Hugh Sheridan beams as he introduces a new family member to his fans

Smiling again: Hugh Sheridan beams as he introduces a new furry family member to fans… weeks after he was hospitalised amid backlash over being cast as a trans character in a musical

Hugh Sheridan has sweetly introduced a new furry family member to his followers after an undoubtedly difficult few months.

The popular Sydney-based actor took to Instagram on Wednesday to unveil his new bunny, named Flower, who he says has brought him ‘happiness’ – just weeks after an anxiety attack left him hospitalised.

Alongside a picture smiling with the tiny black-and-white bunny, the 32-year-old wrote: ‘It’s not my baby Addie, but this little bunny called Flower has made me very happy.’

Smiling again: Hugh Sheridan has introduced a new furry family member to fans just weeks after he was hospitalised amid backlash over being cast as a trans character in a musical 

He was referring to his beloved rescue cat, Addie, who is currently being looked after by his close pals in America.

It comes weeks after Hugh was admitted to a Sydney hospital for mental health treatment in November, following the backlash surrounding his casting as a transgender character in the play Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Speaking to Sydney Confidential of the terrifying incident earlier this week, Hugh described the incident as a ‘wake-up call’.

‘I literally woke up in hospital and didn’t remember how I got there and the doctors told me I had had an anxiety attack,’ he told the publication.

So cute: Alongside a picture smiling with his tiny bunny, the 32-year-old wrote: 'It’s not my baby Addie, but this little bunny called Flower has made me very happy'

So cute: Alongside a picture smiling with his tiny bunny, the 32-year-old wrote: ‘It’s not my baby Addie, but this little bunny called Flower has made me very happy’

Leading role: Hugh was hospitalised following the backlash surrounding his casting as a transgender character in the play Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Leading role: Hugh was hospitalised following the backlash surrounding his casting as a transgender character in the play Hedwig and the Angry Inch 

‘Basically in the days leading up to it, I had performed a Christmas pageant in Adelaide, I had done a show for Soho House International, I had done appearances for the Qantas 100th birthday celebrations … then that night I had realised that something was going on with (Hedwig) and it all just hit me,’ he continued.

Hugh said his doctor had likened the anxiety attack to his brain hitting an ‘eject button’.

‘At that point I realised that I was suffering a little bit more than I realised,’ he added.

The musical was pulled from the 2021 Sydney Festival after an LGBTQIA+ group, Queer Artist Alliance Australia, wrote an open letter slamming producers for casting Hugh to play a transgender character.

‘We would like to express our profound sadness and disappointment that trans performers are still fighting for equal opportunities and representation,’ the open letter read.

Devastated: Hugh was left 'heartbroken' after he was inundated with messages from trolls on social media over his casting as Hedwig, a close friend of the actor told Daily Mail Australia

Devastated: Hugh was left ‘heartbroken’ after he was inundated with messages from trolls on social media over his casting as Hedwig, a close friend of the actor told Daily Mail Australia 

‘The choice to cast a cisgender male as a transgender character is offensive and damaging to the trans community, and continues to cause genuine stress and frustration amongst trans- and gender- nonconforming performers all across Australia.’

Hugh was left ‘heartbroken’ after he was inundated with messages from trolls on social media over his casting as Hedwig, a close friend of the actor told Daily Mail Australia.

The source revealed that Hugh now hopes to raise awareness of the effects of online bullying, and encourages others to seek mental health treatment when they need it.

The friend said: ‘All this did was break his heart. There comes a point where enough is enough and you need to ask for help. 

‘There is only so much you can take before you ask for help, so he asked for help.’

Moving forward: The source revealed that Hugh now hopes to raise awareness of the effects of online bullying, and encourages others to seek mental health treatment when they need it

Moving forward: The source revealed that Hugh now hopes to raise awareness of the effects of online bullying, and encourages others to seek mental health treatment when they need it