Home Alone's Brenda Fricker's quiet life: From Oscar fame to reclusive peace
Irish actress Brenda Fricker, known for her role as the pigeon lady in the film "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," spoke about her life and struggles with depression after 32 years, according to "Express".
Brenda Fricker played the role of the mysterious pigeon lady in the iconic 1992 Christmas film. In the movie, Kevin, lost in the big city, befriends the elderly woman—she was 47 at the time—and at the end, gives her a small turtle dove figurine.
Few people know that Fricker was the first Irish actress to receive an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in the film "My Left Foot." She has acted in many films, but fans worldwide remember her most for her quiet and somewhat unsettling pigeon lady character.
What is happening with Brenda Fricker today?
The actress is now 79 years old. It is no secret that she has issues with her mental health. This year, she appeared on "The Tommy Tiernan Show," where she talked about her private life and her decision to leave 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 to struggling with depression and relying 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 time at St. Patrick's Hospital in Dublin, where Dr. Anthony Clare helped her. "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," the actress shared.
Despite the serious topics, the conversation was not without humor. Fricker shared a funny story about the behind-the-scenes of the Oscars and Al Pacino's nervousness before the event. She also revealed that her own Oscar statue serves as a doorstop in her bathroom.
