Leah Remini claims leaving Scientology has cost her friends.

The 'King of Queens' actress and her family cut ties with the controversial religion in July and has now hinted members of the secretive sect are banned from contacting former believers.

Speaking to chat show host Ellen Degeneres, Leah said: ''We lost friends who can no longer talk to us who are still in the organisation. But we have other friends, who are not in the church, who have stood by us and that's all we can ask for.''

The 43-year-old star - who was born into the cult - revealed her family decided to quit as they grew disillusioned with the organisation over time.

She explained: ''My mother got involved when we were very young, so it's all we really knew. But over time, my eyes got opened and I could just no longer be affiliated with the organisation, and my family felt the same, so we left.''

Giving her very first in-depth interview since her initial statement earlier this summer, Leah was reluctant to dish the dirt on Scientology leader, David Miscavige or give anything away about what practices she disagreed with.

Leah is hoping to put the past behind her and has signed on for the new series of 'Dancing With The Stars'.

The Church of Scientology was founded by American science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard who claimed extra terrestrials were sent to planet Earth by intergalactic ruler Xenu, who blew up the aliens with hydrogen bombs.

These aliens' souls then attached themselves to humans and caused problems that affect the happiness of individuals.