Video: Brittany Murphy Looks Gaunt in One of Her Last Films
In what would be one of her final film roles, the late Brittany Murphy shot the independent thriller Abandoned in June 2009. The actress, 32 when she died Sunday, played Mary Walsh, a woman who fights to stay sane after her husband disappears.
Remember Brittany's life on film and in the public eye
The star looks pale and gaunt in a newly-released video clip and stills from the film, which costars Dean Cain and Mimi Rogers. Murphy's husband Simon Monjack served as makeup and hairstylist on the set, the Associated Press reports.
The film may be released sometime in early 2010, the Associated Press reports.
See how drastically Brittany's image transformed over the years
Murphy's final year was a busy one: just before Abandoned, she played a psychiatrist in another low-budget horror film Something Wicked. And while reports have claimed that Murphy was "in and out of consciousness" during shoots for that film, executive producer Scott Chambers told the Los Angeles Times that she was professional.
Murphy was then scheduled to work on the film The Caller, but left the production early on, replaced by actress Rachelle LeFevre; her rep has denied rumors that she was fired from the film.
Who is Brittany Murphy's husband?
Had she lived, Murphy was to begin work in January on the romantic comedy Shrinking Charlotte.
Tell Us What You Think
19I woke up that Sunday morning just two days into my own withdrawals and recovery from my Opiate/Norco addiction and to my husband saying "I'm following the News and you know that Brittany Murphy girl, the one you said is a friend of your cousin's?" I got this huge knot in my stomach and replied, "Uh yeah... Omigod, did she die or something?" and when he said yes... I was just in absolute and complete utter shock! Even more shocked into the reality about the effects of the abuse and lethality of opiates (Oxicontin, Vicodin, Norco, Morphine and the list goes on). That could have been me I thought and broke down... Sadly, I was diagnosed with a dehabilitating disease after nearly dying in a hospital from being septic w/infection. After many months of ER visits and unable to manage my pain/symptoms I finally received a rather devastating diagnosis but learned that it was some ways manageable. I was prescribed Norco (each one equal to two 500 mg strength vicodin) for pain. Unable to physically and mentally cope with my disease I first took the Norco for pain... than I took it to prevent the pain... and when I did not have pain I would continue to take this prescribed medication every day because of the high and the seemingly numbing feeling it would provide to me; I felt able to cope. It got to the point where I'd run out of my prescript early (unfortunately I had a doctor that would give them to me early or provide me with higher dosage whenever I asked and even deterred me from getting help when I came to her and asked her not to prescribe them to me anymore)... I'd borrow pills from friends, family and buy from other sources and when I would run out, Iâ??d even resort to the use of oxicontin (a very deadly and scary drug). It took me a year to realize what was happening to me (and many nights on very high overdose levels of prescription drugs, forcing myself to breath and honestly afraid to fall asleep or that I might not wake up) and to admit to myself that I â??am an addict and I'm abusing my prescript drugs; drugs nonetheless... less than two months to the day that I admitted to my husband that I had a severe problem (by then everyone in my immediate family had started to take notice and concern), and I asked him to take control my prescription and hand them to me like a child until I reach the courage to seek help through a place that provides help of detox and recovery. That day came sooner than I thought and Iâ??m so happy I made the choice of life and to free myself, and my family from my addiction; just two days before the death of Brittany! This isn't just some thing (disease and addiction) that happens in Hollywood. People (hundreds of thousands, maybe millions?) everywhere are either dying from or becoming addicted to drugs of all kinds everyday even when it's not at first non-intentional (I became a victim of my own genetic disease and in the process acquired an addiction)... It can happen to anyone and it hurts everyone! I wish Brittany could have saved herself! All I know is that she died at the age of 32 from â??Cardiac Arrestâ?? and that's NOT NATURAL... She obviously died of something disease related, whether it is the drug addiction disease, eating disorder disease, genetic disease; or combination of the three. So very sad, may she rest in peace and that her family finds peace! If you are a person reading this that may think that they may have any drug or disease related addiction or a eating disorder please be strong enough to seek help, and don't live another day in your battle in fear that you may not wake up to see tomorrow... YOU ARE NOT ALONE! There are so many caring and understanding people in recovery clinics or your primary healthcare that can help get you through, and help you to overcome your disease/addiction. I ask that you put your pride and any embarrassments aside and GET HELP NOW AND NOT PUT IT OFF TO LATER... Brittany ran out of time (she will be missed...), you do not have to do the same...
I don't think she looks gaunt at all. She was a petite girl playing a distraught girlfriend. Let her rest in peace.
i really liked brittany murphy, she was pretty funny, and a good actress, i feel bad about her death. my heart goes out to her family.
i don't know why someone would want to be so thin, i think it's gross...i happen to love my womanly curves....and so does my bf :) RICKFORD you need to learn manners on these boards, how to speak of the deceased a little more respectfully or don't even speak at all
I second Shanny
Ningko my mom has diabetes and it is not easy for her to lose weight at all. If anything it makes it a bit harder especially if you need to take medication. Not many people accidently mix their prescription drug especially if all of their prescriptions are written by the same doctor and they get them from the same pharmacy. I believe she had a problem and it's sad that those around her couldn't see that or confront her about it. A 32 year old woman should not weigh 90 pounds unless she was 4'3!! I guess it's true the price for fame and money can be deadly.
If you got diabetes you tend to lose a lot of weight and I think that's what happened to her.. And for her death I think she accidentally mixed her prescription drugs and it didn't go well with her body... So so so sad.. She's a beautiful lady
don't worry too much about her being too gaunt. she does'nt have that to worry about anymore becuase she's dead. may she rest in peace.
remember Hollywood can kill!!!
She was way too gaunt in the clip. Not healthy looking at all.
Now that the poor girl is dead they want to attack her and say she looks gaunt had she been alive and walking a red carpet in too high heels they would say she looked fit and fantastic. Hollywood and the fashion industry is so messed up you have to have a thick skin to deal with their unrealistic ideals of beauty created by a bunch of gay men.
December 23, 2009 - 5:06pm JenniferCrimson Says: She was a great little actress but anyone who did not see how thin she was in her last photos is not seeing the truth. She was sick people, wake up and recognize it is not normal for most grown women to be so thin and most of us who have been there are able to hide it well from our loved ones so her husband not knowing is no surprise. I feel for her family but not three weeks ago saw her photos and thought wow, this girl needs helps. Very sad America that young ladies need to starve to be accepted, very sad indeed. Her natural frame was the one she had when she started in the business, check out those photos as that is a real girl and not one who has stressed herself year over year trying to be 90 pounds. Let her RIP but please bring to light how thin she was as it needs to be discussed. ************** And you wonder why these girls are so skinny? Take Jessica Simpson who puts on 10 pounds and is being called fatso!!! All the nasty posters that want to rag on someone famous for being healthy need to be slapped. Jess is not fat!!!! The people make the comments and the actors/actresses go overboard. I for one am extremely saddened by Brittany's death. Maybe people will judge a little less now that we have lost a YOUNG, beautiful, funny, talented girl and wake up and realize weight isn't everything. Thank you for your post Jen....
anyone thought about a condition known as graves disease??....you lose weight without dieting....it will cause heart problems....fatigue...etc....just a thought
Gimme a break, she doesn't look gaunt in that clip. She looks like she has always looked minus fake eyelashes.
Now, again, we should play MJ's best song, "Gone to Soon". Our hearts go out to her family and friends. Brittany, "May you rest in peace is our prayer."
She was a great little actress but anyone who did not see how thin she was in her last photos is not seeing the truth. She was sick people, wake up and recognize it is not normal for most grown women to be so thin and most of us who have been there are able to hide it well from our loved ones so her husband not knowing is no surprise. I feel for her family but not three weeks ago saw her photos and thought wow, this girl needs helps. Very sad America that young ladies need to starve to be accepted, very sad indeed. Her natural frame was the one she had when she started in the business, check out those photos as that is a real girl and not one who has stressed herself year over year trying to be 90 pounds. Let her RIP but please bring to light how thin she was as it needs to be discussed.
She looks just fine in that clip. Trying to make mountains out of mole hills on this story!!
She was a really good actress. Seriously very good.
fo sho.. she looks sick in the clip... awaiting toxicology.. bet u 10 bux its drugs.. ;)