Pigeon Lady from Home Alone has changed beyond recognition: she faced abuse from her mother and tried to kill herself 32 times

Brenda Fricker, a 78-year-old Irish actress, played the infamous Pigeon Lady in a popular Christmas movie that was released more than three decades ago. She was only 47 years old when she starred in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York in 1992.

Over the years, the celebrity went through a difficult period that she had never told anyone about before. In particular, Fricker tried to commit suicide 32 times, according to Entertainment Daily.

Fans of Home Alone would be stunned to see the star of the cult movie 31 years after its release. Few people know that Brenda actually has an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. However, for a long period of her life, the actress struggled with depression, experienced childhood trauma related to her mother, and even repeatedly tried to commit suicide.

Childhood and relationship with her mother

According to Fricker, her mother was a woman who "couldn't control herself." She often hit her daughter in the face, which was just the tip of the iceberg. Because of this, the star was forced to undergo years of therapy.

"We were always bleeding," the actress said of herself and her younger sister. "She would hit under our knees so my father wouldn't see (we wore knee-highs). However, like many loving daughters, Brenda still feels ashamed of speaking ill of her mother.

Fricker was also sexually abused as a child by a family friend. "Whatever happened, it happened to me," she said frankly.

Depression and suicide attempts

The Oscar winner struggled with depression for a long time and lived the life of a "hermit". One of her most famous roles is the Pigeon Lady in Home Alone 2, a homeless loner who comforts Kevin McCallister when he gets lost in New York. Brenda has previously compared herself to the character as she also considers herself a "hermit" in real life.

On one of the shows, Brenda admitted that she had tried to commit suicide 32 times. Last year, she appeared on Tommy Tiernan's show and said that she was getting help with depression. After the quarantine, the actress shared, "I went to the doctor and he said that he will give me stronger antidepressants."

Marriage to an alcoholic and crazy love

Brenda Fricker married director Barry Davis in 1979, but the couple divorced 9 years later. The actress blamed it on her lover's alcohol addiction.

She said that although they were "madly in love," Barry's struggle with alcoholism forced her to end the marriage. "We continued to see each other," Fricker admitted, but their relationship eventually came to an end in 1991 due to her husband's death.

Brenda was filming in Australia at the time and was unable to attend his funeral. "They wouldn't let me go home for the funeral because I was his ex-wife and the contract was binding," she said. "I don't know where he's buried and I don't want to know. The couple had no children and Brenda has not remarried since.

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