Kate Ritchie chokes back tears as she makes a heartbreaking admission on Anh Do’s Brush With Fame

Kate Ritchie will become emotional on Tuesday’s episode of Anh’s Brush with Fame while reflecting on her decision to leave Home and Away in 2008.

A trailer for the program shows the 42-year-old actress choking back tears as she discusses leaving behind the character she’d played for 20 years, Sally Fletcher.

She told artist-turned-ABC presenter Anh Do she struggled to carve out her own identity away from Sally and ‘felt lost’.

‘I was lost and wondered how I would survive’: Home and Away star Kate Ritchie chokes back tears as she makes a heartbreaking admission on this week’s episode of Anh’s Brush with Fame

In the clip, which Kate shared to her Instagram this week, she says that she didn’t know how she would ‘survive’ without Sally and her role and had therapy to help her through.   

‘She’d been my best friend of 20 years… She gave me purpose and a sense of achievement because I felt, I feel differently now, after loads of therapy,’ Kate began in a clip. 

‘I thought the only thing I had ever done of value in my life, was when I was her. That kind of thing.’

Looking back: Ahead of the episode, that will air on the ABC on Tuesday, the 42-year-old details her decision to quit the long-running soap, Home and Away, back in 2008. She played the beloved character Sally Fletcher for 20 years

Looking back: Ahead of the episode, that will air on the ABC on Tuesday, the 42-year-old details her decision to quit the long-running soap, Home and Away, back in 2008. She played the beloved character Sally Fletcher for 20 years

Anh asked Kate if she was ‘lost,’ and Kate said she was.  

‘Yeah I was,’ she said. 

‘I was lost and I wondered how I was going to survive without her and how were people going to react to me if I wasn’t Sally.’

Kate elaborates in the sit down chat with Anh about how she was ‘frightened’ to leave the soap after spending more than two decades on air and also having a full time job. 

Iconic role: In the clip, which Kate shared to her Instagram this week, she says that she didn't know how she would 'survive' without Sally and her role and had therapy to help her through. Pictured on the soap

Iconic role: In the clip, which Kate shared to her Instagram this week, she says that she didn’t know how she would ‘survive’ without Sally and her role and had therapy to help her through. Pictured on the soap

But she said that after taking a leap of faith, she made the best decision to leave the soap. 

‘I think the best thing to come out of all of this, is that I’m great without [Sally]. I nearly choked on the words! We’re all great without our security blankets.’

Kate posted the clip on Instagram and said: ‘I worry so often of what people think… Of me revisiting the same old chapter of my life.’

Leap of faith: 'I think the best thing to come out of all of this, is that I'm great without [Sally]. I nearly choked on the words! We're all great without our security blankets'

Leap of faith: ‘I think the best thing to come out of all of this, is that I’m great without [Sally]. I nearly choked on the words! We’re all great without our security blankets’

‘The chapter people continue to ask me about and the one that defined me. Publicly and personally. One day I’ll move through that worry.. But for now I’ll speak with Anh.’

Kate appeared on Home and Away from 1988 to 2008 as Sally Fletcher. 

She reprised her role briefly in 2013. 

Fan favourite: Kate appeared on Home and Away from 1988 to 2008 as Sally Fletcher. She reprised her role briefly in 2013

Fan favourite: Kate appeared on Home and Away from 1988 to 2008 as Sally Fletcher. She reprised her role briefly in 2013

Shocking fans: In June last year, Kate, who is now a NOVA radio host, shocked fans when she revealed she would love to return to acting and still missed the TV drama

Shocking fans: In June last year, Kate, who is now a NOVA radio host, shocked fans when she revealed she would love to return to acting and still missed the TV drama

In June last year, Kate, who is now a NOVA radio host, shocked fans when she revealed she would love to return to acting and still missed the TV drama. 

She told TV Week: ‘The day I walk back onto a film set will be a very happy one.’

‘I look forward to being part of an ensemble again one day. It’s all about finding the right role. Don’t worry – I’m still searching.’ 

Kate said she misses Home and Away, hinting she could one day reprise her role as Sally Fletcher on the long-running Channel Seven soap. 

‘I will always feel attached to Home and Away,’ she gushed.

‘Even now, with some distance from those days and having had the chance to develop into my own person without the security blanket of Sally, I still miss it desperately.

Never say never: Kate said she misses Home and Away, hinting she could one day reprise her role as Sally Fletcher on the long-running Channel Seven soap

Never say never: Kate said she misses Home and Away, hinting she could one day reprise her role as Sally Fletcher on the long-running Channel Seven soap