Inside Brittany Murphy’s tragic final days before her death – from haunted mansion to ‘controlling’ husband
WITH 8 Mile and Sin City under her belt, in the noughties Brittany Murphy was one of the most in-demand celebrities.
But in the run up to her tragic death in 2009, Brittany's carefully crafted career was starting to unravel.
She had been devastated after she was dropped from the sequel to kids’ movie Happy Feet allegedly over drug use accusations.
Months before she died in Los Angeles her character was axed from Jason Statham film The Expendables and Disney dropped her from the 2008 Tinker Bell film.
Her husband British screenwriter Simon Monjack - who died five months after from the same causes - was convinced Brittany wouldn’t have died if she had stayed in her hometown.
He said: “The nature of this town is exploitative.
Life in disarray
Brittany was found to have died of natural causes but the days and weeks leading up to her death showed a life in disarray.
Although she was worth £7.34million at her time of death and living in a Los Angeles mansion with her husband and mum, Brittany was allegedly surrounded by filth.
Author of the Brittany Murphy Files, Bryn Curt James wrote that where she died, she was surrounded by a "mountain of clothes, make-up, perfumes, an oxygen machine and medical supplies…It was a ready-made drug store.
"The large bed was stained and the sheets twisted and drenched in sweat.
"Flanking each side of the bed were nightstands covered in…half-drunk bottles of water, prescription medication bottles, some open and some empty, and used tissues."
'She absolutely hated the house'
The house - once owned by Britney Spears - was prone to power cuts which saw the three relatives scurry around holding flashlights.
Simon told before his death in 2010: “She absolutely hated the Rising Glen house.
“Every time we would drive up Sunset, Brit would say, ‘Please, can we stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel?’
“I’d say: ‘Honey, you’ve got to be realistic. We have our house, a 10,000-square-foot home. We’re going to stay in it.’ ”
When she died she had been planning to move to New York with Simon and try for a baby.
Cocktail of meds
In the run up to her death, Brittany was living with her mother Sharon and husband Simon - who both were struggling with ill health.
Brittany’s own health was suffering - she was anemic, had a heart murmur and suffered from chronic pain in her jaw from a 1995 car accident.
When she died she was taking antidepressants, antibiotics, migraine pills, cough medicine and beta blockers.
Brittany cared for Sharon who was recovering from breast cancer, while husband Simon suffered from seizures after falling off a ladder, asthma and sleep apnea.
He had suffered a mild heart attack on a flight back from Puerto Rico weeks before her death.
Brittany had been fired from film The Caller on the first day on set in San Juan - reportedly due to Simon’s behaviour.
During the trip both Sharon and Simon picked up an infection called Staphylococcus.
Following her death conspiracy theories arose about what had actually happened to the seemingly healthy star.
And mum Sharon agreed: “One cause we now know may have been toxic mould that was eventually discovered in that house - which may have been what really killed her.”
Just 17 days before an extremely thin Brittany appeared thin and drawn at a pop up shop - it was her last ever public appearance.
She said: “As far as having a New Year's resolution, I'd love to have a child next year.
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"I've been very blessed to have a really great loving husband.
"I spend more time with my family than anyone else in the world."