Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: ‘My mind would race’

Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: 'My mind would race'

As I delve into the heartwarming yet tumultuous tale of Alison Brahe and Cameron Daddo, two individuals who have weathered the storms of life together, I find myself deeply moved by their resilience and unwavering commitment to each other. Their journey is a testament to the power of love, forgiveness, and the courage it takes to mend a broken bond.


In his own words, Cameron Daddo didn’t embark on an acting journey until he was in his twenties due to battling anxiety.

The 59-year-old Australian actor has since gone on to have an illustrious portfolio, but as a teenager, he was afflicted with a stutter that made performance hard. 

‘If people weren’t ready for me to talk, that’s when I would do it,’ he told Today Extra this week.

‘If I was asked to talk and speak up, then that’s when I was worried about what I was saying.

When I become overwhelmed, my thoughts move at such a rapid pace that it’s challenging for me to verbalize them smoothly. This is why I tend to stutter.

At the tender age of 21, Cameron secured his initial major role on television by becoming part of the game show Perfect Match.

He explained that he hadn’t harbored ambitions related to acting or similar fields until he reached his twenties.

After Cameron and Alison Brahe, aged 54, confessed last year about returning to therapy for necessary upkeep on their relationship, it follows…

Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: 'My mind would race'

The couple discussed the status of their marriage on their podcast Separate Bathrooms.

‘We have recently gone back into some couples therapy,’ the actor confessed. 

Speaking to his wife Alison, he went on to say, “Just as you put it, our relationship feels like a perfect 10 to me. I’m incredibly content with how things stand between us.

Additionally, I believe it’s due to the fact that we opted for minimal upkeep. The sense of comfort provided by that assistance was pleasant.

The model agreed: ‘We have done so much therapy as well, sometimes we can get lost in the minutiae of little things feeling like they are huge things. 

Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: 'My mind would race'
Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: 'My mind would race'

She explained, “Remember our conversation the other day? I mentioned that we share a strong bond. Let’s avoid discarding all of it; let’s keep the good parts.

‘And just go, ‘This part of it needs attention for sure.’

Alison continued by saying, “It felt wonderful when the therapist commented, ‘You two communicate really well and truly listen to one another.’ Hearing that affirmation made us think, ‘We must be doing something right.’

‘We are doing really well, we just need to work on reconnecting, little things.’

Cameron chimed, backing up the sentiment, saying the pair just needed some ‘tweaks’. 

Over the years, this influential duo has been honest about the challenges they’ve faced in their marriage, including a period when trust was broken back in 1994 due to infidelity by Cameron. However, they also shared insights on how they managed to rekindle and strengthen their marriage after that difficult time.

Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: 'My mind would race'

During their marriage counseling sessions, following Daddo’s infidelity, Brahe shared that her relationship with him underwent the greatest transformation.

But the journey wasn’t entirely trouble-free; the mother of three shared that they encountered a very challenging situation with their initial therapist, referring to it as a ‘terrible experience’.

Alison shared that it’s crucial to discover the perfect therapist for your needs. Unfortunately, her initial pick turned out to be a negative experience, so she eventually settled with someone who turned out to be a suitable match for her, which was our second choice.

Initially struggling, the long-term pair discovered a suitable counselor, which gave them a solid foundation because they were both determined to preserve their relationship.

More recently, Daddo openly discussed a past infidelity that occurred three years after their wedding in 1991, which caused him pain and distress for his spouse.

The Australian actor discussed his marriage on their Separate Bathrooms podcast and admitted it’s important to ‘learn how to apologise’.

In simpler terms, it means ‘Reverend Brian is the one who officiated our wedding. He expressed his belief that out of all the people you’ll encounter, you have the potential to cause the most pain to your partner.’

‘In my case, it’s probably true,’ an emotional Cameron said.

Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: 'My mind would race'

“He suggested that learning to genuinely apologize, follow through with action, and avoid repeating mistakes is wise. In other words, this experience serves as an important lesson.

Alison mentioned that the couple faced a considerable amount of effort, even going as far as to suggest it was like navigating through a tough journey, before ultimately finding themselves in a blissful state.

In conversation with Woman’s Day, Cameron admitted that it was he who chose to end the marriage. He made it clear that it was his infidelity and not Alison’s actions that led to the separation.

His infidelity took place in America, after he had relocated there for his acting career.

Alison confessed that their marriage wasn’t the ideal relationship everyone aspired to, but they put effort into improving it, and now they find themselves in a much healthier place.

After being married for 28 years, there’s no doubt that it takes a tremendous amount of effort, challenges, and even some heartache and sorrow,” she explained.

Cameron Daddo reveals mental health battle that left him with a stutter and held him back from acting career: 'My mind would race'

In a blog post for daddy website The Father Hood, Daddo blamed alcohol for his infidelity. 

‘When I acted out in that way, I didn’t really want to be there,’ he said.

I found myself drawn to that spot, a magnetism I couldn’t resist. A significant part of that pull was fueled by isolation and an overwhelming sense of loneliness, exacerbated by the vast ocean separating me from my beloved partner. Alcohol, sadly, became a companion in those dark moments.

The star mentioned that he and Alison attended counseling sessions aimed at mending their marriage. In the end, this experience served as a valuable learning opportunity for them both.

In 1991, the pair got married and share three kids, namely daughters Lotus and Bodhi, as well as a son named River.

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2024-10-08 14:56

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