Alex Kingston says appearing on this year’s Strictly Come Dancing has given her a newfound sense of confidence, describing herself as ‘fearless’ after fighting uterine cancer last year.
The 62-year-old actress is currently a contestant on the popular ballroom dancing show with her partner, Johannes Radebe, 38. She received a cancer diagnosis in May and has since had a hysterectomy and radiation treatment.
She now feels braver than ever before, and believes her time on Strictly Come Dancing helped her feel as energetic and alive as she did in her twenties.
Alex recently told The Mirror that her husband jokingly said her youthful figure is now apparent, thanks to her time on Strictly Come Dancing. She happily accepted the compliment!
She explained that the experience has given her a lot of courage. Although she admitted to being nervous about Saturday, it’s also inspired her to encourage others to pursue their goals and take chances.
Alex shared that talking about her health challenges has been really meaningful for her. She wants to support others who are facing similar struggles.
She decided now was a good time to tell her story, as she was still in the running on the show.
The actress shared that she wants to inspire others by demonstrating that perseverance is possible, even when facing difficulties, if she continues on the show.
She urged anyone struggling to make the most of life, reminding them to cherish each moment and truly enjoy it, as we only get one chance at it.
As the Strictly final approaches, I’ve been reflecting on Alex’s incredible journey. She shared with me that she’s tackling it one day at a time, a mindset she actually developed during her radiation therapy. It’s a beautiful reminder that facing big challenges, whether on the dance floor or in life, is all about focusing on the present moment. It’s a really inspiring approach, honestly!
She emphasized that she’s focused on the now, rather than worrying about what’s happened or what might happen.
It comes several months after Alex revealed she secretly battled uterine (womb) cancer last year.
She admitted she’d been feeling unwell for a while, but initially thought it was just a normal part of getting older. However, she realized something was seriously wrong when she unexpectedly began bleeding heavily while performing in a play last summer.
The mother said that fighting cancer was a major challenge, but now that she’s beaten the disease and joined Strictly Come Dancing, she feels incredibly strong and empowered.
She said she hadn’t worried about feeling sick, thinking it was just part of getting older. The cancer diagnosis was a surprise, as she generally feels optimistic and positive about life.
Despite feeling seriously ill, I kept dismissing my symptoms, thinking I just had a urinary tract infection or fibroids.
I was so saddened to hear about Alex’s health. She was absolutely brilliant in ‘The Other Boleyn Girl’ at the West Sussex theatre last April and May. Apparently, she didn’t seek medical attention until after the show finished, and doctors discovered cancer in her fallopian tubes. Thankfully, they said it hadn’t spread to her ovaries, which is a huge relief, though I’m still sending all my support her way.
In an interview with The Independent, she explained that even though dealing with cancer is incredibly difficult, she immediately felt like herself again after the surgery. She hadn’t felt that way in years.
Alex recently shared with the Daily Mail about her experiences with perimenopause and how she thought it might have affected her ability to get pregnant.
She and her ex-husband, Florian Haertel, had a daughter, Salome, now 24, in 2001, conceived through IVF.
Alex shared that it took 13 rounds of IVF before she became pregnant with her daughter, Salome. She described the process as incredibly difficult, explaining that the desperation to have a child can make you overlook potential long-term health risks.
Doctors don’t often mention the weight gain that can happen with IVF treatment. It creeps up on you gradually, and once it’s there, it can be really hard to lose.
I experienced perimenopause at a young age, and while I can’t be certain, I believe it was connected to the IVF treatment and the hormone medications I was using.
I believe women aren’t given a complete understanding of what to expect during these experiences.
In the same interview, Alex expressed her gratitude for life.
You know, people often ask me if I have a life motto, and I don’t really. But what I do feel, deeply, and I admit it might sound a little cliché, is how incredibly lucky I am to be alive. It really makes me want to appreciate every single day and not take anything for granted.
‘It upsets me when I see people waste their lives.’
In September, she told the Daily Mail she joined Strictly Come Dancing to show that women of any age can still pursue new challenges.
Oh my gosh, I can’t believe it! Our amazing Doctor Who star is the oldest contestant on the show this year, at 62! Seriously, she’s incredible, and she’s competing against people like Amber Davies, Vicky Pattinson, and Balvinder Sopal. I’m so excited to see her shine!
When asked if she was unsure about joining Strictly, she recently told the Daily Mail she needed to carefully consider whether she was physically fit enough to take part.
‘But at the same time, I just felt like, “come on, Alex, do it for women of a certain age.”‘
Last month, she admitted she was finding the process ‘challenging’ after her health woes.
While on the show This Morning with her dance partner Johannes, she admitted that the experience is proving more difficult than she anticipated. She explained she’s participating to represent and inspire women her age.
Growing older doesn’t mean slowing down. For people over sixty, age is just a number, and they’re still full of life and energy from head to toe.
Alex added: ‘I had quite complex health issues last year, which I have recovered from.
It really comes down to the common saying: life is too short to put off things you really want to do. If you have a dream, be courageous and pursue it.
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2025-11-22 04:07