The Vampire Diaries star Claire Holt has revealed she has suffered a devastating miscarriage.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the Australian actress shared the tragic news in a heartbreaking essay.

The 29-year-old actress posted it alongside a picture of herself on a surgery bed while wearing a blue hospital hairnet and gown.

'My sweet little baby lost its heartbeat': Devastated The Vampire Diaries' star Claire Holt reveals she has suffered a miscarriage in heartbreaking social media post

'I took this photo 10 days ago, as I waited for surgery after my sweet little baby lost its heartbeat. I sent it to my fiancé in the waiting room to show him that I was ok. I wasn't. I've never felt more broken in my life,' she wrote.

'I debated sharing this so soon and I'm still frightened about making such a private struggle public, but I'm doing it anyway because it's important,' the Originals alum added.

Claire said the experience has been her most heartbreaking yet and expressed the importance of seeking help through a community that can relate.

'After my D & C, I spent hours on the internet searching for women who had been through it. I was desperate to find someone, anyone, who could relate to what I was feeling. Someone to tell me that the depression and hopelessness were normal. That it wasn't my fault,' she explained.

'That I wasn't broken forever. I found a community of women who shared my exact experience who were open and vulnerable about miscarriage, something that isn't often or openly discussed.'

Devastating: The actress said she sent the photo to her fiance Andrew Joblon, pictured here, to let him know she was OK, but really she wasn't

She added: 'It breaks my heart to think that losing a baby feels like something we have to keep to ourselves. Why is it any different than the death of a loved one? How is it any less meaningful? Here is what I have learned as I begin to crawl out of the dark hole: support is everything.'

The beauty, who recently got engaged to real estate agent Andrew Joblon, went on to share her gratitude for his support during the mournful time.

'I could not have survived this without the unconditional love of my partner. Despite his pain, he was my rock and my safety net. I will never know how to thank him,' she wrote.

Giving thanks: The beauty went on to share her gratitude for his support during the mournful time

She continued to write that opening up to people during the heartbreaking time is crucial.

'I also found that opening up to people is crucial. As soon as I told my story, almost everyone I spoke to told me theirs - their own, their wife's, their sister's. So many people go through it and understand the breadth of pain, yet so few people talk about it,' she said.

To finish, Claire wrote: 'Finally, I want to share a blog post that resonated with every part of me. You can find the link in my bio, @leandramcohen of @manrepellerarticulates the emotional rollercoaster with an eloquence that I could never possess. To anyone out there who has been through a miscarriage, I understand you. I share every bit of your pain and you are not alone. Please be kind to yourself and I hope that you will be comfortable sharing your story too.'

Fans were quick to share their support, with the picture attracting over 13,500 comments within the first hour of it being posted.

Happier time: Claire recently announced her engagement to her handsome beau Andrew



