The phrase "actually feared" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a genuine or real fear that someone has experienced or felt.
Example: "Despite his brave demeanor, he actually feared the dark more than he would admit."
Alternatives: "truly feared" or "genuinely feared".
Despite his treachery and selfish ambition, Karaïskákis was a brave warrior and one of the few Greek commanders the Turks actually feared.
The scores who flew from the United States to Cuba may have expected warm welcomes, for example, but Fidel Castro actually feared these adventurers as potential threats to the revolution — he assumed that some were C.I.A. spies, while the rest were psychopaths.
There is no doubt that the 1970s was a difficult decade for the politicians, when people in high places actually feared that the country would become ungovernable, and a retired general, Sir Walter Walker, started recruiting volunteers who could take over in the event of a general collapse.
Whatever thrills the death-defying maneuvers offer (and, in the Daily News, Sam Mendes tells Ethan Sacks that he actually feared for Daniel Craig's life), there's nothing in the scene that reflects the authentic dangers that cast and crew faced to produce it.
Mind tricks, funerals, emotions, and an admission that the player known as "Captain Clutch" actually feared having the ball hit to him – the press got more out of Jeter in the post-game presser than they learned in 20 years covering the baseball icon.
Sure, most people actually feared losing jobs and positions but it was the public stigma that most hurt them.
Accordingly, spider fearful individuals find it extremely difficult to articulate what they actually fear (e.g., Davey 1992).
The city actually fears that it might.
Here's what they actually fear.
"There are some directors who actually fear the possible success of music," he added.
Toal thought for a moment, before adding, "I think people actually fear him, to be honest".
