Former EastEnders actress Gemma McCluskie told friends she was "terrified" of a man just weeks before she went missing.
Police searching for the actress are currently carrying out DNA tests on a headless torso found in Regents Canal, East London, near where McCluskie disappeared last week.
According to reports in The Sun and The Mirror Gemma McCluskie had a "heated" row in her home shortly before going missing.
“She had a heated row that a number of people heard. Police have been told about it", a friend told The Mirror.
A former schoolfriend of Gemma's told The Sun: "It's shocking. Gemma was so beautiful - but she was terrified of this man."
The news emerged as police said it was "possible" they would formally identify the headless body, found near Broadway Market, Hackney, on Friday.
"It's possible but it hasn't happened yet. There's ongoing tests to identify the body," a spokesman said.
A 35-year-old man was arrested over her disappearance on Wednesday. Police said on Friday he remains in custody.
On Thursday police divers carried out more searches to find the rest of what is believed to be McCluskie's body.
In a statement Scotland Yard appealed for information and said they believed they knew the identity of the body - but were waiting for "further forensic tests" before formally identifying it.
"The torso was recovered by divers from the MPS Marine Support Unit and additional searches are due to be carried out in the water."
Gemma McCluskie, 29, who is 4ft 11in tall with dark hair, was last seen on Thursday, 1 March in Bethnal Green.
She played Kerry Skinner in 30 episodes of EastEnders in 2001 and also appeared in children's TV programme North and South.
Anyone who may have seen anything suspicious around the Regent's Canal area in Hackney, or who has any information, should call the Incident Room on 020 8345 3985; if you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.