Why Jock Zonfrillo always carried worry beads
MasterChef Australia star Jock Zonfrillo had never been seen without his worry beads and even had several to go with all of his dapper outfits.
The 46-year-old celebrity chef, who was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room at 2 a.m. Monday, has been open about how the accessory helped him deal with his anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
“When I’m nervous or anxious my brain just starts racing, like I’m thinking irrationally, so by using the worry bubbles it calms down that noise in my brain,” he told Daily Mail Australia in 2021.
“I carry a set of worry beads with me all the time, so when they’re not in my hand, they’re in my pocket. I’ve made so many kinds, they’re kind of weird an accessory.
“On MasterChef, I have different colors for the different suits I wear. So it’s not a flashing beacon that says ‘I have a problem’ or ‘I have anxiety’.’
MasterChef Australia star Jock Zonfrillo (pictured) was never seen without his worry beads and even had several to go with all of his dapper outfits
“When I’m feeling anxious or a little stressed, I flip through it…the more anxious, the more worried I get, the faster I do it.”
He went on to explain that one of his favorite sets of beads belonged to the late AA Gill, the celebrated British restaurant critic who passed away in December 2016.
“These are very special to me. They were given to me by Nicola [Formby]who is the wife of the late Adrian Gill,’ he said.
‘I love them. You will often see that they are always in my pocket.’
Zonfrillo previously told Mamamia’s No Filter podcast that he never thought I’d have anxiety, let alone admit it.
The 46-year-old celebrity chef, who was found dead in a Melbourne hotel room at 2 a.m. Monday, has opened up about how the accessory helped him deal with his anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder
After battling addiction, Jock said his past life experiences accumulated, eventually leading to his anxiety diagnosis.
“I think I worked my way up to it, to be honest. I’ve had so many things wrong with me over the years,” he explained.
“I’ve sat on a lot of benches and talked about it with a lot of people who know a lot more about it than I do. But I think fear is something that has really come up in the last decade.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Jock talked about suffering from imposter syndrome, especially after getting his role as a judge on MasterChef.
“It’s a real working-class problem to arrive somewhere and think you’re not good enough,” he confessed.
“When I’m nervous or anxious my brain just starts racing, like I’m thinking irrationally, so by using the worry beads it calms that noise in my brain,” he told Daily Mail Australia in 2021
“I carry a set of worry beads with me all the time, so when they’re not in my hand, they’re in my pocket. I’ve made so many kinds, they’re kind of a strange accessory,” he added
“For me, I’ve done that all my life. With every job I’ve had, I’ve felt like I wasn’t good enough to be there.”
Zonfrillo’s family issued an emotional statement shortly after confirming his death, which was not treated as suspicious by Melbourne police.
“With hearts completely shattered and with no way of knowing how to go through life without him, we are devastated to share that Jock passed away yesterday,” his family said in a statement.
“There are so many words to describe him, so many stories to be told, but right now we are too overwhelmed to put them into words.
“On MasterChef, I have different colors for the different suits I wear. So it’s not a flashing beacon that says “I have a problem” or “I have anxiety”‘
He went on to explain that one of his favorite sets of beads belonged to the late AA Gill, the celebrated British restaurant critic who passed away in December 2016.
“For those who crossed his path, became his mate or were lucky enough to be his family, keep this proud Scotsman in your heart when you have your next whisky.”
They continued, “We beg you to please let us grieve in private as we find a way to navigate this, and find space on the other side to celebrate our irreplaceable husband, father, brother, son and friend.”
The Scottish-Australian chef and restaurateur co-hosted popular cooking show Channel 10 with Andy Allen and Melissa Leong in 2019.
Zonfrillo, who began his career working for Michelin-starred chef Marco Pierre White in the UK, overcame a heroin addiction during his teenage years in Glasgow before becoming one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs.
“When I’m feeling anxious or a little stressed, I flip through it…the more anxious, the more worried I get, the faster I do it,” he explained.