Bipolar Fry warns of suicide struggle

British comedian and actor Stephen Fry says bipolar could one day claim his life. Photo / Supplied

British writer, comedian and actor Stephen Fry has admitted his struggle with bipolar disorder may lead to him committing suicide.

Fry, 53, is a popular for his roles in series such as Blackadder, Jeeves and Wooster and Bones and is appearing in upcoming movie The Hobbit.

His experience with bipolar disorder, sometimes referred to as manic depression, is depicted in the documentary Stephen Fry: The Secret Life of the Manic-Depressive.

In an interview aired in Britain, he spoke of his frustration at his disorder sometimes being referred to as "bipolar lite".

It was a serious and deadly illness that may one day claim his life, he said.

"The fact that I'm lucky enough not to have it so seriously doesn't mean I won't one day kill myself... I may well."

Though bipolar has had different definitions and labels, it has always been dangerous, he said.

"Always you have dead bodies... that's the point."

Fry suffered a nervous breakdown in 1995 while appearing in the play Cell Mates.

He went missing for several days and contemplated suicide, before eventually resurfacing in Belgium.