy has its own emotional toll.
Already a compelling advocate for mindful living, Munn’s revelation on Armchair Expert deepens her public identity. She counters the stigma attached to hair-pulling disorders, offering validation to fans who may have grappled with similar compulsions. Her acknowledgment of pain followed by introspection becomes a story of resilience and transformation.
As Munn continues her life blossoming in marriage and motherhood she aims to use her platform for empathy and connection. Her candor offers a mirror to those who feel unseen, untold, or misunderstood.
In the end, her journey from eyelashes to empowerment is deeply human. It is an invitation to slow down, to treat mental health with the sincerity it deserves, and to realize that sometimes the scars that don’t show produce the strongest growth.
In sharing her story, Olivia Munn reminds us that vulnerability can be a bridge, and that healing, while not always straightforward, is always worth pursuing.
Comments