Bridgerton star describes horrifying ‘life and death’ moment she fought off phone thief

Bridgerton actress Genevieve Chenneour has shared insight into her horrific experience as she bravely defended herself from a prolific thief.

The 27-year-old star’s real-life drama was thoroughly modern as she fought off a phone thief in Joe & the Juice.

Chenneour, who plays Clara Livingston in Netflix’s beloved show, revealed on This Morning the moment which turned into a ‘life and death’ situation.

She shared: ‘I had a bit of a sixth sense that something wasn’t quite right, as woman you have that kind of intuition, and I could feel people moving around me in a different way but I only became aware of it once the incident had happened.’

Chenneour was waiting for her order at the chain cafe on Kensington High Street, London when the thief, who the Daily Mail identified as Zacariah Boulares, 18, quietly snuck up behind her and grabbed her phone, which was placed on the counter.

Immediately, the actress sprang into action as she spun around and grabbed his arm while another man came to her aid.

‘I did feel they were going back and forth trying to find a target, so they chose me,’ she explained

CCTV footage showed her freeing her phone from his grasp as she pushed him to the ground and fought back against the hooded criminal.

‘I don’t know if I would advise anybody else to do it,’ Chenneour warned. ‘I think I have very quick reactions, thanks to having three brothers growing up and I’m an aviated carded boxer.

‘I think it just was an instinct, I also do a lot of fight training for work and acting… I thought that was a normal reaction and I read all the comments [from the CCTV footage] and realised, actually a lot of people would just let them take the phone.’

At one point another man threatened to stab Chenneour, turning the incident into ‘a real matter’ which was ‘life and death’.

She continued: ‘So, I did things like, I remember kicking him back with my leg to create space in case he had a weapon on him… It was just a life changing, crazy moment.’

In court on May 29, Boulares pleaded guilty to stealing her phone as well as assaulting another customer.

The actress previously told the Mail: ‘They didn’t expect me to stand up for myself – but I did.’ 

‘I was left with a concussion just before the Screen Actors Guild Awards and since then, I’ve felt constantly on edge,’ she shared.

‘Even my dog was traumatised – now, if anyone touches me, he panics and tries to protect me. Getting a coffee shouldn’t be something you need your wits about you for.’

Chenneour added that she was thankful to the staff in store who were ‘incredible’ during the incident, and she has returned to see since.

She retrained as an actress after winning an Olympic scholarship to train for Team GB’s artistic swimming team at the age of 15.

Unfortunately, an injury prevented her from going pro but after being a stunt double for underwater scenes in Gateway To The West she landed a role on Bridgerton.

Boulares reportedly also threatened Aled Jones with a machete 18 months prior, as he stole the star’s £17,000 Rolex watch while in West London.

He was jailed for 14 months in a young offenders centre after the incident in October 2023, getting released 10 months early.

At the hearing regarding Chenneour’s case, he also admitted to stealing a handbag at a pizza restaurant in London’s West End in January this year.

In a message on her Instagram, the Bridgerton debutante thanked fans for their support after the attack.

‘I’m okay and incredibly grateful he won’t be able to harm anyone else,’ she said. ‘I am, however, finding it difficult to feel safe going out – especially after being repeatedly threatened with being stabbed in the face.’

This second man has been released due to a lack of evidence and won’t be going to court, according to the star.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: ‘Police were called to a restaurant on Kensington High Street on Saturday, 8 February following reports of a theft and an assault. 

‘CCTV showed the suspect stealing a phone from the table and then assaulting a separate member of the public who confronted him.

‘The victim of the assault was kicked and punched before the suspect left the premises.

‘CCTV enquiries identified Zacariah Boulares as the suspect and he was arrested. Boulares, 18, was charged with common assault and theft.’

He will be sentenced later this month.

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