Kate Ritchie struggled to cope after leaving 'Home and Away'.
Kate Ritchie
The 42-year-old actress played Sally Fletcher on the Australian soap for 20 years - from the show's first episode in 1988 until 2008 - and Kate admitted she found it difficult to separate herself from Sally when she quit.
Speaking on 'Anh's Brush with Fame', Kate explained: "I didn't know where [Sally] ended and I began or vice versa, and I had to work out whether I was more than that.
"She gave me purpose and a sense of achievement. I thought the only thing I'd ever done of value in my life was when I was her. I was lost, and I wondered how I was going to survive without her."
Kate admitted that she also worried people only liked her because they loved Sally.
She said: "Sally was a great person, a great friend and a great daughter… did people only feel something for me because they liked her?"
However, after "loads of therapy", Kate - who is now a successful radio star and author in Australia - discovered that is "great without Sally" and sees the character as a "best friend".
Following her appearance on 'Anh's Brush with Fame', which sees people open up while being painted, Kate took to Instagram to write: "Thank you for having me Anh. For providing a safe space for me to speak honestly. And for being so kind and warm.. and talented."