Vince Colosimo talks about bullying struggles in first recent public appearance

Once a household name, Vince Colosimo has opened up about his struggles as he steps out as an anti-bullying ambassador.

An embattled Australian star has made his first public appearance since a highly publicised court battle, stepping out as an anti-bullying ambassador.

In July this year, actor Vince Colosimo was ordered to complete 101 hours of community service in lieu of paying $61,858 in fines he had accrued over an eight-year period.

He’s now become an ambassador for Bully Zero, sharing his struggles with fame and pressure as a part of his volunteering.

You could "hear a pin drop" while Colosimo told his story at a Bully Zero event according to the group’s chief executive. Photo: A Current Affair

Known for his roles in Chopper and The Wog Boy, Colosimo has had his fair share of mental health and substance abuse issues.

“[People] have this preconception of who you are and where you’ve been, I think that might happen in different scenarios as well in different scenarios as well, but it happens a lot to me and I dealt with it but you know, it could’ve wiped me out, it could’ve stopped me doing what I was doing,” he told a crowd at an event run by the charity.

“I had to fight this thing in my own particular way.”

The Chopper and Underbelly actor revealed he received “put downs” from those in his neighbourhood after he started acting which then turned into comments from complete strangers.

He also shared his main piece of advice on how to handle life struggles.

“I think it’s who you surround yourself with... I had some really great mates and my brother and I kept two feet on the ground,” he said.

Colosimo is now working on a documentary about bullying that is due to be released next year. Photo: A Current Affair

Bully Zero chief executive Janet Grima said her organisation stood behind Colosimo, who has had other troubles with the law including drug driving, as he continues on his redemption arc.

“Getting people a second chance should be something that’s innate,” she told A Current Affair.

“We should celebrate people‘s successes but more so we should be there to lift people up when they’ve taken a fall or when they were or when there are struggles.”

Colosimo now spends his time teaching acting classes in Melbourne alongside working on a documentary with Bully Zero which will be released in the coming months.

Originally published as Vince Colosimo talks about bullying struggles in first recent public appearance