Brendan O’Carroll has revealed he was on the ‘edge of a breakdown’ after suffering major financial losses before finding fame with Mrs Brown’s Boys.
The TV star, 67, reached global recognition with the BBC and RTE sitcom, which is set to return for a new series soon, as he plays the role of family matriarch in the comedy, which he also created.
Before landing the role, however, Brendan has revealed he felt ‘numb’ as funding on a film he had written and directed failed to secure financial backing.
Brendan found himself in serious debt after funding for the flick, called Sparrows, fell through. His money woes also occurred in the same year he split from his first wife Doreen Dowdall.
Recalling his mental health woes during a difficult period in 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."
Brendan added how he "didn't turn on the lights" or open the curtains in his home for three days. The TV star was also barely eating and only "picked at food".
However, the comedian revealed a dream about his late mother Maureen, saved him from the dark time in his life.
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 added how, 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.
Brendan says his former radio show was then "reborn" and became a massive hit with audiences the Glasgow Pavilion before it was spotted by BBC producer Stephen McCrum.
Producer Stephen previously recalled: "I went along to see the show.
"And it was very, very funny. I don't believe in God, but I nearly did that night. The audience was full of 200 old women laughing, alongside ushers who were about 16 or 17 and also p**sing themselves.
"It was immediately clear: there's something happening here."
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.
But now creator 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 is also due to kick off in November.
Fiona added: "We've the live show in November at the SSE Arena in Belfast and 3Arena in Dublin. And we're planning more theatre dates for next year."
