Brittany Murphy Was ‘Going Through a Hard Time’ While Filming Her Final Movie, Says Co-Star

Brittany Murphy’s former co-star recalls the late actress looking “frail” and visibly struggling while working on her last film, Something Wicked, just months before her tragic death in 2009.

Katie O’Grady, who starred alongside Murphy in the 2009 thriller, reflected on the star’s physical and emotional state while filming, noting that Murphy seemed to be “going through a hard time.”

Speaking to People on the 15th anniversary of Murphy’s death, O’Grady described the actress as appearing “petite” and “frail,” almost like “a little bird that you wanted to be around and protect.”

Despite her challenges, O’Grady remembered Murphy as being “so present” and “so loving” on set. “She made moments with everyone she met, creating these genuine, sweet exchanges with the energy she had,” O’Grady shared.

The two had a heartfelt farewell before parting ways, with Murphy telling O’Grady, “I’m so glad I got to meet you,” a final moment of kindness that O’Grady will always cherish.

Murphy, best known for her roles in Clueless and Girl, Interrupted, was 32 when she passed away unexpectedly on December 20, 2009.

At the time, she was married to screenwriter Simon Monjack, and the couple lived with her mother, Sharon Murphy.

O’Grady suggested that Murphy may not have had the right support system in place, pointing out that she could have benefited from a stronger, more protective presence in her life.

“She was so fragile. I just feel like she needed someone in her life that was strong for her, who could have provided that support,” O’Grady said, reflecting on her co-star’s struggles during their time together. “There was an instant feeling that this woman needs protection and energy to lift her up.”

Murphy’s health had been a subject of speculation in the months leading up to her death. Rumors of eating disorders and substance abuse had circulated, though Monjack repeatedly denied these allegations.

Murphy was found unconscious on her bathroom floor at her Los Angeles home, surrounded by medications, including over-the-counter drugs like cough syrup and prescription pills for cramps.

The Los Angeles coroner ruled her death a result of pneumonia, drug intoxication, and iron deficiency anemia.

However, just months later, Monjack was found dead from a similar cause, which raised suspicions about whether something more sinister was involved in both deaths. In 2013, Murphy’s father, Angelo Bertolotti, commissioned an independent toxicology report, which suggested the possibility of poisoning.

The report found that Murphy had elevated levels of ten heavy metals in her system, prompting her father to claim that his daughter had not died from natural causes, as previously stated.

“My daughter was neither anorexic nor a drug junkie, as they repeatedly implied,” Bertolotti said in a statement at the time. “I will not rest until the truth is told. There will be justice for Brittany.”

Murphy’s half-brother, Tony Bertolotti, also voiced his suspicions, suggesting that his sister’s death was far from ordinary. “If you look at it from a distance, it’s like here’s this healthy young woman, living with her husband and mother, and she suddenly dies at home,” he said in a 2019 interview. “It’s absurd that no one took her to a hospital. It’s just bizarre, and it happens all too often in Hollywood.”

Despite these claims, no charges have ever been filed in connection to either Brittany Murphy or Simon Monjack’s deaths, and both remain shrouded in mystery.

The tragic and untimely passing of the beloved actress continues to spark debate and intrigue, as fans and family members seek answers.

Brittany Murphy’s memory lives on in her impressive body of work and the many lives she touched, both on and off screen.

But for those who knew her, like O’Grady, she remains a young woman who, despite her struggles, brought warmth and kindness to everyone around her.