Candace Cameron Bure is nothing but supportive of her co-star Andrea Barber.
This past Tuesday, Andrea released a tell-all memoir called Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again, which details her rise to stardom and behind-the-scenes experiences working on Full House and the Fuller House reboot series (the final season is set to be released in December). Andrea also addresses her battle with anxiety on set, depression, and 2014 divorce from Jeremy Rytky.
“I’m hoping to create a culture of sharing stories, and it’s not just sharing a hashtag,” Andrea wrote in her book. “It’s more important when you’re ready to share your own personal story.”
Reacting to Andrea’s book, Candace posted kind words about her co-star and friend of 32 years on Instagram.
“I’m so proud of @andreabarber for sharing her life story and struggles with anxiety and depression. It’s so open and honest and healing for those who read it,” she said. “It’s on shelves now at major retail book stores and available online! Go get it!!” In response, Andrea wrote in the comment section, “Thank you, my beautiful friend! 😘❤️.”
To USA Today, Candace said that she knew Andrea had anxiety, but was “in the dark” about just how much Andrea was suffering.
“She told me, ‘I didn’t know it had gotten that bad.’ Like, her heart was hurting. I wasn’t really talking about it with anybody,” Candace said. “Nobody really knew.”
Andrea writes that she first discovered she had anxiety while working on Full House in the latest 1980s. She would throw up before filming, which, at the time, she chalked up to simply being “more nervous” than other actors.
“At the time, I thought getting sick before performing was something everyone did,” she wrote in her book. “I didn’t realize that these were the first signs of a lifelong battle with anxiety and depression, something I would hate about myself for years to come.”
Aside from reflecting on these important topics, Andrea wants Full House fans to appreciate the fun and crazy stories about working on the hit ’90s sitcom, too.
“Fans of Full(er) House will love reading the behind-the-scenes stories,” she told People. “But I hope they are also able to get to know the real person behind Kimmy Gibbler.”
