Strictly Come Dancing star Alex Kingston has revealed she secretly battled uterine (womb) cancer last year.
The former ER actress, 62, was diagnosed with the disease in May and subsequently underwent a hysterectomy and radiation therapy.
Alex confessed that she had been experiencing symptoms for a long time but had put it down to her age – until she ‘haemorrhaged’ on stage while performing in a play last summer.
The mother-of-one explained that while battling cancer took up a ‘huge part’ of her life, she now feels like ‘Superwoman’ after overcoming the disease and signing up for Strictly.
She explained that she had dismissed feeling unwell because of her age, sharing: ‘I never went down the cancer road in my head. It was a shock, because I have a very positive outlook on life in general.
‘Even though my body was telling me there was something very seriously wrong, I kept thinking: “Oh, I’ve got a bad UTI or fibroids”.’
Strictly’s Alex Kingston has revealed she secretly battled uterine (womb) cancer last year. The actress, 62, was diagnosed in May and underwent a hysterectomy (pictured last week)
The mother-of-one explained that while battling cancer took up a ‘huge part’ of her life, she now feels like ‘Superwoman’ after overcoming the disease and signing up for Strictly
Alex, who was starring in The Other Boleyn Girl at the West Sussex theatre in April and May last year, waited until her run in the play was over before seeking medical treatment and was told doctors found cancer in her fallopian tubes but it hadn’t spread to her ovaries.
She added to The Independent: ‘Despite having gone through all of that – and any cancer is really tough to accept, to steel yourself to go through all of the necessary procedures to get back into health – the minute I had the operation, I suddenly felt like myself again… [I] hadn’t felt like that for years.’
She has since signed up to compete in Strictly, in a bid to ‘do it for women of a certain age’.
At 62, the Doctor Who star is the oldest woman on this year’s series, which includes Dani Dyer, Vicky Pattinson, and Balvinder Sopal.
Asked about whether she had any hesitations signing up for Strictly, she told Daily Mail last month: ‘I had to sit and really think about whether I would be up for it physically.
‘But at the same time, I just felt like, “come on, Alex, do it for women of a certain age.”‘
Last week, she admitted she was finding the process ‘challenging’ after her health woes.
During an appearance on This Morning with pro partner Johannes Radebe, she confessed: ‘It’s really different and more challenging than I thought it would be to be honest but I’m doing it for women of a certain age.
‘For anyone over 60, age is just a number and to prove that after a certain age you are not dead below the knee.’
She signed up for Strictly aged 62 in a bid to ‘do it for women of a certain age’. The Doctor Who star (pictured with Johannes Radebe) is the oldest woman on this year’s series
Womb cancer affects around 9,7000 women every year in the UK. Nicknamed a silent killer, when the disease is diagnosed at later stages, only 15 per cent of women will survive. Peaches Trust wants to raise better awareness for the disease, so women can catch it early
Alex added: ‘I had quite complex health issues last year, which I have recovered from.
‘Out of that, it’s just that thing you hear over and over again, which is life is too short if there is anything you want to do be brave and just go and do it.’
Alex previously told Daily Mail that she had long wanted to dance in the Strictly ballroom and had been particularly inspired by her friend Sarah Hadland, 54, who reached the final last year with professional dancer Vito Coppola, 32.
Alex said: ‘Years ago, we [Sarah Hadland and Alex] were in a play together and we both admitted to each other that secretly we really wanted to do Strictly.
‘I then said, “Well, I can’t do Strictly if you’re on Strictly because you will win.”
‘And then when I saw that she was on it, I was so thrilled for her because I knew that she was fulfilling a dream that she shared with me.
‘So I reached out to her and asked her what the experience was like, and she was really great.
‘She was very honest about the overall experience and how intense it can be. How overwhelming it can sometimes be, but also what an incredibly positive thing it is to do.
‘It was through talking with Sarah, because she didn’t sugarcoat it, she was very clear about how challenging it is.
‘She allowed me to make my own decision, ultimately, and I decided that I would follow in her footsteps.’
Alex, who played River Song in Doctor Who alongside David Tennant and Matt Smith, said her Strictly goal was ‘to get through it without being injured’.
STRICTLY LINEUP 2025
Harry Aikines-Aryeetey
Age: 36
Profession: Olympic Sprinter and Gladiator
Harry says: ‘I’ll be bringing tons of energy to light up the dance floor. Let’s hope I’m as quick picking up the routines as I am on the track.’
Alex Kingston
Age: 62
Profession: Doctor Who actress
The actress teases: ‘My hips don’t lie.’
Balvinder Sopal
Age: 46
Profession: EastEnders actress
Balvinder says: ‘I’m far too excited to put into words how I feel but I’m incredibly excited at the prospect of dancing across the ballroom.’
La Voix
Age: 45
Profession: Drag performer
She says: ‘Strictly is a national institution and I can’t wait to get started. All that’s left to say is: good luck to my partner! Here’s hoping they can help me go from La Voix into La Danse.’
Thomas Skinner
Age: 34
Profession: Reality star and entrepreneur
He says: ‘Bring on the sequins, sambas and most importantly, the BOSH to the ballroom!’
Vicky Pattison
Age: 37
Profession: Reality TV star
She says: ‘I’m absolutely buzzing to be part of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing line-up… but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t terrified.’
Karen Carney
Age: 38
Profession: Football pundit
She says: ‘I’m such a huge fan of the show and I can’t believe I’m finally getting the chance to take part.’
George Clark
Age: 25
Profession: YouTuber
He says: ‘Never thought I’d say this… but I’m doing Strictly! Honestly, I’ve got no idea what I’m doing but I’m excited to get stuck in … and potentially fall over a fair bit.’
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink
Age: 53
Profession: Former Chelsea and Netherlands striker and ex-England coach.
He says: ‘Swapping the pitch for the ballroom is certainly not something I’ve done before but I’m looking forward to tackling a fun challenge! Bring on a new type of footwork, with hopefully no own goals.’
Ellie Goldstein
Age: 23
Profession: Model, influencer and disability ambassador
She says: ‘It’s a show I’ve loved watching for so long, and the chance to now be part of it feels like a dream’.
Chris Robshaw
Age: 39
Profession: Rugby player
He says: ‘This is about as far out of my comfort zone as it gets! I’m hoping to take my dad-dancing to a whole new level, and my mum can’t wait to drag me along to her Zumba class’.
Stefan Dennis
Age: 66
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘Looking forward to the sparkle and reaching for the sky.’
Ross King
Age: 63
Profession: Showbiz correspondent
He says: ‘I can’t wait to learn from the best, meet my fellow contestants, and, most importantly… try not to step on too many toes!’
Lewis Cope
Age: 30
Profession: Actor
He says: ‘I’m so excited to be swapping the Dales for the dance floor and joining this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.’
Amber Davies
Age: 28
Profession: West End star
She says: ‘This has been the craziest 24 hours of my life. I’ve watched Strictly with my family since I was younger and to now be part of the show is a dream come true.’
