Actress Brenda Fricker, who played the pigeon lady in Home Alone 2, has decided to step out of the spotlight in more recent years after taking a break from acting
Brenda Fricker, the Irish star who played the beloved pigeon lady in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, has well and truly left fans jaws dropped as she appears unrecognisable 32 years after the Christmas classic hit our screens. Back in '92, Brenda was only 47 when she nabbed the iconic role in the blockbuster sequel.
Fast forward to today, and at the grand age of 79, Brenda's character is remembered for her heartwarming connection with young Kevin, portrayed by Macaulay Culkin, as a homeless woman living amongst her pigeons in Central Park. The film itself throws Kevin into a whirlwind of chaos - again abandoned during the family vacay thanks to his, let's face it, pretty forgetful parents, Catherine O'Hara and John Heard.
Yet, despite her fame from the festive favourite, Brenda spilled to comedian Tommy Tiernan on his chatter show The Tommy Tiernan Show that she's chosen a life of peaceful obscurity: "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." In a candid chat about her mental health, Home Alone 2 star Brenda Fricker revealed to comedian Tommy Tiernan that she's been prescribed stronger antidepressants. "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 admitted. The actress also opened up about her reliance on medication and her time at St Patrick's Hospital in Dublin, which she described as invaluable to her mental health.
"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," reports the Mirror.
The conversation wasn't all doom and gloom, though. There were moments of light-heartedness and humour as Fricker recounted a funny story about Al Pacino's backstage Oscar nerves.
She also offered an intriguing glimpse into her life post-Oscar win, sharing how Kevin Kline had accurately predicted that she would "never have a private moment" again and revealing that she uses her Oscar to prop open her bathroom door. In 1989, she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award for her role in My Left Foot, in the Best Supporting Actress category.
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