Police found her body when they visited her house over the weekend for a welfare check, after those close to the star became concerned about her whereabouts.
- Jan 8, 2019
AceShowbiz - The model industry is mourning the loss of its talent Annalise Braakensiek. The former Dolly Dealer of Bruce Forsyth's "Play Your Cards Right" was found dead at her home in Sydney on Sunday, January 6. She was 46.
Police found her body when they visited the house for a welfare check, after those close to the star became concerned about her whereabouts as she stopped responding to their text since Thursday. Police have yet to formally identify the body as the model and her cause of death remains unknown at this time, though is not thought to be suspicious.
A representative for Braakensiek did not immediately respond to request for comment.
Shortly after news of her death broke, suicide prevention charity "R U OK?", which Braakenciek was an ambassador for, expressed its condolences on Twitter. "The R U OK? Team are devastated to hear the loss of much loved and respected R U OK? Ambassador Annalise Braakensiek. Our heartfelt condolences are with her friends, family and those whose lives she touches," so the statement read.
The R U OK? team are devastated to hear of the loss of much loved and respected R U OK? Ambassador Annalise Braakensiek. Our heartfelt condolences are with her friends, family and all those whose lives she touched. pic.twitter.com/ovTSm3d1Nw
— R U OK? (@ruokday) 7 Januari 2019
Her shocking death arrives less than a month after she shared a cryptic Instagram post which hinted at her mental health struggles. "Everything seems to feel twisted and upside down at the moment... am I right?!" she shared. "Life's challenges have been deep, dark, difficult, demanding and down right scary lately."
Braakensiek made her television debut in 1997 as Stephanie in "Heartbreak High" before starring on series such as "Home and Away" (1998) and "Pizza" (2000). She also starred in movies such as "Mr. Accident" (2000) , "Fat Pizza" (2003) and "Sleuth 101" (2010).
She was also an advocate for mental health, being named the ambassador for "R U OK?" last November. "Mental health has so so many misconceptions, criticism, misunderstandings and false judgements still!!" she explained at the time. "We have to break the silence on mental health because it happens to the best of us."
