HARARE – Zimbabwean actress Tanyaradzwa Fear said she is battling “mental health struggles” in her first public comments after she disappeared in Los Angeles for several days last month, triggering a desperate search.
The 31-year-old was found unharmed after nearly a week of searching.
In a statement posted on Twitter on Monday, the former Dr Who actress thanked, “from the bottom of my heart”, everyone who raised awareness of her disappearance for their “care, love and concern.”
“It really means so much to me. I’ve been dealing with some mental health struggles and right now I’m focused on my health, well being and returning to being creative,” she said.
“I am so unbelievably fortunate that when I was in a tight spot some guardian angels went out of their way, saw my vulnerability and protected me.”
Fear did not say what happened between September 9 when she was reported missing from her rented Los Angeles pad, and September 13 when the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed she had been found safe.
She thanked two Los Angeles police officers from the Hollywood Division, Officer Talman and Officer Goodman, but her statement did not state why.
“Let’s not fear being honest about our mental health challenges,” Fear concluded as she reflected on the last two years of living through the Covid-19 pandemic which said had brought challenges “to so many of us.”
Fear was born in Zimbabwe before moving to Britain where she took up acting.
