Annalise Braakensiek
ANNALISE BRAAKENSIEK The ’90s It girl was found dead in her apartment in Sydney’s Potts Point
MODEL ANNALISE Braakensiek, 46, was found dead in her inner-city Sydney apartment on Jan. 6, after police were alerted by close friends and family who became concerned when she failed to answer their calls and text messages. Police said her death was not suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
In a social media post to her 40,000 followers on Dec. 15, the former star of SBS sitcom Pizza shared that “Everything seems to feel twisted and upside down at the moment.”
Braakensiek had parted ways with her stockbroker husband Danny Goldberg in April 2018 after 16 years. A deleted Instagram post hinted at hurt: “I don’t know if a broken heart mends,” she wrote, “or learns to live in pieces.”
The jewellery creator and lingerie designer, who also appeared on Home and Away and Heartbreak High, had long been open about her battle with mental illness, a topic she said “has so so many misconceptions, criticism, misunderstandings and false judgments still,” in a November Instagram post. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all of you who have helped me through my dark clouds.”
In 2017, the vegan cook was an ambassador for RUOK? Day and spoke about the scrutiny she felt in admitting her struggle with depression. “It was the … negative reaction people had to me being depressed and falling under the dark cloud,” Braakensiek told The Daily Edition. “In many ways, my life is wonderful, for which I’m extremely grateful and there’s no doubting that, but when you’re suffering these kinds of things, for people to say, ‘How dare you – you’re a model, you’re a millionaire, you’re around the world…’ That’s got nothing to do with this.”
Meanwhile, news.com.au and Seven commentator Melissa Hoyer has paid tribute: “Vivacious, compassionate, warm and clever, Annalise was a woman who always had time to talk and to listen. To anyone. She always reminded me of some extraordinary Viking goddess – so strong and seemingly ageless.” • If you or someone you know needs support, help is available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.