Miranda Hart is a household name, but the comedian and actress has faced a number of personal battles over the years, from her father’s harrowing experience to her own health issues
Miranda Hart, the comedy queen known for her hilarious antics, has been quietly dealing with personal health struggles away from the spotlight. But she’ll be trying to forget about that today (December 14), as she celebrates her birthday.
The funny-girl recently returned to the public eye, addressing how her appearance has changed as of late. She also opened up about her new husband, with the two having an unconventional romance.
But rewinding 52 years, the star was born Miranda Katherine Hart Dyke in December 1972 in Torquay, Devon, but grew up in Petersfield, Hampshire, attending an all-girls boarding school. Her folks are Captain David Hart Dyke and Diana Margaret Luce; her dad served as a Royal Navy officer.
READ MORE: Miranda Hart reveals unique ceremony she had for wedding after hitting ‘rock bottom’
READ MORE: Inside Miranda Hart’s wacky wedding to fella who came to look at her her mould
He commanded HMS Coventry when it was sunk by Argentine Skyhawk jets during the 1982 Falklands War, sending the ship to the ocean floor. Despite the tragedy that took 19 of the 300 crew members, Hart’s father incredibly survived.
He shared his harrowing tale with The Telegraph in 2012: “It was black, with people on fire.””I was momentarily stunned and came round seconds later, and eventually stumbled out into clear air and got out to the upper deck.”
In addition to her father’s ordeal, the performer herself has faced periods of anxiety and depression. While discussing her book, I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You, on Instagram, the former Call the Midwives star revealed the “treasures” that helped her during her life’s more “testing” periods. She said: “I’m sharing the treasures that I learned in darkness.
“The things that helped me to live and feel like I am free and joyful and peaceful and physically recovered in a way that I never thought possible.”
In her book Miranda’s Daily Doses of Such Fun, she wrote: “Life during times of acute anxiety has been like wading through treacle and on bad days getting to the end of the street to post a letter was hard, such was the extreme level of fear in my body.”
Her series Miranda aired for three seasons from 2009 to 2015, but its conclusion saw the leading lady hit a low point. Speaking at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, she confessed that she had “hit rock bottom”.
“I was housebound and bedbound for years. I didn’t have a job, I didn’t have a social life. I didn’t have any responsibilities or identities,” she said, reports the Express.
Miranda has battled health issues for most of her life, including fatigue, joint pain and memory difficulties. However, she never received a definitive diagnosis, describing her condition as a “half life, a very debilitated life but with no understanding of why”.
After battling health issues post Miranda, the star was finally diagnosed with Lyme disease by some “very clever” experts. She suspects she picked up the nasty bug during her teenage years in Virginia, a hotspot for Lyme disease.
The diagnosis came as a “relief” after a long period of not knowing what was wrong.
On the love front, the comedian found her match in Richard Fairs, 60, who initially came to sort out a mould issue at her house but ended up capturing her heart.
Their whirlwind romance led to a magical proposal at Kew Gardens and they tied the knot at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church in Hambledon. Speaking on The One Show, she couldn’t hide her joy: “He’s my best friend, we have the best fun, and I’m just thrilled to be a young bride at 51.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
