Anne Burrell’s friend said being in the spotlight put a lot of pressure on the TV star, who died at her home in Brooklyn, New York, which she struggled to cope with

Anne Burrell’s pal has claimed she suffered with fame before she died.

The Food Network star’s body was discovered near dozens of pills in her home located in Brooklyn, New York. Her death is being investigated as a possible drug overdose by the authorities, according to reports.

Her friend discussed her outgoing personality with Page Six. She also told how being in the spotlight put a lot of pressure on her, which she struggled to cope with. Anne’s pal, who was not identified, said, “She made everything fun. She was a true force of nature.”

The pal continued, saying that Anne’s personality was “so big,” adding that there was a “dark side to her fame.”

They said, “Once she was on TV and was on her way to be a TV celebrity chef.”

Anne during the Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite featuring Culinary Demonstrations at The IKEA Kitchen on October 13, 2019(Image: Getty Images for NYCWFF)

“She was famous, she was doing the food and wine circuit stuff. She was busy — I kind of felt like she wasn’t totally happy. People with big personalities sometimes mask things,” the friend, who was not identified, said.

Anne was planning on trying to forge a career in acting and had been taking improv classes before she died aged 55. Discussing her plan to start action on Tori Spelling’s Misspelling podcast back in March, she said, “Interestingly, I just started taking acting classes. I started yesterday, actually… It’s like an improv for actors’ class. I got there and it’s like eight people in the class. I’m the oldest one. Every other person has like, “Oh, I have a master’s in fine arts in theater.”‘

Burrell also joked about the age gap between her and her fellow students. She said, “I’m like, ‘Okay, I’ve never taken an acting class. I don’t know, this is new to me.’ I wonder if these delightful and super-talented kids look at me and they’re like, ‘What’s this old lady doing here?’”

Before she died, Anne had taken a break from her show Worst Cooks In America for season 28. Spelling, 52, asked at the time she announced she was stepping back from the show, what led her to that decision.

Anne at the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival on October 10, 2019(Image: Getty Images for NYCWFF)

Burrell replied, “I can cook, yes, I can do TV, but also, what else? I’ve got more to do in my life, I feel like.”

She also told how she was dipping her toe into acting, saying, “I feel very excited about it. I’ve got a few other things that I’m working on as well, which I’m not quite ready to share yet. Hopefully, exciting things [are] coming.”

Burrell, who grew up near Syracuse, and one of her role models when she was younger was late TV chef Julia Child. When she age 23, she enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.

Anne at the City Harvest Presents The 2025 Gala: Carnaval, on April 22, 2025, in New York(Image: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP)

After she graduated, she worked as a sous chef for Lidia Bastianich at her famed Felidia Ristorante in Midtown East and at the Savoy in Soho before she became a chef at Mario Batali’s Centro Vinoteca.

Her first TV role was in 2008 when she starred in Food Network series “Secrets of a Restaurant Chef.” Two years later, she launched cooking competition “Worst Cooks in America” on the network with chef Beau MacMillan, which was a huge hit.

Her friend added, “America loved her. What you saw on TV was the real Anne.”