Valerie Bertinelli lived a wild life behind the scenes!

The actress, who made her debut as a child in a 1974 episode of “Apple’s Way,” used to spend part of her teenage years enjoying drugs with a close friend.

Valerie Bertinelli’s former costar, Mackenzie Phillips, recently reflected on their dark past and years-long friendship.

Valerie Bertinelli’s Pal Recalls Their Wild Past As Teenagers

Phillips recalled starring alongside Bertinelli as sisters, Julie and Barbara Cooper, in the CBS series “One Day at a Time” when they were teenagers. When asked which memory from the show would still surprise fans today, Phillips said:

“So this might surprise you that during lunch break, Valerie and I would drive to my house, get in the pool, drink wine, and snort coke.”

Phillips told Fox News that her words weren’t a secret, as Bertinelli had previously gotten candid about their wild past. The only difference between their stories was that Phillips ended up becoming an addict, while Bertinelli did not.

Mackenzie Phillips Is Happy She Got Caught Using Drugs

Phillips shared that she and Bertinelli also did drugs on the set of the sitcom, saying, “We would do coke together in the dressing room and stuff. I just happened to be the one who got caught. And thank God I got caught, you know?”

According to the actress, she was glad she got caught using drugs because everything she went through, “even though it was horrible and difficult,” made her the woman she is today. As for how her addiction impacted her bond with Bertinelli, Phillips once confessed that they had a few strained years.

In a 2022 appearance on the “Behind the Velvet Rope” podcast, Phillips recalled how she became friends with Bertinelli again after their falling out amid her addiction struggles. She noted she had to continuously reach out to her former co-star, ensuring she knew she was working on her problems and was willing to change.

The TV Personality Kept Bertinelli In The Loop During Her Sobriety Journey

On the podcast, Phillips explained that she repeatedly contacted Bertinelli during her sobriety journey but never forced their reconciliation. “There were times where, you know, I would drive over Coldwater Canyon, and I would know where Val and Ed lived, and I would just call and leave her a voicemail,” Phillips recalled.

She noted that she would tell Bertinelli that she had driven past her house and tell her how she was doing. Phillips would say things like, “I just drove past the house. I want you to know I’m a year sober.” She added that she never expected Bertinelli to respond right away because their relationship needed time to heal.

“It was like I was patient because I knew I had a lot of repairs to do. And I said you don’t have to call me back. I just want you to know I’m thinking of you and I love you,” Phillips said. Her efforts eventually paid off, with the actress recalling that one day Bertinelli finally called and they managed to rekindle their friendship.

The Former Addict Returned To Acting With A Character That Hit Close To Home

After successfully obtaining sobriety, Phillips focused on helping others overcome their addiction and stayed away from the spotlight. However, everything changed when she got a call about starring on Netflix’s drama series “Orange Is the New Black.”

Phillips got the call to play a character that hit close to home, “a brutal drug kingpin who’s a lifer and has nothing to lose.” When asked if she had felt any hesitation about playing a character related to her dark past, the actress told Hollywood Reporter, “It was weird to actually go through the entire motion of ingesting drugs.”

Nonetheless, Phillips was grateful for the opportunity and the production team for their support. She noted they had asked her if it was okay to shoot drug scenes and snort fake drugs. Phillips reiterated that it was “weird and a little unsettling” snorting fake cocaine, but she got through the scene by reminding herself it wasn’t real.

Valerie Bertinelli Regretted Not Being There For Mackenzie Phillips

Besides her addiction struggles, Phillips faced a traumatic past that left Bertinelli feeling regretful. According to Nicki Swift, Phillips revealed in her 2009 memoir, “High on Arrival,” that she woke up to find her late father sexually assaulting her during a drug-induced blackout.

The incident happened when she was 18, and she eventually began a 10-year-long “consensual” relationship with her late father. Phillips shed more light on their alleged relationship in a 2009 interview with Oprah Winfrey, revealing the incestuous relationship ended when she got pregnant and feared the baby might have been her father’s.

Bertinelli had been backstage when Phillips dropped the shocking bombshell and interrupted the interview to express her regrets. She stressed that she should have been there for Phillips and felt bad for not paying attention to her on-screen sister.

Are there more secrets from Valerie Bertinelli’s past?