Pam Andrews Shares Mental Health Struggle That Led Her to Quit Pop Group 101: “I Felt Funny”
- Pam Andrews broke her silence on why she left 101, the pop group she joined after winning Coca-Cola Popstars in 2002
- The South African actress said she was secretly battling depression, anxiety and PMDD while publicly living her childhood dream
- Andrews shared that the very career she had once prayed for began to feel unbearable, and she eventually told her groupmates she needed to leave
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Source: Instagram
For more than 20 years, fans of the early 2000s South African pop group 101 have been left to wonder why Pam Andrews walked away at the height of the group's success. The actress, best known for her roles as Frankie on Backstage and Gayle October on Rhythm City, has now opened up in an Instagram video about the real reason she left — and it had nothing to do with her bandmates.
Andrews grew up in Heideveld on the Cape Flats, in what she described as a matchbox house, with a burning desire to perform. At just 18, she won Coca-Cola Popstars in 2002 and became a member of 101 almost overnight. The group recorded music in London and received prizes including cars, cellphones and clothing vouchers.
Pam Andrews shares why she left pop group 101
About a year into the group's success, Andrews began to notice a significant shift in how she felt. She grew increasingly withdrawn and emotional but kept quiet because she felt ashamed of what she was going through.
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The pressure of performances, travel and large crowds made things worse. Andrews said she eventually reached a point where she resented the very life she had dreamed about.
"I started hating being famous. I started hating being there. I just wanted to be left alone."
She later came to understand she had been dealing with depression, anxiety and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a condition that can cause severe mood symptoms. When her withdrawal became noticeable, she attended a meeting with her groupmates and told them she was leaving.
"I said I have no idea what I'm going to do. But I just know that I need to leave. I'm extremely unhappy," she recalled.
Pam Andrews shares how she landed Backstage gig
Days after her departure became public, the production team behind *Backstage* reached out about a role they felt suited her. She auditioned and landed the part of Frankie, which marked the beginning of a successful acting career.
"I just started feeling better. I just had to leave that environment. And it had nothing to do with the group. But I think God used that, because I was always supposed to be an actor," Andrews said.
Despite that success, Andrews has also acknowledged the ongoing toll that PMDD has taken on her life, including forcing her to step back from acting.
"For instance, the hardest thing I had to give up was being an actor, even though I've tried many times to get into that space again. As soon as I try, I completely struggle. I stress out so much," she said.
Andrews said therapy has been central to her healing, and her son remains her top priority as she continues to manage her health.
Watch the video by clicking the link.
Pam Andrews backtracks on decision to quit acting
Meanwhile, Briefly News previously reported that Pam Andrews seemingly backtracked from her decision to quit acting completely by hinting at her big return.
The former Rhythm City actress previously said she would step into full-time content creation.
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Source: Briefly News
