Richard Blackwood was left contemplating suicide after struggling to find work.
The 45-year-old actor went bankrupt in 2003 after a difficult time dealing with personal and financial troubles, and has admitted that while he thought of himself as a "strong" person, he got to the point of contemplating taking his own life as a way to deal with his troubles.
He said: "I had lost everything and I went bankrupt. After that I got blacklisted by the industry – no work was coming. Everybody turned against me.
"I’m such a strong person and looking back it’s hard to believe I was in that place.
"But it showed me that things can really accumulate and break you down."
The former ‘EastEnders’ star – whose character Vincent Hubbard departed the BBC One soap last week – admits he hit rock bottom, but was able to rebuild his life because he is a "fighter".
He said: "I was in a place where I was ready to bounce back, I’d hit the floor so I couldn’t go any lower.
"Luckily for me, I am a fighter and by default I always try to get back up and win. At that moment, I definitely lost myself but I got reminded of who I am."
Richard has 17-year-old son Keaun with his former partner Ferisha Flavien, and while the pair broke up 15 years ago, the former couple "respect each other".
Speaking to OK! magazine, he added: "We’re civil. We broke up so long ago.
"She’s married now and has had more kids.
"We have a respect for each other but we also respect that we’ve moved on with our lives. It’s not like that in the beginning but you reach that place."
Richard Blackwood considered suicide at his lowest point
