Brendan O'Carroll has opened up about the financial struggles that brought him on the "edge of a breakdown" before finding success with Mrs Brown's Boys
The sitcom star reached global fame with the RTE and BBC show, which is set to return to screens soon. Before creating the hit show, Brendan revealed he battled dark times after his movie failed to get financial backing.
Brendan found himself in serious debt when he couldn't get funding for the film, which he wrote and planned to direct. During this time he was also going through a divorce from his first wife Doreen Dowdall.
Read more: Mrs Brown's Boys Fiona O'Carroll opens up to RTE Late Late Show viewers about feeling 'lost'
Looking back on the difficult period of his life, Brendan revealed: "I was on the edge of a breakdown, a clinician would have said I was depressed, definitely. I have never been as low before or since. I was numb, it was like I walked down a dark alley and I couldn’t remember the way out."
He also said that he could barely eat at the time and only "picked at food", and didn't turn on his lights or open his curtains for three days.
However, the comedian says his late mother Maureen appeared to him in a dream, which saved him from his dark times. Brendan, who's mother inspired the leading Mrs Brown's Boys character Agnes, recalled to The Sun: "My mother said to me in a dream, 'Get up off your knees and do something'."
The actor says after he awoke, he felt "great". Shortly after his dream, Brendan was contacted by businessman Denis Desmond, who offered him the opportunity to transform the original radio show-version Mrs Brown's Boys into a stage production.
The former radio show was then "reborn" and was soon spotted by BBC producer Stephen McCrum.
Read more: Mrs Brown's Boys actress Fiona O'Carroll breaks down as she opens up about marriage split
In August this year, Brendan confirmed the sitcom will return for a new series and filming is planned for this month. Mrs Brown's Boys return was due to happen in 2022, but production was put on hold due to scheduling difficulties and Covid delays.
Brendan's daughter Fiona, 41, who plays Maria Brown in the show, told the RTE Guide: "In October we'll be filming Mrs Brown: two Christmas specials and the first of a mini-series of four episodes, the other three early next year."
Meanwhile, the stage version of the show, Mrs Brown's Boys D'Live Show, is coming to the 3Arena Dublin on Friday November 11 and Saturday November 12. Tickets are available to purchase here.
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