Julia Morris reveals debilitating health battle: ‘The physical toll was immediate’

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Julia Morris has shared her difficult experience with shingles, a painful viral infection that unfortunately affects many people in Australia.

The 57-year-old host of *I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!* was confined to bed due to a health issue that caused severe headaches and a painful rash.

Shingles affects about one in three Australians over 50. It happens when the chickenpox virus, called varicella zoster, becomes active again in the body.

She recently told Perth Now that she got shingles during a particularly hectic period at work.

I felt sick right away. I broke out in a rash all over my chest and back, my body ached, and I had a terrible headache.

‘I could barely get through a day without collapsing back into bed,’ she continued. 

Even everyday activities, like taking a shower, left me feeling drained, and I was unwell for weeks. Shingles wasn’t just about the pain; it drastically changed my life and how I approached work.

The comedian shared a video on Tuesday, created in partnership with GSK, a major pharmaceutical company, to increase understanding of a specific health issue.

Julia encouraged her followers to open up about any underlying health issues, sharing that her own experience with shingles was ‘incredibly painful’.

She explained that she hadn’t realized shingles was caused by the same virus that gives people chickenpox when they were children.

Here’s the surprising part: nearly all adults in Australia have this virus, and around one-third of people will get shingles at some point in their lives.

‘There comes a time when you need to start contributing to your ‘health superannuation’. 

I’m sharing my experience to encourage people in Australia over the age of 50 to talk to their doctor or pharmacist about shingles.

I’ve learned that really knowing what I’m up against—understanding my personal risks—is the first step to dealing with all those underlying health issues we often ignore. It’s like finally opening up and addressing the things that have been weighing me down for so long.

She shared a clip explaining that she initially believed she was too young to get shingles, despite the fact that it typically affects people over the age of 50.

Julia recently revealed she and her ex-husband, Dan Thomas, separated four years ago in 2021, and she’s now speaking about the split.

Oh my gosh, I’ve followed them *forever*! It’s just so sad to think about, but she and the comedian – he’s amazing, seriously – were married for sixteen whole years! They have two daughters, Ruby who’s 18 and Sophie who’s 16, and they’re both so lovely. I’ve watched them grow up almost alongside my own kids, it feels like. It’s just… a long time to be together, you know?

She recently told TV Week that she’s feeling better than ever after taking time to reflect on herself following her breakup.

She told the publication in June that she’s happier now than she’s ever been, something she couldn’t have imagined when she started this path four years ago.

I value my privacy and prefer to keep my family life separate from the public eye, especially online. However, I always strive to be truthful about myself.

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2025-10-15 04:49