Genevieve Chenneour, the actress famed for her role in the Netflix series Bridgerton, has spoken out about a terrifying and deliberate assault she endured in central London last week, the second such attack she has faced in less than a year.
A Deliberate Act of Violence
The 27-year-old former Team GB swimmer was on her way to an audition near Oxford Circus when she noticed a man, described as black, in his 50s, and 6ft 3in tall, looking directly at her. She told the Daily Mail that he had "locked onto" her with clear intent just moments before the collision.
"I tried to move out of his path but couldn’t; there simply wasn’t space to step aside," Genevieve recounted. "When he reached me, he walked straight into me at full force, using his arm rigidly - bracing to make impact." The man struck her with the full force of his arm and body and then continued walking without a word, leaving her in pain and shock.
Aftermath and a Disturbing Pattern
In the moments following the attack, a shaken and tearful Genevieve instinctively shouted at her assailant, but he did not react or look back. She also found no support from the busy crowds of tourists and shoppers, with one woman offering only a formal "are you okay?" without engaging further. The incident felt so surreal that Genevieve said it was as if she had "imagined the whole thing."
The assault triggered a panic attack, bringing back traumatic memories of a previous incident in February. On that occasion, a prolific teenage mugger named Zacariah Boulares tried to snatch her phone at a Joe and the Juice cafe in Kensington. During that struggle, an accomplice threatened to stab her. While Boulares is now serving a 22-month prison sentence, the man who issued the stabbing threat remains at large.
Reconsidering Life in the Capital
These consecutive attacks have had a profound impact on the actress's life and sense of security. The February incident left her with a concussion and caused a period of agoraphobia, and she has been working hard to rebuild her confidence. She had been planning to move back to London for work but has now reconsidered.
"I was preparing to move back into town as I have to be here for work. I don't think I will now," she stated this week. "My furniture is all in storage while I figure out where to live. My entire life has changed."
Despite being a qualified ABA boxer with extensive fight training—which helped her fight off the phone thief—Genevieve has advised the public not to follow her example. In the wake of the latest attack, she posted a tearful video on Instagram, still wearing her jacket and scarf, to warn other women: "Ladies, please be careful."
