FAME TURNED MY LIFE UPSIDE DOWN

Charithra Chandran admits stardom left her feeling vulnerable at first but she says support network has helped handle pressure

BRIDGERTON actress Charithra Chandran was told to get a B therapist by her co-stars to deal with the onslaught of fame from the series.

The Perth-born 26-year-old was the breakout star of last year's second series of the Netflix period drama, playing Edwina Sharma who was jilted at the altar.

Charithra also revealed she found fame difficult and worried if she used the bus someone would "hunt" her down.

The actress said: "So many of the cast members whod been through it were like, 'Charithra, get a therapist because this is crazy.

"I think when anyone is first exposed to this [fame] on the level I was, they read the comments, they google themselves.

"And when you read the really aggressive ones I know this sounds dramatic - but you feel really vulnerable.

"I'm a normal person, I'm taking the bus, I'm taking the tube. You're thinking all it takes is one person being slightly too deranged and trying to hunt you down. It took me like a solid four months to go through that." She also finds dating more difficult and "started to get weird" since she became known for Bridgerton.

Charithra said: "Even before the show, people would see me on Instagram or google me, which we all do, it's fine... but it started to get weird.

"So it is harder to meet people but I don't think I'm famous or successful enough to ever have to worry that someone's dating me for clout.