Actress hanging was misadventure

Stephanie Parker broke into acting at the age of 15

A young actress who starred in the BBC Wales series Belonging hanged herself while suffering with depression, an inquest in Aberdare has heard.

Coroner Peter Maddox said the actions of Stephanie Parker, 22, of Pontypridd, may have been a "cry for help" rather than a suicide attempt.

The actress, who played Stacey Weaver, suffered bouts of depression which started after she was bullied at school, the hearing was told.

A verdict of misadventure was recorded.

Her mother Fiona told the coroner's court: "She was a Jekyll and Hyde character who was perfectly fine sometimes but in a rage when she didn't take her medication.

"She would get really angry. She wouldn't listen to anyone and was completely irrational.

It may have been a cry for help and she may not have fully understood the consequences of her actions Glamorgan coroner Peter Maddox

"You couldn't talk to her nor reason with her. She would completely close down."

Mrs Parker told how her daughter broke into acting at the age of 15 in Belonging, which also starred Torchwood actress Eve Myles.

She said: "It was a part-time profession. She tried to hold down office jobs but left within a few weeks because she got bored easily."

Her seven years in Belonging came to an end when the series finished earlier this year.

The inquest heard the actress was slightly over the legal drink-drive limit when she was found in a field near her home.

Glamorgan coroner Mr Maddox recorded a verdict of misadventure saying he "was not convinced" she intended to kill herself.

He said: "It may have been a cry for help and she may not have fully understood the consequences of her actions."