'Home Alone 2's' Brenda Fricker: Life beyond the spotlight and her candid truths
Irish actress Brenda Fricker, renowned for her role as the pigeon lady in the film "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," recently spoke about her life and struggles with depression after 32 years, reports "Express."
Brenda Fricker played the enigmatic pigeon lady in the beloved 1992 holiday movie. In the film, Kevin, lost in the bustling city, befriends the older lady (who was 47 then), and in the end, he gives her a small turtledove figurine.
Many people may not know that Fricker was the first Irish actress to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film "My Left Foot." She starred in numerous films, but fans worldwide most fondly remember her as the quiet and slightly mysterious pigeon lady.
What is Brenda Fricker up to today?
The actress is now 79 years old. It's no secret that she has been facing mental health challenges. Earlier this year, she appeared on "The Tommy Tiernan Show," where she opened up about her private life and her decision to retire from acting.
"I live a very quiet life well under the radar and I drive a tiny car, own a cottage, that's about it. Talking to the wall quite a bit, talking to the dog, writing poetry, reading books, watching television. Nothing different than anybody else does, except being alone so much can make you talk to the wall a bit more than most people," she said.
The actress admitted that she struggles with depression and relies on medication: "Just yesterday, I visited the doctor who said, 'We're going to put you on stronger antidepressants'. I'm somewhat of a recluse. Choosing to stay indoors is one thing, but being told to do so makes me want to go outside," she confessed.
Fricker also mentioned her stay at St. Patrick's Hospital in Dublin, where Dr. Anthony Clare helped her significantly. "It was tough, but there was a fantastic doctor, Anthony Clare. He saved my life. He was exceptional with me. He really pulled me out of the depths. Just an incredible mind. He understood me and reached me. I always left feeling happy after seeing him. He made me feel good," shared the actress.
Despite the serious topics, the conversation wasn't entirely sombre. Fricker shared a humorous story about being backstage at the Oscars and Al Pacino's nervousness before the show. She also revealed that her own Oscar statuette serves as a doorstop in her bathroom.
