Warning: This article contains discussion of cancer which some readers may find distressing.
Alex Kingston, widely recognized for her roles as Dr. Elizabeth Corday in ER and River Song in Doctor Who, has spoken about a life-altering health scare that has shifted her perspective on life.
The 62-year-old actress, currently captivating audiences on the UK’s Strictly Come Dancing, disclosed an alarming incident that occurred over a year ago during a performance.
While performing at the Chichester Festival Theatre in 2024, Kingston experienced a sudden hemorrhage mid-show.
In typical stage fashion, she remained in character, though the situation was undoubtedly frightening. Speaking to The Independent, she recounted, “That night on stage, I hemorrhaged… that was really shocking.”
At the time, Kingston was dressed in a large Tudor-style costume and knee pads, and she managed to get through the ordeal.
“I just knocked my knees together and prayed that it would soak everything up,” she recalled, adding, “I ran off stage and said, ‘Grab me some pads!’ We shoved some pads in my pants and I went back on stage and carried on. That was how we finished the show.”
It was weeks later that she discovered her body had been signaling a serious issue for quite some time.
Kingston had long ignored symptoms like bloating, achiness, and fatigue, attributing them to aging.
She explained, “I had assumed that the way I was feeling was old age, and I just sort of accepted it… I thought, ‘OK, this is what it’s like to be in my sixties.’ But a lot of how I was feeling was to do with my illness.”
After noticing blood in her urine, Kingston decided to consult a doctor, but didn’t anticipate a severe diagnosis.
She confessed, “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.’”
Medical professionals diagnosed her with cancer in her fallopian tubes, a type of uterine cancer that had not yet spread to her ovaries.
She underwent a hysterectomy and radiation therapy, completing her treatment by the end of the previous year.
Kingston noted, “Your body does try to warn you… it just depends on whether you can read the warning signs.”
Now revitalized and participating in the demanding schedule of Strictly Come Dancing, Kingston says she feels rejuvenated and has embraced a new perspective on life.
She remarked, “Despite having gone through all of that, the minute I had the operation, I suddenly felt like myself again… I hadn’t felt like that for years.”
Reflecting on her experience, Kingston encourages others not to dismiss persistent health symptoms.
“Womb cancer is really tricky because it is so sneaky,” Kingston said. “What I would say is, the body does know – and that was the body saying to me, ‘Help! There’s something really wrong.’ It’s so important to seek advice and have a check-up.”
If you’re concerned by any of these issues and wish to talk to someone in confidence, reach out to the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.