Stephen Fry: ‘I tried to kill myself last year’

STEPHEN Fry has said that he attempted suicide last year in what he described as “a close run thing”.

File photo of comedian and actor Stephen Fry. Picture: PA

The actor and writer, who has spoken openly in the past about depression and previous suicide attempts, told comic Richard Herring he tried to kill himself while filming abroad.

During a recording for Herring’s podcast on Monday night which was was transcribed on the British Comedy Guide website, he said: “I would go as far as to tell you that I attempted it last year, so I’m not always happy - this is the first time I’ve said this in public, but I thought I might as well.

“I’m president of Mind, and the whole point in my role, as I see it, is not to be shy and forthcoming about the morbidity and genuine nature of the likelihood of death amongst people with certain mood disorders.”

Fry, who said he broke four ribs and was unconscious after convulsions related to the overdose incident, said: “It was a close run thing.”

“And, fortunately, the producer I was filming with at the time came into the hotel room and I was found in a sort of unconscious state and taken back to England and looked after.”

The actor and comedian attempted suicide after walking out of the West End play Cell Mates in 1995 - an event he recounted in a documentary for BBC2 called The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive.