In an emotional and deeply candid moment, Home and Away star Maddison Brown has revealed the pressures and struggles behind her flourishing career and entrepreneurial ambitions,

opening up about suffering from burnout while running her self-funded beauty venture. The actress, 28, who recently returned to Australia and joined the Home and Away cast as

Jo Langham, took to Instagram this week to give fans an unfiltered glimpse into the personal toll of managing a business.

Maddison is the co-founder of Outside Beauty & Skincare, a company she launched in 2023 alongside her sister, Allyson Popovic. What started as a shared dream of creating an independent, self-funded venture has evolved into an all-consuming endeavor, leaving Maddison emotionally and physically drained.

“I hate being vulnerable and showing my vulnerabilities,” she confessed in a tearful Instagram video. “But it’s just really hard having a business. I never thought it would be this hard. I thought I was so clever and I had such a good idea.”

Behind the Glamour: The Toll of Entrepreneurship

While many see the polished results of Maddison’s career and business, her heartfelt admission highlights the often-overlooked challenges faced by self-made entrepreneurs. “We’ve just been going, and going, and going, for over three years now,” Maddison explained. “We both work seven days a week. We’ve never paid ourselves a cent from the business. I always pick myself up and dust myself off. I think I try to portray this image of success and hard work, and that’s all real, but moments like I’m having right now happen way more often.”

She further illustrated the emotional strain in her Instagram caption, detailing the exhaustion that came unexpectedly while shooting promotional ads. “I sat down to shoot some ads, and all of a sudden felt so burnt out and exhausted I couldn’t stop the tears flowing,” Maddison wrote. “Everyone says they want to see ‘founder content,’ but here’s the unfiltered version: this is what it actually looks like 99% of the time.”

Her transparency resonated with thousands of followers, bringing attention to the mental and emotional demands placed on modern-day entrepreneurs, particularly those balancing public careers alongside private business ventures.

The Weight of Self-Funding

Maddison’s candidness extends beyond fatigue to the added pressures of being fully self-funded. “Being fully self-funded means every win feels personal, and every challenge even more so,” she wrote. “Being a success on paper only tells half the story. Behind the scenes, it’s late nights, self-doubt, small victories, and a whole lot of persistence.”

Her message has struck a chord across the business and entertainment communities. Supermodel Megan Gale commented, “Oh honey, I feel you. I’ve been there and it’s brutal. The lessons from it all will emerge though, I promise you, and they can be invaluable.” Fellow Home and Away actress Pia Miller offered her support with a simple but heartfelt, “I love you.” Meanwhile, Rachael Wilde, co-founder of York Street Brands, chimed in: “So relatable to every business founder ever, my girl! Proud of you.”

These reactions underscore the solidarity within the Australian entertainment and entrepreneurial worlds, revealing how stars face similar pressures as anyone navigating high-stakes business environments.

From Hollywood to Summer Bay

Maddison’s journey to this point has been far from conventional. After spending a decade in the United States, the actress starred in high-profile projects including the CW’s Dynasty reboot and the 2015 Nicole Kidman-led film Strangerland. Despite her success overseas, Maddison made the decision to return to Australia in 2024, seeking new opportunities and grounding herself closer to family.

Upon her return, she joined the cast of Home and Away as Jo Langham, reinvigorating the long-running series with her experience and versatility. While her professional trajectory continues to impress, Maddison’s candid Instagram post underscores the unseen pressures behind her career achievements and public persona.

Balancing Career, Business, and Personal Life

In addition to acting and running Outside Beauty & Skincare, Maddison manages the challenges of personal life and relationships. She shares her life with fiancé, New Zealand actor Simon Mead, while navigating the demands of high-profile projects and entrepreneurial responsibilities. In previous years, she had also been romantically linked to actor Liam Hemsworth, though both have since moved on.

Maddison’s post reveals the emotional labor involved in presenting a successful image while contending with fatigue, self-doubt, and the relentless demands of entrepreneurship. “I think I try to portray this image of success and hard work,” she admitted, “and that’s all real, but these moments like I’m having right now happen way more often.” Her words speak to the universal challenge of maintaining resilience when every setback feels intensely personal, a struggle familiar to many founders and creative professionals alike.

Burnout in the Public Eye

What makes Maddison’s experience particularly poignant is the dual challenge of coping with burnout under the scrutiny of thousands of fans and industry observers. Unlike the average entrepreneur, every aspect of her struggle is publicly visible, from social media posts to interviews, amplifying the pressure to maintain a composed and professional facade.

Her message to her followers was clear: the curated images of success rarely capture the exhaustion, frustration, and relentless persistence required behind the scenes. By showing vulnerability, Maddison not only humanizes her own journey but also provides a rare window into the realities of running a self-funded business while maintaining a public persona.

A Message of Resilience and Perspective

Despite the tears and exhaustion, Maddison’s post is ultimately one of resilience. She emphasizes the value of persistence, the importance of acknowledging emotional strain, and the significance of support from peers and loved ones. The response from her colleagues and fellow public figures demonstrates a growing understanding in the entertainment industry that mental health, vulnerability, and professional ambition can coexist—and that acknowledging challenges is not a weakness.

For her fans, Maddison’s story provides both inspiration and reassurance. Even at the peak of public success, with high-profile acting roles and a promising business venture, burnout is real and requires attention. Her candid admission highlights the need for balance, self-care, and the courage to admit when the weight of responsibility becomes overwhelming.

Looking Ahead

As Maddison continues to navigate the intersection of acting and entrepreneurship, fans and colleagues alike will be watching her journey closely. Outside Beauty & Skincare, still in its early stages, remains a testament to her ambition and vision, while her role on Home and Away reinforces her position as a talented and versatile actress in the Australian entertainment landscape.

Her story is a reminder that even those who seem to have it all—glamorous roles, business ventures, public acclaim—are not immune to the human experience of fatigue, doubt, and burnout. By sharing her struggles openly, Maddison Brown provides a powerful narrative of resilience, self-awareness, and the ongoing effort to balance ambition with wellbeing.