Former CHEERS star Shelley Long has spoken out for the first time since her November 2004 accidental drug overdose, to tell fans her worst days are behind her.

The actress was struggling to cope with the break-up of her 23-year marriage to BRUCE TYSON when she overdosed, leading many to believe she was attempting suicide.

But Long has always maintained, through publicists, that the overdose was unintentional.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, the actress tells US news show Extra she is working again - on a new TV movie - and keen to get on with life.

She says, "I'm doing really well. We all have our struggles. We have these days where we have to put one foot in front of the other and hope that we can get one foot in front of the other.

"I've had a few of those days in the last couple years and I still have them (but) I'm hanging in there. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel."